Claymation, a type of stop-motion animation, originated with the invention of plasticine clay in the late 19th century, which allowed for easily molded and slow-drying clay figures that could be manipulated for animation; the term "claymation" itself was coined by animator Will Vinton in the 1970s.

The Little Drummer Boy is a stop motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, based on the song of the same name. It was first televised in Canada on December 19, 1968, on the CTV Television Network, followed four days later by its American nationwide telecast on NBC. A sequel was broadcast in 1976.Aaron, a Jewish boy living peacefully on a farm, loses his parents to bandits. Traumatized, he vows to hate humanity. Forced into a traveling circus, he initially rebels. However, witnessing the Magi's journey and their kindness, he begins to soften. After escaping with his animals, he joins the Magi in Bethlehem. Unable to offer a traditional gift, Aaron plays his drum for the newborn baby, a gesture that heals his lamb and restores his faith in humanity.

Drummer Boy

Fun Fact!

The Little Drummer Boy (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") started as a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.[ First recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family, the song was further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale; the Simeone version was re-released successfully for several years, and the song has been recorded many times since.

Renditions of The Little Drummer Boy

Ray Conniff

Bert Kaempfert

Frank Sinatra

Vince Guaraldi

Stix Hooper

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

Justin Beiber

Pentatonix

Detailed Manipulation

Supersentai

Detailed Claymation Manipulation

Animators can manipulate individual parts of the clay figure, like facial expressions, limbs, or clothing, to create complex actions.

Careful lighting is crucial to ensure consistent appearance across frames, and backgrounds may be created separately or incorporated into the clay scene.

Key Points About Claymation

Time-Intensive: Due to the need to reposition the clay for each frame, creating claymation animation is very time-consuming.
Plasticine is Key: Most claymation uses plasticine because of its ability to hold its shape and not dry out quickly.
Famous Examples: Some well-known claymation characters include Gumby, Wallace and Gromit, and the California Raisins.

Do it yourself

Clay Princess

Frame by frame clay figure

Claymation Behing the Scenes

Rudolph

Claymation Recording

Drummer Boy