SCENE 01 / STOP MOTION
Stop Motion Production
Frame-by-frame animation for your Mexican production.
Here is how this works in practice. Stop-motion animation creates the illusion of movement by photographing physical puppets or objects frame by frame, with tiny adjustments between exposures. Mexico has a rich animation heritage rooted at Estudios Churubusco in Mexico City, the largest studio complex in Latin America, plus a strong craft and VFX community around Roma, Spectre, and Sicario-level global shoots.
Here is the short of it. We connect you with stop-motion pros, puppet fabricators, and stage facilities across Mexico. Our team sets up sound stages at Baja Studios in Rosarito and Estudios Churubusco and GGM in Mexico City, Dragonframe-equipped capture rigs, and skilled animators, drawing on the same talent pool behind COMEFILM-supported shoots and the EFICINE incentive.
Capabilities
Stop Motion Services
Complete stop motion animation from concept to final delivery.
01
Animation Types
- Puppet animation
- Claymation
- Object animation
- Cut-out animation
- Mixed media
All Techniques
02
Production
- Set construction
- Puppet fabrication
- Rigging systems
- Motion control
- Capture software
Full Service
03
Technical
- Dragonframe capture
- Consistent lighting
- Focus control
- Camera motion
- Miniature effects
Expert Setup
04
Creative
- Character design
- Set design
- Storyboarding
- Animation direction
- Post-production
End-to-End
Handcrafted Animation
Capabilities
Our Process
Pre-Production
Storyboarding, character design, and planning the tech way for your animation.
Fabrication
Building puppets, sets, and props with the craftsmanship stop motion needs.
Animation
Frame-by-frame capture with pro animators bringing characters to life.
Post-Production
Compositing, rig removal, grading, and sound design for the final piece.
On Location
Stop-motion animation across Mexico — AnimaEstudios Toluca Pinocchio 2022 Best Animated Feature Oscar, del Toro craft lineage, ShadowMachine LA partnership, Dragonframe industry standard
Here is how this works in practice. We set up stop-motion animation production across Mexico through AnimaEstudios Toluca. The country's top stop-motion house and the production partner that delivered Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio 2022, winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. AnimaEstudios partnered with ShadowMachine LA for the project. It runs 60+ permanent shooting sets across the Toluca site (one hour west of CDMX) and employing 800+ artists, animators, and craft technicians at peak production.
Here is how the picture comes together. On the ground, the Pinocchio production set up Mexico's credibility as a global stop-motion destination — full puppet armature fabrication, silicone-skin sculpting, costume miniaturization, and 24fps frame-by-frame manipulation across a ~70-week shoot. Standard tooling: Dragonframe (the industry-standard frame-capture and motion-control choreography software), Canon EOS R5C + Sony A7R V tethered DSLR/mirrorless capture, Kessler Crane + Dynamic Perception sliders for repeatable rigs. Plus MRMC Bolt motion-control integration via Mark Roberts Motion Control LA cross-border.
Here is the short of it. Mexican stop-motion heritage anchors in del Toro's lifelong commitment to physical craft (DDT Efectos Especiales practical-FX scene matching from Pan's Labyrinth 2007 Best Makeup Oscar + The Shape of Water 2017 Best Picture Oscar + Cronos + Devil's Backbone + Crimson Peak), AnimaEstudios' track record on Day of the Dead 2014 (Reel FX co-production), and an emerging boutique stop-motion bench partnering UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) animation programs with Centro de Cultura Digital CDMX residencies.
Here is what we have to work with. On the ground, Commercial stop-motion work runs Cervecería Modelo (Corona, Pacífico. This covers animated bottle hero spots), FEMSA Coca-Cola (Christmas campaigns), Bimbo Group + Marinela (snack-cake animated mascots), Cinépolis trailer interstitials, and TelevisaUnivision branded-content. AMACC Ariel Awards (since 1947) animated-feature type nominations, FICM Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia animation programming, and Pixelatl Festival Cuernavaca (annual animation industry summit) anchor the festival circuit. EFICINE 189/190 federal tax credit eligibility for stop-motion production spend, STIC + STPC + SOGEM union eligibility, IMSS workers-comp, ATA carnet (SAT/Aduanas).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What stop motion techniques do you offer in Mexico?
Here is the breakdown. We give all major stop motion techniques including puppet animation with armature-based characters, claymation, object animation, and mixed media ways. Mexican fabricators draw on a strong animation and VFX tradition supported by COMEFILM and EFICINE.
Can you build puppets and sets locally?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Yes, we work with skilled Mexican fabricators who build pro stop motion puppets with metal armatures, silicone or foam bodies, and replacement faces. Sets are built to scale with the same craftsmanship behind Mexico's feature and commercial animation sector.
What resolution can you capture?
We capture at 4K and above using high-resolution Canon or Sony mirrorless stills cameras with Dragonframe software. This gives you broadcast-grade detail for any Mexican, Latin American, or global delivery format.
How long does stop motion production take?
Stop motion is time-intensive—mostly 1-5 seconds of finished animation per day based on complexity. A 30-second commercial might take several weeks of animation, plus pre-production and post.
Can you do motion control for stop motion?
Yes, we can integrate motion control rigs for camera movement, allowing smooth dollies, pans, and crane moves while keeping frame-by-frame animation. This creates dynamic shots impossible with static cameras.
What about post-production for stop motion?
Post-prod has rig removal, compositing, and grading at Mexican facilities including Splendor Omnia, New Art Digital, and Ollin Studio, whose teams handle Dolby Atmos, 4K/HDR finishing, and deliver any VFX boost needed.
Related Services
Productions in Mexico that need this often pair it with Underwater Lighting, Live Streaming, and Helicopter Filming for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Time-lapse & Hyperlapse and Gaffer & Lighting Services.
On Set
Planning Stop Motion?
Tell us about your animation project and we'll bring your vision to life frame by frame.