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For claymation figures that need to be repositioned between frames, start with non-drying oil-based modeling clay, often called plasticine. It stays workable instead of drying and cracking, making it a practical choice for animation. Add a wire armature when a character has thin parts or needs more support. Polymer clay is different: it hardens permanently when oven-cured, so it is not a like-for-like substitute for reusable animation clay.
Why non-drying clay suits claymation
Stop-motion puppets are adjusted in small increments as frames are made. The National Film Board of Canada’s stop-motion workshop guide recommends oil-based modeling clay for characters because it will not dry out and crack. That characteristic lets a maker keep reshaping the figure during an animation rather than having to work around a hardened surface.
Plasticine and oil-based modeling clay are common terms for this broad kind of material, but formulas vary. The NFB guide lists plasticine in various colors and sculpting tools among basic character-making materials. There is no independent head-to-head test here establishing one brand as best for every animation setup.
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| Material | What happens to it | When it may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Non-drying oil-based modeling clay or plasticine | Stays workable rather than drying in air; the NFB guide says it will not dry out and crack. | Figures that must be adjusted repeatedly during stop-motion animation. |
| Chavant Sculptex | Chavant describes it as non-hardening modeling clay that holds detail, offered in Extra Soft 9A, Soft 14A, Medium 26A, and Hard 32A grades. The product page does not specifically identify it as claymation clay. | A possible modeling-clay candidate when its firmness and handling suit the figure; the manufacturer’s description is not an independent animation test. |
| Polymer clay | Remains workable before curing, then hardens permanently when oven-cured. | A maquette, miniature, or static finished sculpture when permanent hardening is desired, rather than a figure that must remain malleable. |
Do not buy polymer clay expecting it to behave like reusable plasticine. Sculpey’s guide to sculpting clay distinguishes oil-based modeling clay, which does not harden through air exposure or oven baking, from polymer clay, which requires oven curing to harden permanently.
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How to choose firmness, color, and detail
There is no universal best firmness. A softer clay may be easier to shape; a firmer grade may better suit a maker who wants the material to hold fine detail. Working temperature, character scale, pose, and the underlying support also affect the choice. Chavant’s Sculptex page describes four firmness grades and says it can hold detail, but those are manufacturer statements, not a comparative assessment of how each grade performs in a particular animation.
Before settling on a product, consider:
- Workability: Does it stay workable for the repeated adjustments your animation requires?
- Firmness and detail: Can you shape the surface and retain the level of detail you want at your working temperature?
- Support and scale: Will the figure need a wire armature, and is the clay suited to the character’s size and pose?
- Color: Do you need several colors, or do you plan to mix colors yourself?
- Final outcome: Must the character stay malleable, or should it become a permanently cured object?
Chavant’s selection and handling FAQs also point makers to intended use, working temperature, armature or base, adhesion, and storage. Treat product-specific guidance as applying to that product; formulations differ.
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When to add a wire armature
A simple figure may need only clay and sculpting tools. For more elaborate poses or thin body parts, an internal wire support can help form the character’s structure. The NFB guide describes articulated wire armatures; Arizona State University Art Museum’s claymation instructions specifically mention aluminum armature wire beneath clay for thin parts.
Match the support to the figure’s scale and pose needs. The cited instructions do not establish a universal wire gauge or engineering specification, so do not assume a single size works for every puppet. The clay forms the visible surface; the wire support is a separate construction choice for figures that need it.
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Beginner materials and handling
A basic setup can stay simple:
- Non-drying oil-based modeling clay or plasticine, in the colors needed for the character.
- Sculpting tools for shaping and surface details.
- Armature wire if the figure’s thin parts or poses call for internal support.
Follow the handling and safety information for the clay you choose. Chavant says its own clay products were evaluated by independent board-certified toxicologists and found to conform to ASTM D-4236 health requirements under normal use or reasonably foreseeable misuse; this is a Chavant-specific statement, not a finding about all brands. The company advises reading each product’s SDS, warns that hot clay can cause burns, and says people with known sulfur allergy or sensitivity should avoid sulfur-based clays.
For Chavant products, the company recommends storing opened clay airtight or wrapped in plastic and away from sunlight or UV to reduce oxidation and maximize usability; it also notes that oil-based clays can become firmer over time. Check the instructions for the specific product you use rather than assuming all clays need identical storage.
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