🎬 Stop-Motion Magic in Stoke
Every so often, something comes along that reminds us why we fell in love with animation in the first place.
That happened this week when we watched DocileStation’s latest stop-motion short released online this week by Kyle Cartlidge a beautifully hand-crafted 1 minute 40 second animation that’s full of life, warmth, and charm and Made in Stoke.
From the very first frame, you can tell this was a true labour of love. The lighting is moody and cinematic, giving every moment a tactile, almost storybook quality. The characters are expressive and playful, each with their own quirks that make you instantly care about them. And the way it’s all held together — with clever pacing and beautifully balanced composition makes it feel both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.
Creating a stop-motion film of that length is no small feat. Every frame — every blink, every gesture — is a tiny act of patience and precision. It’s one of the most time-consuming forms of animation there is, and seeing it done so well right here in Stoke-on-Trent makes us beam with pride.
We started our own journey in stop-motion years ago, and while our studio now focuses on computer generated corporate communication and animated storytelling for business, we know that it’s projects like this — the self-initiated, passion-fuelled ones — that shape truly great artists.
When animators create work like this, they’re not just telling a story; they’re honing their craft, experimenting with lighting, timing, texture, and emotion. They’re pushing themselves creatively, often at their own expense — pouring hours into something purely for the love of it. And that creative curiosity is exactly what prepares artists to tackle the complex, strategic storytelling challenges we see in the commercial world.
So while our clients might know us for explainer animations, training films, and corporate storytelling, it’s personal projects like Kyle’s that remind us where that creativity begins — with imagination, persistence, and a good dose of artistic grit.
Massive congratulations to Kyle for creating something so thoughtful, beautifully crafted, and full of character. It’s proof that world-class animation doesn’t just happen in big city studios — sometimes it happens right here, one frame at a time, in Stoke-on-Trent.