18905
Pixilation is an animation technique that uses real people as “living stop-motion puppets,” capturing them frame by frame to create the illusion of movement. In each frame, the subject slightly changes position, and when these images are played in rapid succession, the result is a surreal, jerky yet visually fascinating motion.
Although it has recently gained popularity on social media, pixilation has a long history in cinema and visual experimentation.
If you’re passionate about the world of digital art and storytelling, the Bachelor’s Degree in Animation at Universidad Europea will prepare you to develop creative and technical skills in all kinds of animation techniques, from traditional stop motion to 3D production, turning your artistic ideas into professional projects.
Pixilation is a form of stop-motion animation that involves photographing real people or objects in a series of carefully controlled poses. Each photograph represents a single frame. When these frames are played at a standard frame rate (such as 24 frames per second), the viewer perceives movement.
This technique stands out because it blends the real and the animated, allowing creators to produce fantastical effects without digital manipulation. The key is precision: every frame must be planned, and the actor must remain still between shots.
Pixilation has been used in a wide range of creative and commercial contexts due to its expressive and unconventional aesthetic.
Since the early 20th century, filmmakers have used pixilation to achieve imaginative motion sequences. One of the first known examples is Jobard ne peut pas voir les femmes travailler (1911) by Émile Cohl. Later, productions such as The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (1993) by the Bolex Brothers made the most of the technique’s surreal potential.
Pixilation was also featured in the credits of Will Vinton’s Claymation (1978), marking the first recorded use of the term “claymation” — another stop-motion technique using malleable materials like clay or plasticine. The method even reached educational programmes such as Sesame Street and its Spanish version Barrio Sésamo.
In the music industry, pixilation creates eye-catching visuals that match rhythm and creativity. One of the most iconic examples is Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer (1986), which won multiple MTV awards for its innovative animation. Coldplay also employed this technique in Strawberry Swing (2009), transforming their performance into a moving artwork.
Pixilation helps brands craft memorable campaigns with distinctive visual language. Coca-Cola’s Happiness Factory and Honda’s The Power of Dreams commercials both used it to blend fantasy and reality, reinforcing emotional storytelling through movement and imagination.
Artists and content creators use pixilation to explore concepts such as identity, perception and motion. The accessibility of digital cameras and editing software has made it easier for creators to experiment with the medium and share their results on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
Pixilation also serves as an engaging educational tool. By experimenting with frame-by-frame movement, students learn the fundamentals of animation, visual storytelling and teamwork while developing patience and creativity.
Pixilation is more than a playful animation trick — it’s a creative bridge between live action and stop motion that continues to inspire filmmakers, designers and digital artists.
Whether you dream of working in film, gaming, advertising or education, mastering techniques like pixilation can expand your creative toolbox and help you stand out in the competitive world of visual production.
If you want to turn your passion for animation into a career, explore the Bachelor’s Degree in Animation at Universidad Europea, or any of the degrees in Design, where creativity meets cutting-edge technology.