Claydream

Play trailer

2:14

Claydream

2022

1h 36m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Known as the "Father of Claymation," Will Vinton revolutionized the animation business during the 1980s and 90s, creating such iconic characters as the California Raisins and Domino's The Noid. But after thirty years of being the unheralded king of clay, Vinton's carefully sculpted American dream came crumbling down. Structured around interviews with this charismatic pioneer and his close collaborators, along with a treasure trove of clips of their work together, CLAYDREAM charts the rise and fall of the Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning Will Vinton Studios. Documentarian Marq Evans brings to life the battle between art and commerce in this affectionate, insightful portrait of an artist who put so much of himself into his craft.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A satisfying primer on a fascinating life and brilliant career, Claydream shines a sympathetic -- and overdue -- spotlight on the work of a one-of-a-kind artist.

Read Critics Reviews

Leslie Felperin

Guardian

11/15/2022

3/5

Strictly as a documentary it’s conventional and a bit snoozy, but animation geeks will revel in the chance it affords to learn more about Vinton, a mostly genial chap who nevertheless had some sharp corners to his character.

Go to Full Review

Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

08/18/2022

3/5

Claydream is a reminder of a master artist and visionary who revolutionized an art form... watch in wonder.

Go to Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

08/16/2022

3/4

A fascinating saga, especially for fans of animation.

Go to Full Review

Cory Woodroof

615 Film

11/10/2022

This doc does a splendid job of really making the case for why Vinton’s life was just as eye-opening as his output. It avoids hero worship to really find the honest truth of what this guy was able to do, and in that, you get all the admiration you need.

Go to Full Review

Alex Billington

FirstShowing.net

09/21/2022

8/10

I'm glad this doc exists, even if it's a bit aimless, because it offers everyone a chance to learn the truth about who Vinton was, and hear in his own words the story of his studio and his dream to tell stories entirely with clay.

Go to Full Review

Cheryl Eddy

io9.com

09/14/2022

It’s juicy show-biz stuff, for sure, but Vinton makes a point of turning what was obviously an incredibly devastating blow into something positive.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

dave d

@RT34924333 04/30/2024

The story of animator Will Vinton and his ups and downs is fairly standard as feature documentaries go, but for anyone who loves animated films and the making of them, this is a must. Vinton is an individual who is nuanced and that can make this feature riveting at its best moments. There are several tangents that work and add a layer of interest. Final Score: 7/10

See more

08/06/2022

The greatest true story 01 hour: and 36 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Made of clay!!!!!!!!!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Marq Evans

Director

Will Vinton

Self

Craig Bartlett

Self

Chuck Duke

Self

Melissa Mitchell

Self

Bob Gardiner

Self

Framing John DeLorean

92%

64%

Framing John DeLorean

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Framing John DeLorean

Skywalkers: A Love Story

74%

94%

Skywalkers: A Love Story

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Skywalkers: A Love Story

You Don't Nomi

89%

65%

You Don't Nomi

Watchlist

TRAILER

for You Don't Nomi

Pretending I'm a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story

93%

84%

Pretending I'm a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Pretending I'm a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story

Ailey

90%

88%

Ailey

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ailey

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Claydream: Trailer 1

2:14

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Known as the "Father of Claymation," Will Vinton revolutionized the animation business during the 1980s and 90s, creating such iconic characters as the California Raisins and Domino's The Noid. But after thirty years of being the unheralded king of clay, Vinton's carefully sculpted American dream came crumbling down. Structured around interviews with this charismatic pioneer and his close collaborators, along with a treasure trove of clips of their work together, CLAYDREAM charts the rise and fall of the Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning Will Vinton Studios. Documentarian Marq Evans brings to life the battle between art and commerce in this affectionate, insightful portrait of an artist who put so much of himself into his craft.

Director: Marq Evans
Producer: Marq Evans, Tamir Ardon, Kevin Moyer, Nick Spicer
Screenwriter: Marq Evans
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: XYZ Films, The McCaw, Starburns Industries
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 5, 2022, Limited
Runtime: 1h 36m