Face Value – A Strange, Charming Student Short from Chris Plimmer
The stop-motion short Face Value, created by director and animator Chris Plimmer, is an inventive student film that proves how much personality and atmosphere can emerge from handmade puppetry, unusual storytelling, and raw imagination. Released on the Plim Stop Motion YouTube channel, the film has recently resurfaced after Plimmer shared a short clip on social media that reached millions of views and renewed public interest in the project.
Created approximately five years ago while Plimmer was studying animation at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, Face Value showcases an early but ambitious approach to character performance, set design, and experimental tone. The film is both charming and strangely unsettling, walking a playful line between humor, eeriness, and emotional ambiguity. The puppetry and shot composition give the short a quirky and tactile energy that feels immediately personal and handmade.
Plimmer has openly admitted that the imperfections of the film now make him “cringe professionally,” but that honesty only adds to its appeal. Like many student films, Face Value reflects the hunger, exploration, and raw experimentation of an artist still forming their creative identity. And that is precisely why it’s so compelling. The film’s blend of entertainment, surrealism, and emotional curiosity makes it memorable long after the credits roll.
The short also carries a textured mood and pacing that quietly creeps up on the viewer, making it creepy and delightful in equal measure. It is a reminder that stop motion does not need glossy production value to be effective—it needs ideas, heart, and curiosity. Face Value delivers all three.
At Stop Motion Magazine, we love this little gem. Student films are often an animator’s first true test, and even if the director looks at the film today and only sees its flaws, we see the promise and talent that would later help shape a skilled stop-motion artist. The puppetry, staging, and atmosphere are a testament to the expressive potential of early experimentation, and the short stands as a charming showcase of craft and imagination.
We’re happy this film resurfaced and found a new wave of appreciation, proving that even early creative work has lasting emotional resonance.
