Masters of Animated Obscurity

Identical twins Stephen and Timothy Quay, collectively known as the Quay Brothers, are celebrated for their uniquely unsettling and poetic contributions to the world of stop-motion animation. Since the 1980s, they have cultivated a cinematic style that defies traditional narrative, drawing heavily from Eastern European influences, particularly Czech animator Jan Švankmajer, as well as the writings of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz. Their best-known film, Street of Crocodiles (1986), is a masterclass in tactile storytelling—filled with rusted machinery, frayed dolls, and surreal, decaying sets that seem to breathe with life. The Quays rarely use dialogue, preferring to let mood, texture, and movement tell the story, creating films that feel like lost dreams or half-remembered memories.

The brothers’ artistic process is painstakingly detailed, often involving handcrafted puppets, miniature sets, and elaborate lighting to conjure their signature blend of beauty and decay. Their mise-en-scène is as important as the motion itself—filled with flickering shadows, subtle gestures, and fragmented objects that evoke a sense of haunted intimacy. Though their work exists mostly outside the mainstream, the Quay Brothers have left a lasting impression on the world of visual storytelling, inspiring artists and filmmakers including Christopher Nolan, who directed a short documentary about them in 2015. With each film, the Quays invite viewers into a darkly lyrical world where logic bends, objects seem sentient, and the unconscious mind takes center stage.