Claymation characters from The Pirates Band of Misfits on display...

If like me you're a fan of claymation animated films, then you'll love this exhibit of characters from Aardman Animation's new comedy, The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

Actual claymation models from The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Personally I've loved Nick Park's unique creations since his 1989 Creature Comforts animated short, so it's fantastic to see the animation studio enjoying more international success in 2012, and it was a pleasure to see these three clay animation characters from The Pirates! up close at ArcLight Pasadena cinema on April 17, 2012.

Cutlass Liz is voiced by Salma Hayek in The Pirates!

Included in the display was female pirate and the 'Butcher of Barbados', appropriately named 'Cutlass Liz'.

Black Bellamy is voiced by Jeremy Piven in The Pirates!

In the movie, 'Black Bellamy' is the longtime arch-nemesis of the Pirate Captain.

Peg Leg Hastings is voiced by Lenny Henry in The Pirates!

When you any kind of animation on the big screen, you always forget how much work has gone into every frame, but these clay models really help you to glimpse a little of what happens behind-the-scenes.

The Pirates! clay animation models on display at ArcLight Pasadena

If you like these animation models, you may also like these cool stop-motion models and sets from Fantastic Mr. Fox and stop-motion puppets from Coraline.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits movie billboard

Buy the movie tie-in book: The Pirates! Band of Misfits (Movie Tie-in Edition): An Adventure with Scientists & An Adventure with Ahab