Claymation, Mr. Bill & Gumby: “Oh noooo!” And Other Joys

Part of the From the Archives collection — pull up a chair and revisit the television, music, technology, and cultural moments that shaped earlier generations.

Two little piles of clay earned lifetime leases in my memory: Gumby and Mr. Bill. Different eras, same magic—stop-motion characters who made us laugh till we cried.

What is “Claymation,” anyway?

“Claymation” is a term popularized (and trademarked) by Will Vinton, whose studio helped bring clay stop-motion to the mainstream in the late ’70s and ’80s (think the California Raisins). But the technique—moving clay figures a hair at a time between photos—goes back earlier. Which brings us to…

Gumby (mid-1950s)

• Creator: Art Clokey. He made a short called Gumbasia in 1955, and the little green guy soon followed.
• Debut: Gumby popped up on TV in the mid-50s (first on NBC, soon getting his own show).
• Audience: Kids, mainly—though the adventures had a surreal, dreamy quality adults still love.
• Vibe: Wholesome, imaginative, trippy in a gentle way. Gumby and his pal Pokey wandered into storybooks, toy towns, and odd corners of imagination.

Mr. Bill (1976 on SNL)

• Creator: Walter Williams. He mailed a Super 8 short to Saturday Night Live—it landed, and Mr. Bill became a recurring sketch.
• Debut: 1976, late-night SNL (so the original audience was adults).
• Vibe: A parody of children’s TV—with Mr. Hand and Sluggo “helping” Mr. Bill meet an absurd, squishy fate every time.
• Catchphrase: The wail heard ’round the living room: “Oh nooooo!” (Exactly the one you and your buddies yelled.)

Why they stuck

• They felt handmade. You could see fingerprints in the clay. That imperfection made them human.
• They were short and punchy. A few minutes, a clear gag, a memorable line—perfect for playgrounds and watercoolers.
• They scaled across ages. Gumby charmed kids; Mr. Bill lampooned kids’ shows for adults. Both lived in that sweet spot where silliness feels like home.

Fast timeline

• 1955: Art Clokey’s Gumbasia (prototype).
• Late 1950s: Gumby on TV (NBC), aimed at kids.
• 1976: Mr. Bill debuts on SNL (late-night adults), becomes a recurring bit.
• Late ’70s–’80s: Will Vinton’s studio popularizes the term Claymation and the look.

Your turn: Were you Team Gumby or Team Mr. Bill—or both? Drop your favorite memory (or your best “oh nooooo!”) in the comments.

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