Clay Pride: Being Clay in America

Steve Thompson, age 31, introduces himself to us: he's clay. He talks about the struggle of growing up clay, feeling different, getting picked on at school, thinking it was his fault, and drowning his sorrows at a clay bar. His dad, Lance, talks sympathetically about his son. Off camera, "Mr. X" looks back at the 1970s, when being clay was cool, but that time has passed. Steve discovers a support group, which helps him to accept that it's okay to be clay.

Directed by David Karlsberg, Jon Watts, Clay Pride: Being Clay in America leans on a strong ensemble — Trevor Lissauer, Leonard Termo, Ronald White — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about animation titles of 2001.