Model Based Animation

Model based animation is animation done with the use of models, for example clay.
You model the clay to a shape of your liking and make a scene out off it.

Wallace & Gromit
Perhaps the most famous model animation is Wallace & Gromit, it is well known classic clay animation, there are over 100s of different pieces modelled and kept then changed during the shooting,
 for the making of the movie, there was 43 Gromits, and required the use of 2.8 tonnes of plastercine.

This is my animation, i chose to re-enact Godzilla. 

Usually before making your own Clay animation, you need to plan your story, and once you have decided on your story, you begin to create your models, making them as skillfully and detailed as possible, then you find the correct camera angle to best show your shot, for example i shot in the angle that didn't show the wires holding up my Godzilla model.