Which animation style is characterized by stretching and bending in an exaggerated manner?

Rubber hose animation is characterized by its fluid and exaggerated movement, where characters often appear to have bendy, rubbery limbs. This style is notable for its simplicity in design, with characters typically lacking realistic anatomical features. The limbs are depicted as flexible and often stretch or squash in dynamic ways, creating a playful and whimsical effect that enhances comedic and exaggerated actions.

This style was prevalent in the early days of animation, particularly in the works of studios like Fleischer and characters such as Betty Boop and Popeye, where the emphasis was on fun, exaggeration, and a sense of freedom in motion that didn't adhere to the constraints of realistic physics. Rubber hose animation effectively utilizes these exaggerated movements to convey emotion and action, making it easily identifiable.

In contrast, stop-motion animation uses physical models in specific poses captured frame by frame, while 3D animation involves creating characters and environments in a digital space with more rigid structural integrity. Cut-out animation involves manipulating flat characters made from materials like paper or fabric, which does not emphasize the same kind of fluid, exaggerated motion seen in rubber hose animation. Thus, the characteristics of rubber hose animation stand out for their playful and exaggerated visual style.