Stop-motion technology in "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" — Sony Pictures Entertainment

"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" opens Friday, April 27, 2012.

The stop-motion animation team Aardman Animations, known for films like "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" and "Chicken Run," returns with an adventure on the high seas.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

The film features voice acting by British actor Hugh Grant as the Pirate Captain.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Actor Hugh Grant pictured here recording the voice of the Pirate Captain.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Actor Hugh Grant pictured here recording the voice of the Pirate Captain.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Actor Hugh Grant on the set of "The Pirates! Band of Misfits."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Artist Jonny Duddle demonstrates the evolution of character animation from initial sketches to animated characters.

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" used more computer-generated imagery than previous films by director Peter Lord.

"Water was the main reason we used more CGI in this film," Lord told CBS News. "The more general reason was to make the hand-made world bigger."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

"Water was the main reason we used more CGI in this film," Lord told CBS News. "The more general reason was to make the hand-made world bigger."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

Lord welcomed the use of CGI technology to enhance his signature clay animation style.

"I loved working with CGI," Lord told CBS News. "It was liberating as a filmmaker. When I saw the CGI work come in, I was so happy."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

"I have a great affection for stop-motion animation - it's what we do well. It has a great humility about it," Lord told CBS News.

"It has a tactile, handmade quality to it. You can tell it's made by artists. There's a human quality to it."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" was filmed for 3D, which was a first for Lord.

"When you do claymation, you have puppets. You pose them, take the frame and then move on," Lord explained to CBS news. "When you film in 3D, each take requires two frames."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

"When you do claymation, you have puppets. You pose them, take the frame and then move on," Lord explained to CBS news. "When you film in 3D, each take requires two frames."

"I was happy to do it," Lord told CBS News. "It was quite easy, technically. So that was great."

Behind the scenes with stop-motion animation film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits"