There are these things called StickBots. They are little action figures that you can move around and pose in all sorts of ways. And you do stop motion with them. I have done a few short little ones that are pretty cool. There is even an app for it. The first one I made with a prop was one where the stickbot walked onscreen, dodged a pencil stabbing at him, then did the matrix has it came at him again. It looks very nice and was very smooth.