The British Film Institute has partnered with film animation studio Laika to start its event series Stop Motion: Celebrating Hand-Crafted Animation On The Big Screen, which will offer free screenings for children under 16 and include Laika’s five films to date: “Coraline” (2009), “Paranorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014), “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) and “Missing Link” (2019), all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for outstanding animated feature.
The season, curated by BFI Southbank Lead Programmer Justin Johnson, will take place from Aug. 1 through Oct. 9. Additional titles playing on the big screen throughout the season will include “King Kong” (1933), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Chicken Run” (2001), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Coraline” (2009), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) and “Anomalisa” (2015).
A free exhibition at BFI Southbank, Laika: Frame x Frame, will also run and showcase the art, science and innovation of the studio’s films. The exhibition will allow visitors an exclusive look at puppets, sets and artifacts from...
The season, curated by BFI Southbank Lead Programmer Justin Johnson, will take place from Aug. 1 through Oct. 9. Additional titles playing on the big screen throughout the season will include “King Kong” (1933), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Chicken Run” (2001), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Coraline” (2009), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) and “Anomalisa” (2015).
A free exhibition at BFI Southbank, Laika: Frame x Frame, will also run and showcase the art, science and innovation of the studio’s films. The exhibition will allow visitors an exclusive look at puppets, sets and artifacts from...
- 5/15/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Lexi Carson, Jack Dunn and Selena Kuznikov
- Variety Film + TV
In July of 2023, Netflix announced that not only had they axed their plans to adapt Mattel's "Masters of the Universe" property into a live-action film, but they were doing so after spending over $30 million in development. Fans had been looking forward to a human He-Man flick since it was first announced in 2007, but the development with Sony Pictures in 2022 seemed like a sure bet. Then it was scrapped, but the project's move to Netflix made sense considering the streamer is home to "He-Man & Masters of the Universe," "Masters of the Universe: Revelation," and "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power." Unfortunately, Netflix dropped the project, which had already cast actor/dancer Kyle Allen to play He-Man/Prince Adam, and Mattel was left looking for a new home for the film. According to a recent report from Variety, that home has been found with Amazon and Travis Knight has been announced as the director.
- 5/2/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of April titles. The April 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi April 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the web at Tubi.tv.
Tubi Originals
Documentary
Behind...
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi April 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the web at Tubi.tv.
Tubi Originals
Documentary
Behind...
- 3/19/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
When you're a long-running network TV series with 20-plus hours of material to deliver every season, you're inevitably going to take some wild swings to meet your quota. "Bones" was as formulaic as any other television procedural, but it had a good deal more personality and would find ways to spice things up now and then. Sometimes that meant a break in format, like when it showed an entire episode from the perspective of a victim's skull. Other times, that meant inviting further "X-Files" comparisons by forcing its investigating heroes to uncover the truth behind what appears to be an extraordinary crime.
In season 6, episode 19, "The Truth in the Myth," the power couple of forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) are tasked with looking into the death of Lee Coleman (Leigh McCloskey), a myth-buster -- not that kind -- who hosted...
In season 6, episode 19, "The Truth in the Myth," the power couple of forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) are tasked with looking into the death of Lee Coleman (Leigh McCloskey), a myth-buster -- not that kind -- who hosted...
- 1/28/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
In just a few weeks, the 18th recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature will be revealed. While it is highly likely that the new winner will share a 3D visual style in common with nearly all of its predecessors, voters may instead decide to finally honor a fully hand-drawn movie for the first time. Fittingly, this monumental distinction would be credited to the legendary Studio Ghibli and its esteemed cofounder, Hayao Miyazaki, who suspended his brief retirement in order to make his dozenth film, “The Boy and the Heron.”
With an original plot that pointedly references the classic Japanese novel “How Do You Live?,” “The Boy and the Heron” is the 25th entry in Studio Ghibli’s animated canon and the company’s 10th film released after the creation of this Golden Globe category. Although four of its post-2005 productions earned Oscar notices for Best Animated Feature,...
With an original plot that pointedly references the classic Japanese novel “How Do You Live?,” “The Boy and the Heron” is the 25th entry in Studio Ghibli’s animated canon and the company’s 10th film released after the creation of this Golden Globe category. Although four of its post-2005 productions earned Oscar notices for Best Animated Feature,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Laika, the groundbreaking Portland, Oregon-based animation studio, has brought in new filmmakers in the form of director Pete Candeland and Victor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres, the duo known as Headless, TheWrap has confirmed.
Candeland and Headless will be developing new animated features, although details on those features have yet to be revealed.
Maldonado and Torres won an Annie for an episode of the Guillermo del Toro DreamWorks Animation series “Trollhunters” and have also directed three episodes of Netflix’s adult animated series “Love, Death & Robots.” Maldonado also directed and co-wrote “Nocturna,” a 2007 animated feature. Torres also worked on “Nocturna” as production designer, which won the Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards. They also worked on the animated sequences from J.A. Bayona’s “A Monster Calls” and were in development at Skydance Animation, which recently moved its feature output from Apple TV+ to Netflix.
Candeland is best known for directing music videos for Gorillaz,...
Candeland and Headless will be developing new animated features, although details on those features have yet to be revealed.
Maldonado and Torres won an Annie for an episode of the Guillermo del Toro DreamWorks Animation series “Trollhunters” and have also directed three episodes of Netflix’s adult animated series “Love, Death & Robots.” Maldonado also directed and co-wrote “Nocturna,” a 2007 animated feature. Torres also worked on “Nocturna” as production designer, which won the Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards. They also worked on the animated sequences from J.A. Bayona’s “A Monster Calls” and were in development at Skydance Animation, which recently moved its feature output from Apple TV+ to Netflix.
Candeland is best known for directing music videos for Gorillaz,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Oregon studio Laika has brought in new talent, hiring director Pete Candeland, along with Victor Maldonado & Alfredo Torres, the Annie Award-winning duo together known as Headless, to develop new animated features.
The appointments are effective immediately, though there’s no word yet on what the projects are.
Maldonado and Torres are an L.A.-based team that landed their Annie for the helming of “Win, Lose or Draal,” an episode of the Guillermo del Toro series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Double Dare You Productions. The duo also directed three episodes of the Emmy-winning Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots, additionally partnering on the 2007 fantasy Nocturna which won Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars. Maldonado directed that title alongside Adrià García, with Torres serving as production designer and tackling numerous other creative responsibilities.
Maldonado and Torres also...
The appointments are effective immediately, though there’s no word yet on what the projects are.
Maldonado and Torres are an L.A.-based team that landed their Annie for the helming of “Win, Lose or Draal,” an episode of the Guillermo del Toro series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Double Dare You Productions. The duo also directed three episodes of the Emmy-winning Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots, additionally partnering on the 2007 fantasy Nocturna which won Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars. Maldonado directed that title alongside Adrià García, with Torres serving as production designer and tackling numerous other creative responsibilities.
Maldonado and Torres also...
- 10/25/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s a lot to watch on Prime Video in October and, as you may have guessed, there’s spooky stuff galore in amongst Prime’s usual rotation of extensive library content.
In the movie Totally Killer, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Kiernan Shipka travels back in time to the 1980s to stop a serial killer. Then there’s Make Me Scream, a Halloween special that challenges celebrities to “a gruesome game of terror.” Renfield will also be streaming on the service for anyone who’s been dying (muahahaha!) to catch the Nic Cage Dracula film.
Outside of Prime Video’s more creepy fare, Shazam! Fury Of The Gods will debut, Upload will be back for a third season, and new film Awareness should scratch your sci-fi itch. Meanwhile, for Frasier heads – those who consider themselves utterly Frasier-pilled – all eleven seasons of the Cheers spinoff show will be streaming at the touch of a button.
In the movie Totally Killer, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Kiernan Shipka travels back in time to the 1980s to stop a serial killer. Then there’s Make Me Scream, a Halloween special that challenges celebrities to “a gruesome game of terror.” Renfield will also be streaming on the service for anyone who’s been dying (muahahaha!) to catch the Nic Cage Dracula film.
Outside of Prime Video’s more creepy fare, Shazam! Fury Of The Gods will debut, Upload will be back for a third season, and new film Awareness should scratch your sci-fi itch. Meanwhile, for Frasier heads – those who consider themselves utterly Frasier-pilled – all eleven seasons of the Cheers spinoff show will be streaming at the touch of a button.
- 10/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
If you’re looking for a complete list of every new movie and TV show coming to Amazon Prime Video in October, you’ve come to the right place. This month kicks off with a slew of great library additions, from James Bond films to relatively new releases (“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and the Nicolas Cage Dracula movie “Renfield”) and beyond.
There are also some high-profile originals landing in October. The third season of the sci-fi comedy series “Upload” arrives on Oct. 20, while Oct. 6 marks the release of the Prime Video original film “Totally Killer,” a fun slasher set in the 1980s that stars Kiernan Shipka.
Check out the full list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in October 2023 below, followed by a complete list of new arrivals for Freevee in October as well.
Arriving October 1
Frasier, Seasons 1-11 (1994)
Hit, Season 3 (2020)
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
A Guy Thing...
There are also some high-profile originals landing in October. The third season of the sci-fi comedy series “Upload” arrives on Oct. 20, while Oct. 6 marks the release of the Prime Video original film “Totally Killer,” a fun slasher set in the 1980s that stars Kiernan Shipka.
Check out the full list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in October 2023 below, followed by a complete list of new arrivals for Freevee in October as well.
Arriving October 1
Frasier, Seasons 1-11 (1994)
Hit, Season 3 (2020)
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
A Guy Thing...
- 9/30/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
“Coraline,” 2009’s Oscar-nominated animated feature from Laika Studios, grossed a combined $4.91 million in a limited theatrical rerelease via Fathom Events.
The success of the screenings, which were held Monday and Tuesday, has led to two additional screenings of the Henry Selick-directed film being added on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.
The showings, hosted by Fathom in partnership with Laika and Park Circus, placed the film third in gross box office behind “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” It ranked as the highest grosser in per screen average on both days, making $3,000 per screen.
“As of now, Coraline is Fathom’s biggest classic movie of all time and the second highest grossing title for 2023,” Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Events, said in a statement. “This film carries such a large fan following year after year, and they certainly came out in force this year to see their favorite film.”
The stop-motion film based on the...
The success of the screenings, which were held Monday and Tuesday, has led to two additional screenings of the Henry Selick-directed film being added on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.
The showings, hosted by Fathom in partnership with Laika and Park Circus, placed the film third in gross box office behind “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” It ranked as the highest grosser in per screen average on both days, making $3,000 per screen.
“As of now, Coraline is Fathom’s biggest classic movie of all time and the second highest grossing title for 2023,” Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Events, said in a statement. “This film carries such a large fan following year after year, and they certainly came out in force this year to see their favorite film.”
The stop-motion film based on the...
- 8/16/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Zach Galifianakis, an American comedian and actor, has gained recognition for his notable roles in the film industry. Perhaps best known for his portrayal of Alan in The Hangover trilogy (2009–2013), Galifianakis also hosted the talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis (2008–2018) on Funny or Die.
Born on October 1, 1969, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Galifianakis began his career as a stand-up comedian in New York City. His comedic talent earned him appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Saturday Night Live, as well as a starring role in the Comedy Central sketch comedy series, The Man Show.
Galifianakis achieved a breakthrough in 2009 with his role in The Hangover, which became a tremendous success at the box office. His portrayal of Alan received critical acclaim, leading to his reprisal of the character in the sequels, The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover Part III (2013).
Beyond The Hangover trilogy, Galifianakis has showcased...
Born on October 1, 1969, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Galifianakis began his career as a stand-up comedian in New York City. His comedic talent earned him appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Saturday Night Live, as well as a starring role in the Comedy Central sketch comedy series, The Man Show.
Galifianakis achieved a breakthrough in 2009 with his role in The Hangover, which became a tremendous success at the box office. His portrayal of Alan received critical acclaim, leading to his reprisal of the character in the sequels, The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover Part III (2013).
Beyond The Hangover trilogy, Galifianakis has showcased...
- 7/29/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Travis Knight, president and CEO of animation studio Laika, has been appointed to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Board of Trustees. Additionally, the museum announced the appointment of motion picture producer and former chair of the Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee, Effie T. Brown, as an honorary trustee (a lifetime position), effective July 1, 2023.
According to an official statement from the museum: “As the governing body of the Academy Museum, the Board leads the museum toward a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, in addition to securing adequate resources to advance the museum’s mission. Knight and Brown will help continue the success of the museum and its social impact for audiences worldwide.”
Additionally, the Academy Museum’s Board of Trustees has also re-elected Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Arnaud Boetsch, Olivier de Givenchy, Ray Halbritter, Ryan Murphy, Regina Scully, whose current terms end June 30, 2023, for another three-year term.
According to an official statement from the museum: “As the governing body of the Academy Museum, the Board leads the museum toward a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, in addition to securing adequate resources to advance the museum’s mission. Knight and Brown will help continue the success of the museum and its social impact for audiences worldwide.”
Additionally, the Academy Museum’s Board of Trustees has also re-elected Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Arnaud Boetsch, Olivier de Givenchy, Ray Halbritter, Ryan Murphy, Regina Scully, whose current terms end June 30, 2023, for another three-year term.
- 6/21/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
A rare and extensive animation collection from Steven Spielberg, Shirley Kurata’s Oscar-nominated costumes from 2022 Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All at Once, a blacklisted writer’s original Oscar statuette from 1958’s The Defiant Ones and the more than 700-film collection of legendary film scholar and Honorary Oscar recipient Kevin Brownlow are just a few of the latest donations to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ vast collections housed at the Margaret Herrick Library on Beverly Hills, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Academy Film Archive. These items and many more just add to the eye-popping collected works for AMPAS, the largest film-related collection in the world (next to my garage – Not).
The Steven Spielberg Animation Collection, which includes more an 150 pieces of original animation art from 1932-52 is such a prize that the Academy is renaming its Herrick Library’s Graphic Arts department — which also includes posters,...
The Steven Spielberg Animation Collection, which includes more an 150 pieces of original animation art from 1932-52 is such a prize that the Academy is renaming its Herrick Library’s Graphic Arts department — which also includes posters,...
- 6/20/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Lightsabers up: Ahsoka wielding the dual ‘sabers. It’s an event a decade-and-a-half in the making, opening up a tantalising future while drawing from seeds laid long ago in The Clone Wars and Rebels – and putting the Togruta warrior centre-stage at last.
In Empire’s world-exclusive Ahsoka issue, we take a deep dive into her much-anticipated series – and the thrilling path it’s set to forge through the Star Wars galaxy. And while the mag isn’t hitting newsstands until Thursday 8 June, you can take a sneak peek inside its pages here.
Become an Empire member here.
Ahsoka
Anakin’s Padawan. (No longer) Jedi. Rebel warrior. Ahsoka Tano has been many things over the years – and now, she’s finally the main event. In Ahsoka, she’ll be blasting into her own expansive adventure, shepherded by Dave Filoni, with Rosario Dawson donning the blue and white lekku. In our world-exclusive cover feature,...
In Empire’s world-exclusive Ahsoka issue, we take a deep dive into her much-anticipated series – and the thrilling path it’s set to forge through the Star Wars galaxy. And while the mag isn’t hitting newsstands until Thursday 8 June, you can take a sneak peek inside its pages here.
Become an Empire member here.
Ahsoka
Anakin’s Padawan. (No longer) Jedi. Rebel warrior. Ahsoka Tano has been many things over the years – and now, she’s finally the main event. In Ahsoka, she’ll be blasting into her own expansive adventure, shepherded by Dave Filoni, with Rosario Dawson donning the blue and white lekku. In our world-exclusive cover feature,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Ben Travis, Sophie Butcher, Owen Williams
- Empire - Movies
They’re the studio behind some of cinema’s most beloved stop-motion characters and stories – including the dark, fantastical coming-of-age Coraline, zombie comedy ParaNorman, samurai epic Kubo And The Two Strings, and, most recently, the massively fun Missing Link. All five of their feature films were nominated for Oscars, and they remain one of the most imaginative, original and eccentric homes for animation in the world. Yes, we’re talking about Laika, the stop-motion super-studio led by CEO and feature director Travis Knight – and in the new issue of Empire, we get to pull back the painstakingly-animated curtain on Laika’s process, paying a visit to their headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
Talking to Knight, plus members of the team including animator Jason Stalman, head of production Arianne Sutner and more, Empire walks around Laika’s 40,000-square-foot warehouse, getting world-exclusive access to every inch of the puppet-filled studios. We stop by the sets,...
Talking to Knight, plus members of the team including animator Jason Stalman, head of production Arianne Sutner and more, Empire walks around Laika’s 40,000-square-foot warehouse, getting world-exclusive access to every inch of the puppet-filled studios. We stop by the sets,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Sophie Butcher
- Empire - Movies
Laika, the Portland-based animation studio behind movies such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, has hired Jeremy Kipp Walker and Chaz Salembier as part of a push into live-action filmmaking.
Walker becomes executive vp, live-action production after serving as head of production for Netflix’s independent film division. His credits include The Big Sick, Half Nelson, Table 19, Mississippi Grind and It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
Salembier, a veteran of Walt Disney Studios, becomes creative vp, live-action film at Laika, charged with identifying and developing stories for the indie studio’s live-action film slate, starting at the Cannes Film Festival.
Both Laika hires will report to Matt Levin, president of live-action film and series, who joined the indie studio in the new role in February after a long tenure at Netflix.
Besides production on its sixth animated movie Wildwood, directed by Laika founder Travis Knight, the studio...
Walker becomes executive vp, live-action production after serving as head of production for Netflix’s independent film division. His credits include The Big Sick, Half Nelson, Table 19, Mississippi Grind and It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
Salembier, a veteran of Walt Disney Studios, becomes creative vp, live-action film at Laika, charged with identifying and developing stories for the indie studio’s live-action film slate, starting at the Cannes Film Festival.
Both Laika hires will report to Matt Levin, president of live-action film and series, who joined the indie studio in the new role in February after a long tenure at Netflix.
Besides production on its sixth animated movie Wildwood, directed by Laika founder Travis Knight, the studio...
- 5/25/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Nimona” is nearly here. And before it hits the streaming service next month, Netflix has just unleashed a new trailer for the animated feature that gives viewers a taste of its world and introduces the titular shapeshifting teen (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz). You can watch the new teaser below.
The trailer is pretty inventive, with a paper cutout introduction to the world of “Nimona” – it takes place in The Kingdom, a kind of futuristic medieval society that has been trained to fear a race of mythical creatures. (They have erected a massive wall – sound familiar?) A disgraced, one-armed knight who was framed for murder (Riz Ahmed), winds up befriending Nimona, who turns out to be one of these creatures – she can shapeshift into virtually anything or anyone. Together, they both are searching for acceptance – and to clear their respective names.
Also Read:
‘Elemental’: How Director Peter Sohn’s...
The trailer is pretty inventive, with a paper cutout introduction to the world of “Nimona” – it takes place in The Kingdom, a kind of futuristic medieval society that has been trained to fear a race of mythical creatures. (They have erected a massive wall – sound familiar?) A disgraced, one-armed knight who was framed for murder (Riz Ahmed), winds up befriending Nimona, who turns out to be one of these creatures – she can shapeshift into virtually anything or anyone. Together, they both are searching for acceptance – and to clear their respective names.
Also Read:
‘Elemental’: How Director Peter Sohn’s...
- 5/18/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Laika’s Chief Marketing Officer David Burke has added Chief Operating Officer to his responsibilities at the Oscar-winning studio.
Burke joined Laika in 2019 from Universal Pictures, where he had been General Manager for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2006. Burke will report to Laika President & CEO, Travis Knight.
Burke’s role at Laika has expanded to encompass all aspects of the company’s Operations activities while remaining the lead on brand marketing and film promotions. He is also involved in developing Laika’s Live Action strategy.
“I am thrilled to take on the expanded role of Chief Marketing and Operations Officer at Laika. I am grateful to our CEO Travis Knight for his leadership and trust in me to help drive the company’s mission forward. Our team of talented colleagues is second to none, and I am excited to continue working alongside them in this new capacity.
Burke joined Laika in 2019 from Universal Pictures, where he had been General Manager for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2006. Burke will report to Laika President & CEO, Travis Knight.
Burke’s role at Laika has expanded to encompass all aspects of the company’s Operations activities while remaining the lead on brand marketing and film promotions. He is also involved in developing Laika’s Live Action strategy.
“I am thrilled to take on the expanded role of Chief Marketing and Operations Officer at Laika. I am grateful to our CEO Travis Knight for his leadership and trust in me to help drive the company’s mission forward. Our team of talented colleagues is second to none, and I am excited to continue working alongside them in this new capacity.
- 5/10/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix’s animated output is certainly having a moment, between the Best Animated Feature win for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” and the acquisition of Animal Logic, the Australian animation studio that had previously been responsible for “Happy Feet,” “The Lego Movie” and “DC League of Super-Pets” (among many others). The streamer has just unveiled its 2023-2024 slate, revealing new details about upcoming projects like “Nimona” and announcing new movies like “Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,” a brand-new “SpongeBob SquarePants” film.
Read on for the full rundown of Netflix’s upcoming animated films and see brand-new images.
“Nimona” “Nimona” (Netflix)
Coming this summer is “Nimona,” based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson and set in a futuristic yet still medieval world, it centers around a disgraced knight (Riz Ahmed) and a young shapeshifter (Chloë Grace Moretz) who team up to clear both of their names. We’d...
Read on for the full rundown of Netflix’s upcoming animated films and see brand-new images.
“Nimona” “Nimona” (Netflix)
Coming this summer is “Nimona,” based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson and set in a futuristic yet still medieval world, it centers around a disgraced knight (Riz Ahmed) and a young shapeshifter (Chloë Grace Moretz) who team up to clear both of their names. We’d...
- 4/25/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” movie is beginning to shape up with the casting of Zach Galifianakis.
Galifianakis takes on an undisclosed role in the new movie, which is planned for release on Disney+. Dean Fleischer Camp — whose “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is nominated for best animated feature at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards — is directing the adaptation, from a script by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright.
The live-action movie follows the hit 2002 animated family film, which grossed 273 million at the global box office. Written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, “Lilo & Stitch” centers on 6-year-old Lilo and her teenage sister Nani, who live in Hawaii and adopt an adorable — though sometimes a little destructive — blue extraterrestrial creature nicknamed Stitch. While the movie featured catchy songs, like “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” it also introduced audiences to the concept of ohana, which means family — and as Stitch instills in the group,...
Galifianakis takes on an undisclosed role in the new movie, which is planned for release on Disney+. Dean Fleischer Camp — whose “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is nominated for best animated feature at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards — is directing the adaptation, from a script by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright.
The live-action movie follows the hit 2002 animated family film, which grossed 273 million at the global box office. Written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, “Lilo & Stitch” centers on 6-year-old Lilo and her teenage sister Nani, who live in Hawaii and adopt an adorable — though sometimes a little destructive — blue extraterrestrial creature nicknamed Stitch. While the movie featured catchy songs, like “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” it also introduced audiences to the concept of ohana, which means family — and as Stitch instills in the group,...
- 2/17/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover franchise) has signed on to star in the live-action Lilo & Stitch film from Marcell the Shell With Shoes On filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, Deadline can confirm.
Details as to his role in the Disney+ pic are under wraps. But the original 2002 animated film examined the relationship between a lonely girl named Lilo and the alien, Stitch, engineered to be a force of destruction.
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright scripted the new film, from a previous draft by Mike Van Waes. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will produce for Rideback, with Ryan Halprin exec producing for the company.
Galifianakis is an Emmy-winning actor and comedian best known for roles in The Hangover franchise and FX’s acclaimed comedy series Baskets, as well as his short-form Funny or Die talk show, Between Two Ferns. He’s also previously appeared in films like A Wrinkle in Time, Birdman, The Campaign and Due Date,...
Details as to his role in the Disney+ pic are under wraps. But the original 2002 animated film examined the relationship between a lonely girl named Lilo and the alien, Stitch, engineered to be a force of destruction.
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright scripted the new film, from a previous draft by Mike Van Waes. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will produce for Rideback, with Ryan Halprin exec producing for the company.
Galifianakis is an Emmy-winning actor and comedian best known for roles in The Hangover franchise and FX’s acclaimed comedy series Baskets, as well as his short-form Funny or Die talk show, Between Two Ferns. He’s also previously appeared in films like A Wrinkle in Time, Birdman, The Campaign and Due Date,...
- 2/17/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Laika’s planned expansion into the realm of live-action was furthered on Tuesday, with the announcement that longtime Netflix executive Matt Levin will be joining the studio in the newly created role of President, Live-Action Film & Series.
The venerated Oregon animation studio’s hire comes amidst development on its first live-action project — a feature adaptation of the action-thriller novel Seventeen by screenwriter John Brownlow.
Levin joins the stop-motion specialist following eight years at Netflix, where he most recently served as Director, Original Independent Film. He co-founded that department and is credited with helping it grow into a full-scale mini-major. His direct report at Laika is President & CEO Travis Knight, who also helmed the company’s acclaimed 2016 feature, Kubo and the Two Strings.
Knight remarked in a statement that “Matt Levin is an awesome dude. Both a steely-eyed pragmatist and a starry-eyed dreamer, Matt is the perfect partner...
The venerated Oregon animation studio’s hire comes amidst development on its first live-action project — a feature adaptation of the action-thriller novel Seventeen by screenwriter John Brownlow.
Levin joins the stop-motion specialist following eight years at Netflix, where he most recently served as Director, Original Independent Film. He co-founded that department and is credited with helping it grow into a full-scale mini-major. His direct report at Laika is President & CEO Travis Knight, who also helmed the company’s acclaimed 2016 feature, Kubo and the Two Strings.
Knight remarked in a statement that “Matt Levin is an awesome dude. Both a steely-eyed pragmatist and a starry-eyed dreamer, Matt is the perfect partner...
- 2/7/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Laika, the innovative, Portland, Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio, and the Museum of Pop Culture, a leading-edge nonprofit museum in Seattle, are partnering for a new exhibition that will immerse visitors in the “hidden worlds” of Laika’s five magical features. Hidden Worlds: The Films of Laika is the largest exhibition Laika has ever mounted and sets to focus on the “hidden worlds” of “the [films] magical settings the characters inhabit, and the behind-the-scenes wonders of producing these modern classics.”
The exhibition spans more than 7,500 square feet of exhibition space with immersive displays, film artifacts, props, and interactive elements tied into Laika’s five features – 2009’s “Coraline,” 2012’s “ParaNorman,” 2014’s “The Boxtrolls,” 2016’s “Kubo and the Two Strings” and 2019’s “Missing Link.” Plus, if you’re looking to get a look at the studio’s forthcoming feature “Wildwood,” there will be elements from the new movie as part of the exhibit too.
The exhibition spans more than 7,500 square feet of exhibition space with immersive displays, film artifacts, props, and interactive elements tied into Laika’s five features – 2009’s “Coraline,” 2012’s “ParaNorman,” 2014’s “The Boxtrolls,” 2016’s “Kubo and the Two Strings” and 2019’s “Missing Link.” Plus, if you’re looking to get a look at the studio’s forthcoming feature “Wildwood,” there will be elements from the new movie as part of the exhibit too.
- 1/31/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Laika and the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle will launch the largest exhibition ever mounted devoted to the acclaimed, global leading stop-motion studio. “Hidden Worlds: The Films of Laika” opens March 17 at MoPop and spans more than 7,500 square feet of exhibition space with immersive displays, film artifacts, and interactives concerning Laika’s state-of-the art crafts and emerging tech.
The exhibition will spotlight Laika’s five Oscar-nominated films — “Coraline” (2009), “ParaNorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014),”Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016), “Missing Link” (2019) — along with the upcoming fantasy-adventure “Wildwood,” directed by Laika president Travis Knight, and featuring a voice cast led by Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett.
“Laika is a multifaceted community of dreamers, makers, storytellers, scientists, engineers, and artists all committed to making movies that matter,” said David Burke, Laika’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president operations. “We believe that cinema is...
The exhibition will spotlight Laika’s five Oscar-nominated films — “Coraline” (2009), “ParaNorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014),”Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016), “Missing Link” (2019) — along with the upcoming fantasy-adventure “Wildwood,” directed by Laika president Travis Knight, and featuring a voice cast led by Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett.
“Laika is a multifaceted community of dreamers, makers, storytellers, scientists, engineers, and artists all committed to making movies that matter,” said David Burke, Laika’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president operations. “We believe that cinema is...
- 1/31/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Taking home the Golden Globe for best animated feature film, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” just made Netflix the first streamer ever to win the category. Del Toro made history for himself, too, as the first Latino winner.
Accepting the Golden Globe, del Toro proclaimed that “animation is cinema,” continuing, “Animation is not a genre for kids, it’s a medium.”
Since the category’s inception in 2006, only four winners of the Globes’ animation category have failed to win at the Oscars: “Cars” (2006), “The Adventures of Tintin” (2011), “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014) and “Missing Link” (2019). They lost to fellow Globe-nominees “Happy Feet,” “Rango,” “Big Hero 6” and “Toy Story 4,” respectively. Steven Spielberg’s “Tintin” is the only film to win the Globe and not receive an Oscar nom.
Netflix has received four nods for animated feature at the Oscars — “I Lost My Body” (2020), “Klaus” (2020), “Over the Moon” (2021) and...
Accepting the Golden Globe, del Toro proclaimed that “animation is cinema,” continuing, “Animation is not a genre for kids, it’s a medium.”
Since the category’s inception in 2006, only four winners of the Globes’ animation category have failed to win at the Oscars: “Cars” (2006), “The Adventures of Tintin” (2011), “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014) and “Missing Link” (2019). They lost to fellow Globe-nominees “Happy Feet,” “Rango,” “Big Hero 6” and “Toy Story 4,” respectively. Steven Spielberg’s “Tintin” is the only film to win the Globe and not receive an Oscar nom.
Netflix has received four nods for animated feature at the Oscars — “I Lost My Body” (2020), “Klaus” (2020), “Over the Moon” (2021) and...
- 1/11/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Hugh Jackman is returning Down Under to battle buff kangaroos alongside Koala Man. And yes, that is the premise of a new animated Hulu series from the team behind “Rick & Morty.”
Academy Award winner Jackman stars opposite series creator and animator Michael Cusack, who plays the titular hero, in “Koala Man” about a local vigilante who solves crimes in the fictional Australian suburb of Dapto.
The official synopsis reads: “Koala Man” follows middle-aged dad Kevin and his titular not-so-secret identity, whose only superpower is a burning passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime in the town of Dapto. Though it may seem like any other Australian suburb, forces of evil both cosmic and man-made lie in wait to pounce on unsuspecting Daptonians. On a quest to clean up his hometown, and often roping his frustrated family into his adventures, Koala Man stands at the ready. He’ll...
Academy Award winner Jackman stars opposite series creator and animator Michael Cusack, who plays the titular hero, in “Koala Man” about a local vigilante who solves crimes in the fictional Australian suburb of Dapto.
The official synopsis reads: “Koala Man” follows middle-aged dad Kevin and his titular not-so-secret identity, whose only superpower is a burning passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime in the town of Dapto. Though it may seem like any other Australian suburb, forces of evil both cosmic and man-made lie in wait to pounce on unsuspecting Daptonians. On a quest to clean up his hometown, and often roping his frustrated family into his adventures, Koala Man stands at the ready. He’ll...
- 1/3/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
.
“Little Nicolas,” the nostalgic, hand-drawn ode to the popular French children’s book series and its creators — René Goscinny (“Asterix”) and the late illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé — won the Grand Prize at the fifth annual Animation Is Film Festival (Aif), held last weekend at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood. This should help the France-Luxembourg release from directors Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre secure U.S. distribution.
“My Father’s Dragon” (Cartoon Saloon/Netflix), the 2D adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s classic children’s book, from Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey (“The Breadwinner”), took home the Special Jury prize. This provides some heat as Cartoon Saloon chases its fifth Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination.
The Audience Award went to “Aurora’s Sunrise,” the animated documentary from director Inna Sahakyan, which tells the remarkable story of Aurora Mardiganian, who survived the Armenian genocide as a teenager, and came to America, where she...
“Little Nicolas,” the nostalgic, hand-drawn ode to the popular French children’s book series and its creators — René Goscinny (“Asterix”) and the late illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé — won the Grand Prize at the fifth annual Animation Is Film Festival (Aif), held last weekend at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood. This should help the France-Luxembourg release from directors Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre secure U.S. distribution.
“My Father’s Dragon” (Cartoon Saloon/Netflix), the 2D adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s classic children’s book, from Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey (“The Breadwinner”), took home the Special Jury prize. This provides some heat as Cartoon Saloon chases its fifth Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination.
The Audience Award went to “Aurora’s Sunrise,” the animated documentary from director Inna Sahakyan, which tells the remarkable story of Aurora Mardiganian, who survived the Armenian genocide as a teenager, and came to America, where she...
- 10/27/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Ireland native David Burke, Laika Studios chief marketing officer and SVP of business operations, came to the Oregon-based animation house in 2019 from a longtime role as Universal Pictures general manager for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Now he’s overseeing the growth of Laika, best known for its stop-motion feature films “Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” “The Boxtrolls,” “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “Missing Link” — as well as the upcoming fantasy adventure “Wildwood,” which includes a voice cast of major stars including Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and Awkwafina and is directed by company president Travis Knight.
The executive declined to reveal the “Wildwood” budget but called it the studio’s most ambitious project to date. (Laika’s most expensive film to date is 2019’s “Missing Link” with a reported budget of 102.3 million.)
Burke said he joined Laika because of Knight’s singular vision.
“There isn’t anyone, to my mind,...
The executive declined to reveal the “Wildwood” budget but called it the studio’s most ambitious project to date. (Laika’s most expensive film to date is 2019’s “Missing Link” with a reported budget of 102.3 million.)
Burke said he joined Laika because of Knight’s singular vision.
“There isn’t anyone, to my mind,...
- 10/21/2022
- by Diane Haithman
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment are meeting with directors hoping for a spring start on Twisters, a big-scale sequel to the 1996 storm-chasing blockbuster. Universal and Warner Bros are co-financing, with Universal taking the creative lead on the picture. Frank Marshall is producing.
Here’s what The Dish has heard: Amblin’s Steven Spielberg himself flipped for the script by The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith, and his enthusiasm provided the impetus for the fast-tracked film. Top Gun: Maverick helmer Joseph Kosinski was going to direct, but he fell off the film when he committed to the Formula One racing movie vehicle for Brad Pitt that Apple acquired last June after a big auction earlier this year.
Warner Bros’ ‘Twister’
They haven’t locked in a new director yet, but among the helmers under consideration are the Oscar-winning Free Solo team of Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vaserhelyi; Dan Trachtenberg.
Here’s what The Dish has heard: Amblin’s Steven Spielberg himself flipped for the script by The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith, and his enthusiasm provided the impetus for the fast-tracked film. Top Gun: Maverick helmer Joseph Kosinski was going to direct, but he fell off the film when he committed to the Formula One racing movie vehicle for Brad Pitt that Apple acquired last June after a big auction earlier this year.
Warner Bros’ ‘Twister’
They haven’t locked in a new director yet, but among the helmers under consideration are the Oscar-winning Free Solo team of Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vaserhelyi; Dan Trachtenberg.
- 10/17/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
"They're not models!" the curator immediately corrected me when I erred in describing the miniatures puppets on display.
In an age of computer-generated 3D overtaking pop culture consciousness, the Oregon-based stop-motion studio Laika (also stylized as Laika) shoots for the stars, creating an alive "it's actually there" tangibility. Founded in 2005, Laika has raked in recognition from prestige circles, earning nods from the Academy Awards, Annie Awards, and a Golden Globe win. Now the textured puppets of Laika have stop-motioned their way to New York's Museum of the Moving Image for the "Laika: Life in Stop Motion" exhibition.
I had a chat with curator Barbara Miller and Laika's Marketing Production Manager Dan Pascal to get to know these puppets and the evolution of Laika. An exhibit 10 years in the making, it spotlights characters and sets from Laika classics: from "Coraline" (2009), "ParaNorman" (2012), "The Boxtrolls" (2014), "Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016), and "Missing Link...
In an age of computer-generated 3D overtaking pop culture consciousness, the Oregon-based stop-motion studio Laika (also stylized as Laika) shoots for the stars, creating an alive "it's actually there" tangibility. Founded in 2005, Laika has raked in recognition from prestige circles, earning nods from the Academy Awards, Annie Awards, and a Golden Globe win. Now the textured puppets of Laika have stop-motioned their way to New York's Museum of the Moving Image for the "Laika: Life in Stop Motion" exhibition.
I had a chat with curator Barbara Miller and Laika's Marketing Production Manager Dan Pascal to get to know these puppets and the evolution of Laika. An exhibit 10 years in the making, it spotlights characters and sets from Laika classics: from "Coraline" (2009), "ParaNorman" (2012), "The Boxtrolls" (2014), "Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016), and "Missing Link...
- 9/2/2022
- by Caroline Cao
- Slash Film
Dda is making a series of key hires and promotions. Ryan Langrehr recently joined the entertainment communications company as U.S. head of awards, based out of Los Angeles. He joins from Block-Korenbrot Public Relations and will work alongside Dda partner Dana Archer and awards strategist Mj Peckos, who formed an exclusive partnership with Dda in 2021 and collaborated on a slate of films in the international and documentary category. These included Spain’s “The Good Boss” and Germany’s “I’m Your Man,” both of which were shortlisted for international feature Oscars.
The Dda L.A. awards offering is a complement to the company’s existing U.K. awards business, which it says will offer studios and filmmakers a “cohesive strategy across both sides of the Atlantic.” The U.K. offering is led by Sam Ross in his newly upped role of director of awards, and his team works closely with Dda partner Neil Bhatt.
The Dda L.A. awards offering is a complement to the company’s existing U.K. awards business, which it says will offer studios and filmmakers a “cohesive strategy across both sides of the Atlantic.” The U.K. offering is led by Sam Ross in his newly upped role of director of awards, and his team works closely with Dda partner Neil Bhatt.
- 8/25/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Since the 2009 release of “Coraline,” Laika has made a name for itself as a legitimate alternative to Pixar for animated feature films. All of their titles, including “ParaNorman,” “The Boxtrolls,” and “Kubu And The Two Strings” are critical darlings. And outside of 2019’s “Missing Link,” all of their films won at the box office, too.
Continue reading ‘Wildwood’: Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali & Awkwafina Headline Massive Voice Cast For Laika’s Upcoming Animated Feature at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Wildwood’: Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali & Awkwafina Headline Massive Voice Cast For Laika’s Upcoming Animated Feature at The Playlist.
- 8/25/2022
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Updated: Laika president Travis Knight has set the voice cast for the animation house’s stop-motion feature “Wildwood,” which he also directs: Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.
Earlier: Laika has begun production on its sixth stop-motion feature, “Wildwood,” the studio’s first fantasy adventure set in the natural beauty of hometown Portland, Oregon. Laika President & CEO Travis Knight directs, and legendary cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Right Stuff”) makes his first foray into stop-motion. The six-time Oscar nominee brings his naturalistic style to handcrafted animation after lensing the virtual world of Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King.”
“Wildwood” is based on the first in a trilogy of YA fantasy novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for Portland-based The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.
Earlier: Laika has begun production on its sixth stop-motion feature, “Wildwood,” the studio’s first fantasy adventure set in the natural beauty of hometown Portland, Oregon. Laika President & CEO Travis Knight directs, and legendary cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Right Stuff”) makes his first foray into stop-motion. The six-time Oscar nominee brings his naturalistic style to handcrafted animation after lensing the virtual world of Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King.”
“Wildwood” is based on the first in a trilogy of YA fantasy novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for Portland-based The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.
- 8/25/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Andi Mack‘s Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant make up the voice cast for Wildwood, the latest movie from Laika Studios.
The pic, directed by Laika’s Travis Knight, was originally announced in September, with the main cast revealed Thursday. It is being adapted from the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis. Chris Butler, who wrote and directed the Laika pics ParaNorman and Missing Link, penned the script.
It marks the first film from Laika since 2019’s Missing Link. All five of the studio’s previous films have gotten Oscar Animated Feature nominations.
No release date has been set for this one, and roles for the voice cast remain under wraps.
Knight in a release announcing...
The pic, directed by Laika’s Travis Knight, was originally announced in September, with the main cast revealed Thursday. It is being adapted from the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis. Chris Butler, who wrote and directed the Laika pics ParaNorman and Missing Link, penned the script.
It marks the first film from Laika since 2019’s Missing Link. All five of the studio’s previous films have gotten Oscar Animated Feature nominations.
No release date has been set for this one, and roles for the voice cast remain under wraps.
Knight in a release announcing...
- 8/25/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
“Wildwood” is getting wilder.
The latest stop-motion animated feature from Laika, based on the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer for The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis, is assembling a murderer’s row of vocal talent. The studio announced that Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant.
“Wildwood” will be directed by Laika President & CEO Travis Knight (who last helmed “Kubo and the Two Strings” and also directed “Bumblebee”) from a script by Chris Butler. Caleb Deschanel is the cinematographer with Arianne Sutner, Laika’s Head of Production, producing alongside Knight. “Wildwood” is currently in production.
Also Read:
HBO Max Cancels More Animation, Including ‘Batman: The Caped Crusader’ and 2 ‘Looney Tunes’ Projects
“That is one helluva cast,” said Knight in an official statement. “Collaborating...
The latest stop-motion animated feature from Laika, based on the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer for The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis, is assembling a murderer’s row of vocal talent. The studio announced that Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant.
“Wildwood” will be directed by Laika President & CEO Travis Knight (who last helmed “Kubo and the Two Strings” and also directed “Bumblebee”) from a script by Chris Butler. Caleb Deschanel is the cinematographer with Arianne Sutner, Laika’s Head of Production, producing alongside Knight. “Wildwood” is currently in production.
Also Read:
HBO Max Cancels More Animation, Including ‘Batman: The Caped Crusader’ and 2 ‘Looney Tunes’ Projects
“That is one helluva cast,” said Knight in an official statement. “Collaborating...
- 8/25/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
Laika has revealed the voice cast for its next stop-motion and CG animated feature, Wildwood.
It’s led by Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack), Jacob Tremblay (Room) and Awkwafina (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).
The expansive cast also includes Oscar nominee Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got to Do With It), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses), Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Jemaine Clement (The Flight of the Conchords), Maya Erskine (Pen15), Tantoo Cardinal (Wind River), Tom Waits and Oscar nominee Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).
Directed by Laika president and CEO Travis Knight (Laika’s Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings, Paramount’s Bumblebee), Wildwood’s script was written by Chris Butler (Laika’s ParaNorman and Missing Link), based on the novel by Colin Meloy,...
Laika has revealed the voice cast for its next stop-motion and CG animated feature, Wildwood.
It’s led by Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack), Jacob Tremblay (Room) and Awkwafina (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).
The expansive cast also includes Oscar nominee Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got to Do With It), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses), Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Jemaine Clement (The Flight of the Conchords), Maya Erskine (Pen15), Tantoo Cardinal (Wind River), Tom Waits and Oscar nominee Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).
Directed by Laika president and CEO Travis Knight (Laika’s Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings, Paramount’s Bumblebee), Wildwood’s script was written by Chris Butler (Laika’s ParaNorman and Missing Link), based on the novel by Colin Meloy,...
- 8/25/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You’ve almost certainly seen work that wouldn’t exist without the efforts of animation pioneer Will Vinton. But it’s just as likely that this is the first time you’ve ever heard his name. Thankfully, director Marq Evans (“The Glamour and the Squalor”) is determined to ensure that it won’t be the last.
In “Claydream,” Evans has made the tribute Vinton deserves – and the introduction most of us need.
As a student at Berkeley in the late 1960s, Vinton planned to go into architecture. But he found himself drawn to the sculptural works of Catalan visionary Antoni Gaudí, which in turn led to his own experiments with modelling clay. Once he combined this new interest with his love of film, he began innovating the seemingly limitless, if eternally painstaking, genre of stop-motion animation.
Also Read:
Will Vinton, Claymation Oscar Winner and Co-Creator of ‘California Raisins,’ Dies at 70
He and his artistic partner,...
In “Claydream,” Evans has made the tribute Vinton deserves – and the introduction most of us need.
As a student at Berkeley in the late 1960s, Vinton planned to go into architecture. But he found himself drawn to the sculptural works of Catalan visionary Antoni Gaudí, which in turn led to his own experiments with modelling clay. Once he combined this new interest with his love of film, he began innovating the seemingly limitless, if eternally painstaking, genre of stop-motion animation.
Also Read:
Will Vinton, Claymation Oscar Winner and Co-Creator of ‘California Raisins,’ Dies at 70
He and his artistic partner,...
- 8/11/2022
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
Global Screen has acquired the animated family feature film “The Last Whale Singer” for global distribution, and will launch pre-sales at the Cannes Film Market. The movie is an epic and emotional family entertainment adventure written and directed by Reza Memari, creator of hit movie “Richard the Stork.”
The film’s characters are based on designs by Uwe Heidschötter, best known for films such as Academy Award nominated and BAFTA Award winning “Revolting Rhymes,” the Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe winning “Missing Link,” and the Annie Award nominated “Zog.” The film is produced by Maite Woköck (“My Fairy Troublemaker”) at Telescope Animation.
Memari, co-ceo at Telescope Animation, said: “This is the story of a young humpback whale who, after the sudden loss of his parents, is confronted with a seemingly impossible task: to discover the song that will save the oceans from destruction. It’s a story about radical...
The film’s characters are based on designs by Uwe Heidschötter, best known for films such as Academy Award nominated and BAFTA Award winning “Revolting Rhymes,” the Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe winning “Missing Link,” and the Annie Award nominated “Zog.” The film is produced by Maite Woköck (“My Fairy Troublemaker”) at Telescope Animation.
Memari, co-ceo at Telescope Animation, said: “This is the story of a young humpback whale who, after the sudden loss of his parents, is confronted with a seemingly impossible task: to discover the song that will save the oceans from destruction. It’s a story about radical...
- 5/5/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Laika’s CEO and President Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) is gearing up to direct the stop-motion animated feature The Night Gardener, written by Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque, for his storied Hillsboro, Oregon studio. (Check out a film still unveiled by Laika below.)
The film based on Dubuque’s original idea is billed as a gritty neo-noir folktale centered on a young man in rural Missouri, who’s fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. Pic will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge. News of the new Laika film comes with the studio currently in production on Wildwood, the first film set in its hometown of Portland, Oregon. Knight is directing the animated film, based on the bestselling fantasy novel written by Colin Meloy—the multi-hyphenate best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group The Decemberists.
The film based on Dubuque’s original idea is billed as a gritty neo-noir folktale centered on a young man in rural Missouri, who’s fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. Pic will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge. News of the new Laika film comes with the studio currently in production on Wildwood, the first film set in its hometown of Portland, Oregon. Knight is directing the animated film, based on the bestselling fantasy novel written by Colin Meloy—the multi-hyphenate best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group The Decemberists.
- 4/27/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Laika CEO and president Travis Knight to direct.
Laika has teamed up with Ozark creator Bill Dubuque on stop-motion neo-noir folktale The Night Gardener to be directed by Laika CEO and president Travis Knight.
Dubuque’s screenplay centres on a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. According to the studio, the film will “paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge”.
Knight, whose directing credits include Laika’s Kubo And The Two Strings and in-production Wildwood and Paramount’s Bumblebee, said The Night Gardener was “a beautiful and...
Laika has teamed up with Ozark creator Bill Dubuque on stop-motion neo-noir folktale The Night Gardener to be directed by Laika CEO and president Travis Knight.
Dubuque’s screenplay centres on a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. According to the studio, the film will “paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge”.
Knight, whose directing credits include Laika’s Kubo And The Two Strings and in-production Wildwood and Paramount’s Bumblebee, said The Night Gardener was “a beautiful and...
- 4/27/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Laika is teaming with the creator of “Ozark” for a new stop-motion animated feature described as a “gritty neo-noir folktale.” Bill Dubuque, who created Netflix series “Ozark,” wrote the original screenplay for “The Night Gardener,” which will be directed by Laika’s CEO and President Travis Knight, who previously helmed the Laika feature “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
Described as a gritty folktale, the new film follows a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. The film will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge, per an official description.
“’The Night Gardener’ is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” said Knight in a statement. “Bill is a masterful storyteller. He’s crafted a lyrical world layered with complex characters, provocative ideas, and keenly felt emotion. It’s gonna be one helluva movie.
Described as a gritty folktale, the new film follows a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. The film will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge, per an official description.
“’The Night Gardener’ is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” said Knight in a statement. “Bill is a masterful storyteller. He’s crafted a lyrical world layered with complex characters, provocative ideas, and keenly felt emotion. It’s gonna be one helluva movie.
- 4/27/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Deadline has the first exclusive track from Carter Burwell’s Oscar-shortlisted score for The Tragedy of Macbeth, which is set for release tomorrow via Milan Records, as the film from director Joel Coen premieres globally on Apple TV+.
Coen’s take on William Shakespeare’s classic 17th century play Macbeth watches as Denzel Washington’s Scottish lord is convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, subsequently conspiring to seize power with the help of his wife, Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand).
It’s the latest project to emerge from a career-spanning partnership between Burwell and Coen, dating back to 1984, which has seen the former score almost all of the latter’s films including Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men and True Grit.
Burwell’s score for The Tragedy of Macbeth juxtaposes string-heavy instrumentation with onscreen dialogue performed throughout the film,...
Coen’s take on William Shakespeare’s classic 17th century play Macbeth watches as Denzel Washington’s Scottish lord is convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, subsequently conspiring to seize power with the help of his wife, Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand).
It’s the latest project to emerge from a career-spanning partnership between Burwell and Coen, dating back to 1984, which has seen the former score almost all of the latter’s films including Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men and True Grit.
Burwell’s score for The Tragedy of Macbeth juxtaposes string-heavy instrumentation with onscreen dialogue performed throughout the film,...
- 1/13/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Laurane “Lala” Sheehan, a longtime corporate entertainment publicist and events planner, died Nov. 11 of a sudden heart attack.
Sheehan was a senior accounts supervisor at Maggie Begley Communications for 30 years, where she worked with clients including Laika, Locksmith Animation, the Gotham Group, the Oneida Indian Nation, Vista Group, Movio, Cinedigm, Anheuser-Busch, children’s author Tony Diterlizzi and Benenson Productions.
She helped promote films including “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Missing Link,” “Coraline,” “The Invisible War,” “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” and “Beasts of No Nation.”
Her longtime friend and colleague Maggie Begley said, “What a joy it is to work with your best friend. We laughed with abandon every single day. I thought that kind of laughter was the ticket to a long life…but the universe had other plans for our beautiful and talented Laurane. She’s with her parents now, her beloved Elvyra and Roy…and...
Sheehan was a senior accounts supervisor at Maggie Begley Communications for 30 years, where she worked with clients including Laika, Locksmith Animation, the Gotham Group, the Oneida Indian Nation, Vista Group, Movio, Cinedigm, Anheuser-Busch, children’s author Tony Diterlizzi and Benenson Productions.
She helped promote films including “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Missing Link,” “Coraline,” “The Invisible War,” “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” and “Beasts of No Nation.”
Her longtime friend and colleague Maggie Begley said, “What a joy it is to work with your best friend. We laughed with abandon every single day. I thought that kind of laughter was the ticket to a long life…but the universe had other plans for our beautiful and talented Laurane. She’s with her parents now, her beloved Elvyra and Roy…and...
- 12/1/2021
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Laurane “Lala” Sheehan, the actor-turned-corporate entertainment publicist and events planner who had worked at Maggie Begley Communications for 30 years, died November 11 of a sudden heart attack. She was 61.
Sheehan was a Senior Accounts Supervisor at entertainment marketing and PR firm Mbc, working with clients across three decades including Laika and the animation studio’s string of Oscar-nominated films; Locksmith Animation; The Gotham Group; Cinedigm; and Anheuser-Busch, among others. She worked on movies including Laika’s Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link and Coraline; The Invisible War; Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World; and Beasts of No Nation.
She also had stints as a publicist at entertainment PR firms Mahoney/Wasserman and Pmk/Hbh.
“What a joy it is to work with your best friend,” said Begley. “We laughed with abandon every single day. I thought that kind of laughter was the ticket to a long life…but the...
Sheehan was a Senior Accounts Supervisor at entertainment marketing and PR firm Mbc, working with clients across three decades including Laika and the animation studio’s string of Oscar-nominated films; Locksmith Animation; The Gotham Group; Cinedigm; and Anheuser-Busch, among others. She worked on movies including Laika’s Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link and Coraline; The Invisible War; Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World; and Beasts of No Nation.
She also had stints as a publicist at entertainment PR firms Mahoney/Wasserman and Pmk/Hbh.
“What a joy it is to work with your best friend,” said Begley. “We laughed with abandon every single day. I thought that kind of laughter was the ticket to a long life…but the...
- 11/30/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
In honor of their 15th anniversary, Laika is partnering with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to bring their Oscar-nominated films back to the big screen. The museum will play host to multiple screenings of the critically acclaimed stop-motion films, along with filmmaker discussions and Q&a's. The five films in question are "Missing Link," "Kubo and the Two Strings," "The Boxtrolls," "ParaNorman," and "Coraline."
Tickets for Laika at Osmi are currently on sale, with screenings scheduled for October 15, 2021 through October 31, 2021. But screenings and panels aren't all the studio has to offer — they're going big for this anniversary...
The post Laika's ParaNorman and Coraline Return to Theaters for the Studio's 15th Anniversary appeared first on /Film.
Tickets for Laika at Osmi are currently on sale, with screenings scheduled for October 15, 2021 through October 31, 2021. But screenings and panels aren't all the studio has to offer — they're going big for this anniversary...
The post Laika's ParaNorman and Coraline Return to Theaters for the Studio's 15th Anniversary appeared first on /Film.
- 9/21/2021
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
Laika, the studio behind stop-motion gems like "Coraline" and "Kubo and the Two Strings is getting back into the animation game! In all fairness, they never really left it, but following the announcement of their first live-action film and the devastating impact of pandemic shutdowns, fans worried about whether the studio would follow up 2019's "Missing Link." Thankfully, Laika has a new project lined up — and they didn't even have to look very far to find it.
Laika's next animated feature will be an adaptation of the bestselling novel "Wildwood," penned by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy. Laika has shown interest...
The post Laika's Next Stop-Motion Animated Film is Wildwood, Travis Knight Returning to Direct appeared first on /Film.
Laika's next animated feature will be an adaptation of the bestselling novel "Wildwood," penned by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy. Laika has shown interest...
The post Laika's Next Stop-Motion Animated Film is Wildwood, Travis Knight Returning to Direct appeared first on /Film.
- 9/15/2021
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
Laika studios has announced its sixth stop-motion movie, “Wildwood.”
The feature is based on the novel written by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis. The announcement was made Wednesday by Travis Knight, President & CEO of the award-winning animation studio, who will direct the film. “Wildwood” is currently in production at Laika’s facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The synopsis for the film reads: “Beyond Portland’s city limits lies Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she – along with her hapless classmate Curtis – is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one.
The feature is based on the novel written by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis. The announcement was made Wednesday by Travis Knight, President & CEO of the award-winning animation studio, who will direct the film. “Wildwood” is currently in production at Laika’s facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The synopsis for the film reads: “Beyond Portland’s city limits lies Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she – along with her hapless classmate Curtis – is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one.
- 9/15/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Laika President & CEO Travis Knight is directing the studio’s next animated feature, Wildwood—an adaptation of the bestselling novel written by The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, and illustrated by Carson Ellis.
The film penned by Chris Butler (Missing Link) is set beyond Portland’s city limits, in Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland.
Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she – along with her hapless classmate, Curtis – is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.
Ariane Sutner is producing Laika’s latest, which marks Oscar...
The film penned by Chris Butler (Missing Link) is set beyond Portland’s city limits, in Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland.
Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she – along with her hapless classmate, Curtis – is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.
Ariane Sutner is producing Laika’s latest, which marks Oscar...
- 9/15/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Stop-motion animation studio Laika has announced what will be their sixth animated feature film: “Wildwood.” And Travis Knight, the company’s president and CEO, is making his return to animated films and will direct the project for the studio.
“Wildwood” is based on a book by the lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, Colin Meloy, which also features illustrations by artist Carson Ellis. Production is underway now at the Laika facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The film also has something of a hometown tie for Laika, as it’s the story of an enchanted world called Wildwood that exists just outside Portland’s city limits. When one girl finds her way there after her baby brother has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, she finds herself at the center of a fairy tale encountering strange talking animals, roguish bandits and powerful figures with dark intentions.
“Wildwood” is based on a book by the lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, Colin Meloy, which also features illustrations by artist Carson Ellis. Production is underway now at the Laika facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The film also has something of a hometown tie for Laika, as it’s the story of an enchanted world called Wildwood that exists just outside Portland’s city limits. When one girl finds her way there after her baby brother has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, she finds herself at the center of a fairy tale encountering strange talking animals, roguish bandits and powerful figures with dark intentions.
- 9/15/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Alexandra Grey (MacGyver), Jeremy Luke (Don Jon) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) have been set to star in movie Replica, which is due to start filming in Los Angeles this month.
Pic will follow Tonya (Grey), an African American trans woman who has journeyed cross-country from her small Mississippi hometown to California in pursuit of her dream to be an actress. While en route to Los Angeles, she accidentally gets stranded in the suburbs of Los Angeles and becomes engulfed in a gritty world after being introduced to Mickey (Luke), a neo Nazi low-level meth dealer. But to both of their surprise, they begin falling in love just as they find themselves the prey of some ruthless drug dealers.
Written and directed by Paul Tully, other cast includes Nicholas Turturro (BlacKkKlansman), Noel Gugliemi (The Fast & The Furious), Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story), Kirby Bliss Blanton (Project X), Alexander James Rodriguez...
Pic will follow Tonya (Grey), an African American trans woman who has journeyed cross-country from her small Mississippi hometown to California in pursuit of her dream to be an actress. While en route to Los Angeles, she accidentally gets stranded in the suburbs of Los Angeles and becomes engulfed in a gritty world after being introduced to Mickey (Luke), a neo Nazi low-level meth dealer. But to both of their surprise, they begin falling in love just as they find themselves the prey of some ruthless drug dealers.
Written and directed by Paul Tully, other cast includes Nicholas Turturro (BlacKkKlansman), Noel Gugliemi (The Fast & The Furious), Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story), Kirby Bliss Blanton (Project X), Alexander James Rodriguez...
- 8/27/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
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