Laika's New Missing Link Trailer LOADED with Laughs

HOLY DAMN. I didn't know what to expect from Laika's new film "Missing Link"..well..other than mind blowing stop motion animation that constantly has people going "that was CGI, right?" Now their newest trailer shows the tremendous heart we've come to expect and LOADS of laughs I didn't see coming. This just went on my MUST SEE list!

This April, meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don't let his appearance fool you... he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world's most lovable legend at the heart of Missing Link, the globe-trotting family adventure from LAIKA. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.

Laika's Missing Link

Stop motion animation is one of the few film mediums that continually confounds the viewer. You don't know how many times I was in a press interview with the fine folks from LAIKA who had to explain that just about 99% of what you are seeing is NOT CGI. The hair blowing in the wind...the eye and mouth movement...all stop motion. Now LAIKA returns to bring more magic into our lives with their new feature film, Missing Link!

This April, meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don't let his appearance fool you... he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world's most lovable legend at the heart of Missing Link, the globe-trotting family adventure from LAIKA. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.

SDCC 2017: NECA Announce LAIKA Lineup

The National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), an entertainment conglomerate and global leader in licensed consumer goods, has signed a deal to produce a multi-category lineup of LAIKA merchandise. NECA will arrive at San Diego with an exclusive for Comic-Con® Coraline Display Box for sale and will be promoting the high end bespoke replicas of LAIKA’S hero puppets from its four Oscar®-nominated films: Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). The deal was brokered by licensing agency Striker Entertainment, which represents the rights to the LAIKA library of legacy and future films.

Creating the World of The Boxtrolls

My favorite thing about Laika is how open they are about their creative process. Before a film is released, we get these fantastic little featurettes which show how they build environments, animate characters and sometimes even showing how every stitch of clothing needs to be just so. Often, i'll be talking to journalists before an interview with these folks and most of the room is insistent that there are many CGI elements in a current releasing film. It's fun to watch their eyes bug out when the Laika crew set them straight and reveal all the tricks behind the magic. Today, Laika reveals some awesome bits about creating the fully realized world of the Boxtrolls, all of which is sure to have some of you taking notes!

SDCC 2014: Boxtrolls Animate the Show Floor

Focus Features, LAIKA and The Boxtrolls at headed to Comic-Con for a highly anticipated Hall H Panel, “Eat Like THE BOXTROLLS” food truck experience and more.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LIFE-SIZED BOXTROLLS ROAMING COMIC CON. SNAP YOUR PIC AND TWEET USING #THEBOXTROLLS

FRIDAY, JULY 25
#EatLikeTheBoxtrolls
Bug Chef David George Gordon will dare you to EAT LIKE THE BOXTROLLS as he cooks up some of his famous bug and insect edible creations
2:00PM- 4:00PM
Location: Petco Park
2:00PM-3:00PM Univision Radio will be hosting the experience. Stop by for a limited edition signed Fish poster by Isaac Hempstead Wright.
3:00PM-4:00PM Nerdist will be hosting the experience. Stop by for a limited edition signed Shoe poster by Isaac Hempstead Wright.

A New Boxtrolls Trailer!

A family event movie from the creators of “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” that introduces audiences to a new breed of family – The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.

Bring Boxtrolls to Life!

In anticipation of Focus Features and LAIKA's new stop-motion animated film THE BOXTROLLS, we invite you to get creative and build your very own Boxtroll at TheBoxtrolls.com. One grand prize winner's Boxtroll will be brought to life as a real puppet by LAIKA artists, and other Box-tastic prizes are available!

An orphaned boy raised by underground creatures called Boxtrolls comes up from the sewers and out of his box to save his family and the town from the evil exterminator, Arichibald Snatcher.

A Brief (very brief) History of ParaNorman Figures

I finally got a chance to see Laika's latest stop motion masterpiece "ParaNorman" yesterday, in 3D, and I have to say I was not disappointed! I do have one observation though...did I just watch a stop motion Silent Hill?! We've got the cursed, overly religious towns folk...the burned alive, innocent child who goes all "Grudge" in the afterlife...the white screens...the burn-aways (in place of the rotting landscape as the sirens sound)...the similarities are glaring! Of course, Laika have cut back on their pissed off specter's bloody vengeance, as this needs to be at least a little safe for the kiddies, even though that is not the main concern of the film makers. Never the less, you won't find any razor wire sodomy in ParaNorman, but the 3D stop motion is unmatched! So...you know...it's a trade off.

ParaNorman Crew Talk Undead Details

While running the gambit we call San Diego Comic Con, I took full advantage of moments where I could sit, enjoy functioning air conditioning, and chat with film makers and the actors that bring their creations to life. This weekend, we get to take in one such project. Paranorman, the instant stop motion masterpiece from the mad geniuses at Laika, promises to elevate the art of stop motion animation to new heights and, on a simpler level, make you smile like crazy. Here's the skinny...

San Diego Comic Con 2012 : ParaNorman Haunts Hall H

Fans of creepy little kids, stop motion animation and zombies...time to put some ink down on your SDCC 2012 calendar!

Friday July 13th - Hall H - Focus Features and Laika’s PARANORMAN Comic-Con Panel with cast & crew interviews and a sneak peak at footage! The expected talent is Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, directors Chris Butler & Sam Fell and LAIKA CEO Travis Knight. It will be moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger.

The film is produced by Laika Entertainment, the same company behind CORALINE, and uses the same stop-motion animation. For those not attending the show, a PARANORMAN ice cream truck will be cruising the streets of the Gaslamp district offering free ice cream and giveaways to the public (Three Zombies and ParaNorman himself will be roaming the area as well)!