The official website for the TV anime I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level posted a teaser tailer for its upcoming second season, introducing its main characters — Azusa Aizawa, Laika, Halfa, Shalsa, Halkara, Roazalie, Beelzebub, Pecola, and Vania. The clip also confirms the anime's 2025 premiere, as reported early this month . Season 2 teaser visual Related: I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Anime Returns in 2025 Kisetsu Morita's isekai fantasy light novel series I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level has published 24 volumes to date from Sb Creative's Ga Bunko imprint since 2017, printing over three million copies. Yen Press releases the English language version of the novels. Kunihisa Sugishima will direct the second season of the anime adaptation at animation studio Teddy. Naohiro Fukushima will provide the series composition, with Hikaru Kodama providing the character designs, and Keiji Inai providing the music.
- 3/23/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Kent Melton, the animation sculptor who created maquettes made of clay for iconic characters found in movies including Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, The Incredibles and Coraline, has died. He was 68.
Melton died Thursday at his home in Stone County, Missouri, of Lewy body dementia, family members told The Hollywood Reporter.
One of the few artists left in the industry who still sculpted in clay, Melton was a key player in the Disney animation renaissance of the 1990s. Later, he helped Laika Studios become a stop-motion powerhouse. Along the way, he was entrusted by animators to bring their two-dimensional drawings into a three-dimensional world.
Melton’s first Disney credit came on Aladdin (1992), followed by work on such other studio films as Thumbelina (1994), The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Mulan (1998), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Tarzan (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron...
Melton died Thursday at his home in Stone County, Missouri, of Lewy body dementia, family members told The Hollywood Reporter.
One of the few artists left in the industry who still sculpted in clay, Melton was a key player in the Disney animation renaissance of the 1990s. Later, he helped Laika Studios become a stop-motion powerhouse. Along the way, he was entrusted by animators to bring their two-dimensional drawings into a three-dimensional world.
Melton’s first Disney credit came on Aladdin (1992), followed by work on such other studio films as Thumbelina (1994), The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Mulan (1998), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Tarzan (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron...
- 2/22/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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
Here at Empire, we have a tradition of sharing one article from our year at Christmas — consider it a digital stocking-filler. As 2023 rolls out, let us bring you some bonus cheer with a feature that’s close to our hearts: our visit to the Portland headquarters of stop-motion animation legends Laika. We got up close and personal with the puppets, sat down for a lengthy chat with studio boss Travis Knight, and even got an extended set visit for Laika’s next big-screen epic, Wildwood. That won’t be out until 2025 (stop-motion takes time), so in the meantime, please enjoy the next best thing…
The dogfight was going to look awesome. The boy was sure of it. Buzzing from the movies he had sat through, enthralled, on Saturday-morning TV or at cinema matinées in his farm town outside of Portland, Oregon — stop-motion classics such as the Ray Harryhausen-enhanced The...
The dogfight was going to look awesome. The boy was sure of it. Buzzing from the movies he had sat through, enthralled, on Saturday-morning TV or at cinema matinées in his farm town outside of Portland, Oregon — stop-motion classics such as the Ray Harryhausen-enhanced The...
- 12/21/2023
- by Nick De Semlyen
- Empire - Movies
Illumination is a rare animation studio, in that they have landed upon a formula for the majority of their films and they seem perfectly content in hewing to that formula no matter what stories are being told. The studio thrives on mid-budget films that bring together a recognizable ensemble, some pop songs, and stories that feel vaguely cribbed from Pixar Animation Studios without being out-and-out plagiarism. Illumination, like DreamWorks, also leans heavily on turning its films into lengthy franchises, which has given us the obnoxious and leaden "Despicable Me" series (including its multiple "Minions" spin-offs), the obnoxious and leaden "Sing" films, and the obnoxious and leaden "The Secret Life of Pets" films. For this holiday season, Illumination is trying to do another original film, but much like the first "Secret Life of Pets", the new film "Migration" is original in name only, while feeling like a flavorless mishmash of "Finding Nemo" and "Ratatouille.
- 12/20/2023
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
Back in 2019, I wrote about “Believer”, a Korean adaptation of Johnnie To's “Drug Wars”: “Believer” is an impressive and quite entertaining action thriller, which highlights the fact that Johnnie To's productions can be very easily adapted to the current style of Korean cinema. I am sure the success of this one will open the way for more, and personally, I cannot wait. As such, I was really eager to watch the sequel, which premiered in Busan this year and started streaming on Netflix a couple of days ago. The result, however, as is frequently the case with sequels, was not exactly as expected.
Click on the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
The film begins with a sequence showing what happened in the first part, focusing on Brian's incarceration and the insistence of detective Won-ho that Mr Lee, the actual leader of the international drug cartel,...
Click on the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
The film begins with a sequence showing what happened in the first part, focusing on Brian's incarceration and the insistence of detective Won-ho that Mr Lee, the actual leader of the international drug cartel,...
- 12/16/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Plot: Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in!
Review: Aardman Animation has become synonymous with claymation productions. Since the 1970s, Aardman has pioneered stop-motion short films and is the creator of the beloved Wallace & Gromit characters. Despite years of acclaim, Aardman did not make the leap to feature films until 2000’s Chicken Run. Since then, they have released seven feature films, two computer-animated. Twenty-three years after their first movie, Aardman’s sequel...
Review: Aardman Animation has become synonymous with claymation productions. Since the 1970s, Aardman has pioneered stop-motion short films and is the creator of the beloved Wallace & Gromit characters. Despite years of acclaim, Aardman did not make the leap to feature films until 2000’s Chicken Run. Since then, they have released seven feature films, two computer-animated. Twenty-three years after their first movie, Aardman’s sequel...
- 12/12/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Believer 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 Korean action thriller of the same name. Because the 2018 original’s final scene left viewers with an unexplained question, the sequel adds more context and understanding.
Unlike most sequels, the scenes of the new film take place before the last scene of the first rather than after, meaning that both Believer films share the same or comparable ending moments.
Because of its action and outstanding production value, Believer 2 is an enjoyable movie overall and a definite must-see for fans of the original film.
Believer 2: What Makes Rak, Won-ho, and Brain Work Together?
Leisurebyte
Despite their disagreements, Brian, Rak, and Won-ho all have one goal in common: they all want to find the true Mr. Lee, so they unwillingly begin working together. Brian, his armed squad, and Won-ho hunt down Rak and attack the factory where he’s developing more Laika for Big Knife.
Unlike most sequels, the scenes of the new film take place before the last scene of the first rather than after, meaning that both Believer films share the same or comparable ending moments.
Because of its action and outstanding production value, Believer 2 is an enjoyable movie overall and a definite must-see for fans of the original film.
Believer 2: What Makes Rak, Won-ho, and Brain Work Together?
Leisurebyte
Despite their disagreements, Brian, Rak, and Won-ho all have one goal in common: they all want to find the true Mr. Lee, so they unwillingly begin working together. Brian, his armed squad, and Won-ho hunt down Rak and attack the factory where he’s developing more Laika for Big Knife.
- 11/22/2023
- by Mantisha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
The new Korean action-flick Believer 2 has just dropped on Netflix, and it’s quite a disappointment for fans of the original. Still, it delivers a conclusion to the many unanswered questions from Part 1. Believer 2 begins with the call Won-Ho receives from Rak, pretending to be Mr. Lee. Detective Won-Ho finds Brian severely injured, with his back burned up by Rak and his people. Rak escapes with his dog, leaving Won-Ho high and dry. Rak is on a mission to find the real Mr. Lee, and Brian somehow survives his tryst with a welding gun to take revenge on Rak.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In The Film?
Rak escapes with his associates Manko and Rana, as well as his dog Laika. Rak seems to be on a personal mission to catch the man behind it all, even though he was working for the guy until a little while ago.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In The Film?
Rak escapes with his associates Manko and Rana, as well as his dog Laika. Rak seems to be on a personal mission to catch the man behind it all, even though he was working for the guy until a little while ago.
- 11/18/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
Halloween is a great time to watch spooky movies, but while the horror marathons are abundant for adults, it can be tough to find the right Halloween movies for kids. Not to fear, we’ve put together a list of some of the best Halloween movies that kids and adults alike can enjoy, from Millennial favorites that you can pass on to your own children to recent releases that are actually pretty cute. They’ve all got those Spooky Season vibes minus the scare factor that makes more traditional horror films an ill fit.
Check out our picks for the best Halloween movies for kids below.
Hocus Pocus Photo: Disney
Is It Scary? Not really
How Long Is It? 1 hour and 36 minutes
Where Is It Streaming? Disney+
What’s It About? A Halloween staple, especially for Millennial parents, Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” follows three witch sisters who were hung in...
Check out our picks for the best Halloween movies for kids below.
Hocus Pocus Photo: Disney
Is It Scary? Not really
How Long Is It? 1 hour and 36 minutes
Where Is It Streaming? Disney+
What’s It About? A Halloween staple, especially for Millennial parents, Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” follows three witch sisters who were hung in...
- 10/28/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
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
Welcome to Kino Laika: Aki Kaurismäki and Mika Lätti’s cinema in Karkkila, an hour away from Helsinki. A place where love for movies – and dogs – meets ghosts of cinema’s past.
“One time, I had a 35mm copy of the Lumière brothers’ film ‘Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat.’ I lent it to some cinema and it never came back. And now, I have forgotten which cinema it was,” recalls Kaurismäki, who, like Lätti, has been a resident of Karkkila, a modest town of 9,000, for decades now.
“I have lived here for 38 years and I like it a lot, but we never had a cinema here before. To see movies, local people had to travel to the next town or even Helsinki. Not anymore. It’s wonderful to offer them this chance,” he adds.
“Karkkila has been a good place for us both and we wanted to give something back to this town.
“One time, I had a 35mm copy of the Lumière brothers’ film ‘Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat.’ I lent it to some cinema and it never came back. And now, I have forgotten which cinema it was,” recalls Kaurismäki, who, like Lätti, has been a resident of Karkkila, a modest town of 9,000, for decades now.
“I have lived here for 38 years and I like it a lot, but we never had a cinema here before. To see movies, local people had to travel to the next town or even Helsinki. Not anymore. It’s wonderful to offer them this chance,” he adds.
“Karkkila has been a good place for us both and we wanted to give something back to this town.
- 9/20/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
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
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has hired Shane Prigmore to serve as Senior Creative Advisor for the newly relaunched film unit under President Bill Damaschke.
In addition to advising on creative development for Wbpa’s ambitious production slate, Prigmore will also direct a film for the unit. He will be based at the studio’s HQ in Burbank, reporting directly to Damaschke.
A veteran of Skydance Animation, Walt Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks Animation, and Laika, the Annie Award winner returns to Warner Bros. more than two decades after the company gave him his start on the seminal animated classic The Iron Giant.
Prigmore’s announcement comes just as Damaschke has outlined his strategy for the newly relaunched features animation division to energize its legacy IP and develop partnerships with artists and creators worldwide to foster a slate of original storytelling resonant with global audiences of all ages.
“Shane is a trusted...
In addition to advising on creative development for Wbpa’s ambitious production slate, Prigmore will also direct a film for the unit. He will be based at the studio’s HQ in Burbank, reporting directly to Damaschke.
A veteran of Skydance Animation, Walt Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks Animation, and Laika, the Annie Award winner returns to Warner Bros. more than two decades after the company gave him his start on the seminal animated classic The Iron Giant.
Prigmore’s announcement comes just as Damaschke has outlined his strategy for the newly relaunched features animation division to energize its legacy IP and develop partnerships with artists and creators worldwide to foster a slate of original storytelling resonant with global audiences of all ages.
“Shane is a trusted...
- 6/13/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Stop-motion animation is a notoriously difficult medium – the tiny movements, the many iterations of a single puppet character, the time-consuming nature of creating smooth action and evoking emotion from a piece of clay. To get under the hood of just how a stop-motion feature film comes together, Empire visited one of the most exciting studios in the business, Laika – behind the likes of Coraline, Kubo And The Two Strings, and Missing Link – for our brand new issue, which Empire can confirm is finally due out in 2025.
Directed by Knight, it’s a fantasy epic based on a book by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy, and is set in and around Laika’s home city, Portland. It follows a young woman, Prue McKeel, who comes across a mystical, enchanted forest – and it’s set to feature a huge battle sequence, the likes of which Laika has never attempted before. “It’s...
Directed by Knight, it’s a fantasy epic based on a book by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy, and is set in and around Laika’s home city, Portland. It follows a young woman, Prue McKeel, who comes across a mystical, enchanted forest – and it’s set to feature a huge battle sequence, the likes of which Laika has never attempted before. “It’s...
- 6/7/2023
- by Sophie Butcher
- Empire - Movies
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
In James Gunn's 2014 film "Guardians of the Galaxy," the titular heroes visited the museum of the Collector (Benicio Del Toro), an alien being who took pride in amassing the galaxy's rarest trinkets. He kept his collection on display in a series of glass boxes, happy to show visitors around. When the Collector came into possession of an Infinity Stone, a powerful magical rock with explosive properties, it laid waste to most of his collection, but the ensuing explosion also freed an animal: Cosmo, the Soviet space dog. In the first "Guardians," Cosmo was merely a dog that licked the Collector's face. In subsequent sequels, Cosmo would be equipped with a collar that allowed her to speak (her voice was provided by Maria Bakalova) and would eventually discover she had psychokinetic powers.
The character of Cosmo first appeared in Marvel Comics in a 2007 issue of "Nova," and was indeed a...
The character of Cosmo first appeared in Marvel Comics in a 2007 issue of "Nova," and was indeed a...
- 5/30/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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
The "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise has introduced plenty of colorful characters over the past decade, from a talking raccoon named Rocket, to a sentient tree named Groot, to the antennae-sporting alien, Mantis. Yet few new additions have been as instantaneously accepted as friend-shaped like Cosmo, the adorable space dog voiced by Maria Bakalova in "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special." So far, we've only gotten a bit of screen time with Cosmo, but we know that she's telekinetic, loves Kevin Bacon, took a liking to Sean Gunn's Kraglin, and is, in the parlance of dog owners, "food motivated."
Cosmo also wears a pretty distinctive outfit: she's decked out in an old-fashioned spacesuit that's a bit like the kind astronauts wore during the Space Race. It features a patch that says Cccp and a rust red collar opening that could connect to a helmet — complete with what looks like a tiny sensor antenna.
Cosmo also wears a pretty distinctive outfit: she's decked out in an old-fashioned spacesuit that's a bit like the kind astronauts wore during the Space Race. It features a patch that says Cccp and a rust red collar opening that could connect to a helmet — complete with what looks like a tiny sensor antenna.
- 5/2/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
When walking out of James Gunn's 2014 film "Guardians of the Galaxy," the 10th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this author heard several other audiences members talking about the film's post-credits stinger. In the epilogue, the vaguely villainous Collector (Benicio Del Toro) sat destitute among the ruins of his collection or rare cosmic antiquities. Only a few of his beloved baubles has survived a cosmic blast, including a dog from Earth. The dog, wearing a Soviet space suit, was clearly salvaged from the 1960s Russian space program wherein canines were sent up in rockets to test their safety. The dog in "Guardians" is not Laika, but a fictional dog named Cosmo. The Collector had been keeping it in a cage on a distant planet for decades.
As Cosmo gives the Collector a sympathetic lick, a voice from off-screen (Seth Green) immediately points out how gross the dog is. A...
As Cosmo gives the Collector a sympathetic lick, a voice from off-screen (Seth Green) immediately points out how gross the dog is. A...
- 3/15/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
New York, NY (2/17/23) – Adding to its Summer 2023 lineup, Yen Press, LLC will be releasing twelve new manga (I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Spin-off: The Red Dragon Academy for Girls; Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie -Rebellion-: The Complete Omnibus Edition; Mieruko-chan Anthology Comic; Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture; I Don’t Need a Happy Ending; The Illustrated Guide to Monster Girls; After We Gazed at the Starry Sky; The Witches’ Marriage; Touge Oni: Primal Gods in Ancient Times; The Second-Chance Noble Daughter Sets Out to Conquer the Dragon Emperor; I Don’t Know Which is Love; Game of Familia -Family Senki-), three novels, and one graphic novel (Cuckoos Three).
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Spin-off: The Red Dragon Academy for Girls
Original Story by Kisetsu Morita
Art by Hitsujibako
Character Design by Benio...
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Spin-off: The Red Dragon Academy for Girls
Original Story by Kisetsu Morita
Art by Hitsujibako
Character Design by Benio...
- 2/19/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Noted animation company is in development in first live-action title.
The noted independent animation powerhouse Laika is bolstering its expansion into live-action and has hired longtime Netflix executive Matt Levin as president, live-action film & series.
The studio is in production on its sixth animated feature Wildwood and is developing its first live-action project based on screenwriter John Brownlow’s action thriller novel Seventeen
Levin served as director, original independent film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022 where he co-founded the Original Independent Film department.
During his stint at the streamer he oversaw the development and production of 25 films including the upcoming Gareth...
The noted independent animation powerhouse Laika is bolstering its expansion into live-action and has hired longtime Netflix executive Matt Levin as president, live-action film & series.
The studio is in production on its sixth animated feature Wildwood and is developing its first live-action project based on screenwriter John Brownlow’s action thriller novel Seventeen
Levin served as director, original independent film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022 where he co-founded the Original Independent Film department.
During his stint at the streamer he oversaw the development and production of 25 films including the upcoming Gareth...
- 2/7/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Laika, the Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio behind modern classics “Coraline” and “ParaNorman,” is getting serious about entering the live-action space. The studio just named longtime Netflix executive Matt Levin as President, Live-Action Film & Series, a new role at the company. The first live-action project is a film based on John Brownlow’s thriller novel “Seventeen.”
Levin served as Director, Original Independent Film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022. He co-founded the Original Independent Film department growing it into a full-scale mini-major with 20+ executives. Levin oversaw projects like Macon Blair’s “I Don’t Feel At Home in the World Anymore,” underrated Elizabeth Winstead-led action movie “Kate,” and Charlie Kaufman’s puzzling “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.” Levin also worked on Tom Hardy’s upcoming “Havoc” from director Gareth Evans (due out sometime later this year).
Levin reports directly to President and CEO Travis Knight (director of Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings...
Levin served as Director, Original Independent Film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022. He co-founded the Original Independent Film department growing it into a full-scale mini-major with 20+ executives. Levin oversaw projects like Macon Blair’s “I Don’t Feel At Home in the World Anymore,” underrated Elizabeth Winstead-led action movie “Kate,” and Charlie Kaufman’s puzzling “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.” Levin also worked on Tom Hardy’s upcoming “Havoc” from director Gareth Evans (due out sometime later this year).
Levin reports directly to President and CEO Travis Knight (director of Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings...
- 2/7/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Lionsgate has released the first image for Adele Lim’s “Joy Ride,” a comedy feature starring Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu.
The film is set to release in theaters June 23.
“Joy Ride” tells the raunchy story of how four unlikely friends embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. After Audrey’s (Park) business trip to Asia goes doesn’t go according to plan, she recruits her childhood best friend, Lolo (Cola), her college friend turned Chinese soap star, Kat (Hsu) and Lolo’s eccentric cousin and Deadeye (Wu). “The four friends’ epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery, ultimately revealing the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.
“Joy Ride” was written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao. The film was produced by director Adele Lim, writers Chevapravatdumrong and Hsiao, and Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg,...
The film is set to release in theaters June 23.
“Joy Ride” tells the raunchy story of how four unlikely friends embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. After Audrey’s (Park) business trip to Asia goes doesn’t go according to plan, she recruits her childhood best friend, Lolo (Cola), her college friend turned Chinese soap star, Kat (Hsu) and Lolo’s eccentric cousin and Deadeye (Wu). “The four friends’ epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery, ultimately revealing the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.
“Joy Ride” was written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao. The film was produced by director Adele Lim, writers Chevapravatdumrong and Hsiao, and Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg,...
- 2/7/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, Charna Flam and Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
Laika, the Portland-based animation studio behind movies such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, is expanding its live-action moviemaking plans with the hiring of Matt Levin in the newly-created position of president, live-action film and series.
Levin served as director of original independent film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022. During that time, he oversaw development and production of 25 films including the upcoming Gareth Evans’ actioner Havoc starring Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker and Timothy Olyphant; Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things starring Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley and Toni Collette; and the 2017 Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore from writer/director Macon Blair. Levin brought in overall deals with Gareth Evans and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
At Laika, Levin will report to president and CEO Travis Knight. “[Levin’s] exceptional leadership skills, creative sensitivity, and sharp storytelling mind will guide our studio to the next phase of its evolution,...
Levin served as director of original independent film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022. During that time, he oversaw development and production of 25 films including the upcoming Gareth Evans’ actioner Havoc starring Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker and Timothy Olyphant; Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things starring Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley and Toni Collette; and the 2017 Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore from writer/director Macon Blair. Levin brought in overall deals with Gareth Evans and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
At Laika, Levin will report to president and CEO Travis Knight. “[Levin’s] exceptional leadership skills, creative sensitivity, and sharp storytelling mind will guide our studio to the next phase of its evolution,...
- 2/7/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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
Hasan Minhaj has been tapped to host the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which are set to take place March 4 in Santa Monica.
The annual indie-focused awards show will stream live on IMDb, Film Independent’s YouTube channel and other platforms beginning at 2 p.m. Pt.
Related Story Spirit Award Noms 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads & Will Vie For Best Picture With ‘Bones And All’, ‘Our Father, The Devil’, ‘Tár’ & ‘Women Talking’ Related Story Film Independent Kicks Off 30th Anniversary Of Artist Development Programs; Filmmakers Selected For Project Involve And Project Involve Laika Related Story Film Independent Spirit Awards TV Nominations: 'Abbott Elementary', 'Pachinko', 'The Bear' 'Severance', More
“With his unparalleled ability to bring both humor and perception to the issues around us, Hasan Minhaj is the ideal host to help us celebrate these independent artists,” Film Independent president Josh Welsh said Tuesday.
The annual indie-focused awards show will stream live on IMDb, Film Independent’s YouTube channel and other platforms beginning at 2 p.m. Pt.
Related Story Spirit Award Noms 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads & Will Vie For Best Picture With ‘Bones And All’, ‘Our Father, The Devil’, ‘Tár’ & ‘Women Talking’ Related Story Film Independent Kicks Off 30th Anniversary Of Artist Development Programs; Filmmakers Selected For Project Involve And Project Involve Laika Related Story Film Independent Spirit Awards TV Nominations: 'Abbott Elementary', 'Pachinko', 'The Bear' 'Severance', More
“With his unparalleled ability to bring both humor and perception to the issues around us, Hasan Minhaj is the ideal host to help us celebrate these independent artists,” Film Independent president Josh Welsh said Tuesday.
- 1/31/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The thing I appreciate most about Diane Morgan’s Philomena Cunk character, introduced as part of Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe current events mockumentary series, is that once you have a character with the name Philomena Cunk, do you actually need anything else?
It’s a perfect comedy character appellation, with an overly flowery first name and a perfectly terse last name that contains multiple comedy “K” sounds and will always be adjacent to a somewhat taboo — less so in the U.K. — dirty word.
Then you get the actual character herself. Cunk was first presented as a dim-bulb interviewer/commentator in three- to five-minute segments that were characterized by her ignorance and spotty research. But then, somehow, the character and concept were enlarged upon in a number of half-hour specials, and then in the BBC Two series Cunk on Britain. Now her second extended series, Cunk on Earth (another...
It’s a perfect comedy character appellation, with an overly flowery first name and a perfectly terse last name that contains multiple comedy “K” sounds and will always be adjacent to a somewhat taboo — less so in the U.K. — dirty word.
Then you get the actual character herself. Cunk was first presented as a dim-bulb interviewer/commentator in three- to five-minute segments that were characterized by her ignorance and spotty research. But then, somehow, the character and concept were enlarged upon in a number of half-hour specials, and then in the BBC Two series Cunk on Britain. Now her second extended series, Cunk on Earth (another...
- 1/31/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lachlan Pendragon is now an Oscar-nominated filmmaker after being nominated for his animated short, titled “An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Believe Him.”
The project was produced as part of Pendragon’s doctorate and took 10 months to put together in his living room during the pandemic. Pendragon, who is currently earning his doctorate in visual arts at Griffith Film School in Brisbane, already won a Student Academy Award last year and now is vying for Oscar.
The short film follows a young telemarketer named Neil who is confronted by a mysterious talking ostrich who tells him that the universe is actually stop-motion animation. Neil, voiced by Pendragon, then tries to convince his colleagues about the discovery.
Below, Pendragon chats with Variety about his nomination, the journey behind the film and who he’d like to meet at the Oscars.
The nominations are announced at 5:30 a.
The project was produced as part of Pendragon’s doctorate and took 10 months to put together in his living room during the pandemic. Pendragon, who is currently earning his doctorate in visual arts at Griffith Film School in Brisbane, already won a Student Academy Award last year and now is vying for Oscar.
The short film follows a young telemarketer named Neil who is confronted by a mysterious talking ostrich who tells him that the universe is actually stop-motion animation. Neil, voiced by Pendragon, then tries to convince his colleagues about the discovery.
Below, Pendragon chats with Variety about his nomination, the journey behind the film and who he’d like to meet at the Oscars.
The nominations are announced at 5:30 a.
- 1/30/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
In a year in which the film industry was still in disruption because of the formidable powers of digital streaming, stop-motion animation — maybe the most analog of all styles of filmmaking — has had a peak year, with three features vying for awards and shorts introducing powerful new talents. It definitely hasn’t always been like this, but several stop-motion helmers hope the trend continues.
The stop-motion films “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “Wendell & Wild,” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” were all released in 2022, which is rare since the techniques used to make stop motion can be incredibly detailed and often require dozens of artists to be shooting scenes for the film if it’s ever to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Add to that the need for, among others, hundreds of replacement faces for the various puppets, clothing made of fabric scaled down for...
The stop-motion films “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “Wendell & Wild,” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” were all released in 2022, which is rare since the techniques used to make stop motion can be incredibly detailed and often require dozens of artists to be shooting scenes for the film if it’s ever to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Add to that the need for, among others, hundreds of replacement faces for the various puppets, clothing made of fabric scaled down for...
- 1/10/2023
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "DimLand"
Where You Can Stream It: Tubi, Paramount+
The Pitch: After years of directing short films and music videos for artists like Noname, Saba, and Chance the Rapper, Peter Collins Campbell made his feature directorial debut with the unsettling and deeply moving independent film "DimLand." The story follows a young woman named Brynn (Martha Brown), who in an attempt to shake off the current cloud of melancholy plaguing her existence, decides that she and her boyfriend, Laika (Odinaka Ezeokoli), will take a trip to her uncle's summer cottage for some much-needed stress relief and emotional healing. Upon arrival, the two quickly realize that things at the house have changed quite a bit since they last visited. The cabin has been updated and modernized,...
The Movie: "DimLand"
Where You Can Stream It: Tubi, Paramount+
The Pitch: After years of directing short films and music videos for artists like Noname, Saba, and Chance the Rapper, Peter Collins Campbell made his feature directorial debut with the unsettling and deeply moving independent film "DimLand." The story follows a young woman named Brynn (Martha Brown), who in an attempt to shake off the current cloud of melancholy plaguing her existence, decides that she and her boyfriend, Laika (Odinaka Ezeokoli), will take a trip to her uncle's summer cottage for some much-needed stress relief and emotional healing. Upon arrival, the two quickly realize that things at the house have changed quite a bit since they last visited. The cabin has been updated and modernized,...
- 12/16/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
7 Lbs 8 Oz 7lbs 8oz
A young Asian family moves to Jersey City and finds beauty in their newfound community.
Airborne
An aspiring pilot takes a job as a baggage handler so he can be in close proximity to aircraft.
Amok
Clyde faces trauma after his fiancee and his handsome looks are taken away from him in a freak accident.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
The titular quartet of unlikely friends embark on a relatable journey to find home.
La Calesita
A cheerful merry-go-round operator finds joy in spreading cheer to his community.
Canary
A young boy keeps watch after a canary in a coal mine but complicates things when he teaches the bird to play dead.
The Cave
A boy yearns for attention from his stoic fisherman father in this stop-motion short.
Christopher at Sea
A young man goes...
7 Lbs 8 Oz 7lbs 8oz
A young Asian family moves to Jersey City and finds beauty in their newfound community.
Airborne
An aspiring pilot takes a job as a baggage handler so he can be in close proximity to aircraft.
Amok
Clyde faces trauma after his fiancee and his handsome looks are taken away from him in a freak accident.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
The titular quartet of unlikely friends embark on a relatable journey to find home.
La Calesita
A cheerful merry-go-round operator finds joy in spreading cheer to his community.
Canary
A young boy keeps watch after a canary in a coal mine but complicates things when he teaches the bird to play dead.
The Cave
A boy yearns for attention from his stoic fisherman father in this stop-motion short.
Christopher at Sea
A young man goes...
- 12/3/2022
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Longtime Laika executive Jeff Stringer has been upped to the post of Chief Technology Officer at the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio.
Stringer’s promotion comes following his more than 13-year run as the company’s Director of Production Technology. He will now head up its newly reorganized Technology Group, which combines the creative talent and resources of the formerly independent It, Production Technology and Business Systems departments. The restructuring reinforces the strategic role of the Technology Group as active partners with Production and Business Operations and will help Laika establish studio-wide technology standards, thereby helping it to scale up production, modernize operations, and usher in new innovations. Stringer reports directly to the studio’s President and CEO, Travis Knight.
Said Knight: “The fusion of art and technology has been essential to our company since its founding and since 2008 Jeff has been central to that creative effort. As our studio grows,...
Stringer’s promotion comes following his more than 13-year run as the company’s Director of Production Technology. He will now head up its newly reorganized Technology Group, which combines the creative talent and resources of the formerly independent It, Production Technology and Business Systems departments. The restructuring reinforces the strategic role of the Technology Group as active partners with Production and Business Operations and will help Laika establish studio-wide technology standards, thereby helping it to scale up production, modernize operations, and usher in new innovations. Stringer reports directly to the studio’s President and CEO, Travis Knight.
Said Knight: “The fusion of art and technology has been essential to our company since its founding and since 2008 Jeff has been central to that creative effort. As our studio grows,...
- 11/28/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s a new (furry) fan-favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and there are no “bones” about it. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special puts Cosmo the Spacedog where she belongs in the world’s highest-grossing franchise. It’s true that this four-legged friend made their debut all the way back in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but with a bit of a revamp, she’s poised to have a significant role in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and beyond.
Although Cosmo is canonically male in Marvel Comics, she was mistakenly misgendered by Howard the Duck (then voiced by Seth Green) when she licked the face of The Collector (Benicio del Toro) in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Gunn has made Cosmo female in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, where she’s voiced by Borat 2’s Maria Bakalova. Her appearance doesn...
Although Cosmo is canonically male in Marvel Comics, she was mistakenly misgendered by Howard the Duck (then voiced by Seth Green) when she licked the face of The Collector (Benicio del Toro) in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Gunn has made Cosmo female in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, where she’s voiced by Borat 2’s Maria Bakalova. Her appearance doesn...
- 11/25/2022
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
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
"The curse is real!!" Laika has revealed a new trailer and poster for the film ParaNorman, their classic stop-motion animated horror comedy that first opened in 2012. This delightful, kooky film is beloved by horror fans of all ages and is getting a re-release in theaters (!!) this October. Glad it's coming back!! A boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse. The excellent voice cast features Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick, Chris Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, and John Goodman. "Celebrate the 10th anniversary of ParaNorman this fall with an array of theatrical events, promotional activities, fan-favorite engagements. Newly remastered in glorious 4K with Dolby Atmos sound, Laika's supernatural action-comedy is rising back to theaters." Halloween weekend screenings through Alamo Drafthouse in the U.S. and in partnership with PictureHouse and Cineworld in the UK. Don't miss this chance to...
- 9/29/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
And the Student Academy Awards go to …
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has named 14 filmmakers as winners of its 49th student competition. See the list below.
All of the winning films are eligible to compete for 2022 Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film category.
The winners will be honored during an October 20 ceremony at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles, where the medal placements – gold, silver and bronze – in the four award categories will be announced. The gala will be held in-person for the first time since 2019.
The competition received nearly 1,800 entries from 614 colleges and universities around the world. In a change from previous years, the Student Academy Awards no longer distinguish between U.S.-based and international schools for categories. All eligible submissions now qualify for the competition category the filmmaker selected in their submission application.
The Student...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has named 14 filmmakers as winners of its 49th student competition. See the list below.
All of the winning films are eligible to compete for 2022 Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film category.
The winners will be honored during an October 20 ceremony at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles, where the medal placements – gold, silver and bronze – in the four award categories will be announced. The gala will be held in-person for the first time since 2019.
The competition received nearly 1,800 entries from 614 colleges and universities around the world. In a change from previous years, the Student Academy Awards no longer distinguish between U.S.-based and international schools for categories. All eligible submissions now qualify for the competition category the filmmaker selected in their submission application.
The Student...
- 9/23/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Laika, the animation studio behind “ParaNorman” and “Coraline,” has announced a six-part series exploring the costumes, props and sets from its iconic films.
Titled “Laika Archives,” the series will be released on Sept. 13 via the company’s YouTube channel and features artisans like costume designer Deb Cook, head of model-making Keith McQueen and writer-director Chris Butler.
Says Butler, “There’s something truly magical about walking into a room and seeing a table full of gorgeous sculpts, gorgeous artwork that’s been created by very talented people.”
David Burke, Laika chief marketing officer and SVP of operations, adds: “Laika creates movies that matter. It takes a community of talented artists, artisans and technologists to make a Laika film. Because they are crafted in the stop motion animation medium, the studio has many physical assets from each film.”
The puppets, sets, props and materials are created in-house at the studio’s headquarters in Portland,...
Titled “Laika Archives,” the series will be released on Sept. 13 via the company’s YouTube channel and features artisans like costume designer Deb Cook, head of model-making Keith McQueen and writer-director Chris Butler.
Says Butler, “There’s something truly magical about walking into a room and seeing a table full of gorgeous sculpts, gorgeous artwork that’s been created by very talented people.”
David Burke, Laika chief marketing officer and SVP of operations, adds: “Laika creates movies that matter. It takes a community of talented artists, artisans and technologists to make a Laika film. Because they are crafted in the stop motion animation medium, the studio has many physical assets from each film.”
The puppets, sets, props and materials are created in-house at the studio’s headquarters in Portland,...
- 9/12/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Almost 30 years after “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), Henry Selick returns with “Wendell & Wild,” another stop-motion animated sensation that’s sure to generate acclaim throughout the industry. Co-written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Jordan Peele, the Netflix feature film debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and may have asserted itself as the new frontrunner for best animated feature.
Based on Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman’s unpublished book of the same name, the film tells the story of two scheming demon brothers, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of a 13-year-old Kat (Lyric Ross) to summon them to the Land of the Living. It also features the voice talents of Angela Bassett, James Hong and Ving Rhames.
Marking Selick’s first film since “Coraline” (2009), his sole Oscar-nominated feature, Selick brings the razzle-dazzle stop-motion effects to the screen, exquisitely assembling luscious set designs and breathtaking effects. Finally, five...
Based on Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman’s unpublished book of the same name, the film tells the story of two scheming demon brothers, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of a 13-year-old Kat (Lyric Ross) to summon them to the Land of the Living. It also features the voice talents of Angela Bassett, James Hong and Ving Rhames.
Marking Selick’s first film since “Coraline” (2009), his sole Oscar-nominated feature, Selick brings the razzle-dazzle stop-motion effects to the screen, exquisitely assembling luscious set designs and breathtaking effects. Finally, five...
- 9/11/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since Henry Selick’s last film, “Coraline.” In the time since that Neil Gaiman adaptation launched the indelible Laika stop-motion brand, the “Nightmare Before Christmas” director has worked on several features that failed to come to fruition, including the passion project, “The Shadow King,” for Disney/Pixar. But something positive still came out of that project’s cancellation: The partnership with Jordan Peele (“Nope”) that led to Selick’s stop-motion comeback, “Wendell & Wild,” the first trailer for which premiered today.
The first 30-minute sneak peek footage of “Wendell & Wild” — in which Black teenage orphan Kat (Lyric Ross) becomes an afro-punk hell maiden who makes a bargain with demon siblings Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Jordan Peele) — proves that the wait for a new Selick film was worth it. The director has made a summary statement about rebellion and creativity,...
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since Henry Selick’s last film, “Coraline.” In the time since that Neil Gaiman adaptation launched the indelible Laika stop-motion brand, the “Nightmare Before Christmas” director has worked on several features that failed to come to fruition, including the passion project, “The Shadow King,” for Disney/Pixar. But something positive still came out of that project’s cancellation: The partnership with Jordan Peele (“Nope”) that led to Selick’s stop-motion comeback, “Wendell & Wild,” the first trailer for which premiered today.
The first 30-minute sneak peek footage of “Wendell & Wild” — in which Black teenage orphan Kat (Lyric Ross) becomes an afro-punk hell maiden who makes a bargain with demon siblings Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Jordan Peele) — proves that the wait for a new Selick film was worth it. The director has made a summary statement about rebellion and creativity,...
- 9/6/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Despite his status as an icon of animation, it's weird to think that Henry Selick hasn't directed a movie since 2009's "Coraline." That isn't for a lack of trying on his part -- projects like "The Shadow King" were started, but eventually died out during development for some reason or another. Because of this back-and-forth from production to cancellation, it's nice that Selick is finally returning to the director's chair, and with the help of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, nonetheless.
Back in April 2022, /Film and other outlets were invited to the set of "Wendell & Wild." The film, which centers around the titular demon brothers (Key as Wendell and Peele as Wild) trying to get a young girl named Kat (Lyric Ross) to summon them into the human world, is slated to stream exclusively on Netflix this October. Given how he's returning to the spotlight in the age of streaming,...
Back in April 2022, /Film and other outlets were invited to the set of "Wendell & Wild." The film, which centers around the titular demon brothers (Key as Wendell and Peele as Wild) trying to get a young girl named Kat (Lyric Ross) to summon them into the human world, is slated to stream exclusively on Netflix this October. Given how he's returning to the spotlight in the age of streaming,...
- 8/30/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
From January 1989 until March 1996, Neil Gaiman's pivotal goth text "The Sandman" flooded the hearts of Doc Martens-wearing, clove cigarette-smoking, Fields of the Nephilim-listening teens the world over. The comic followed the downbeat, bitter adventures of Dream, a supernatural personification of human dreams, as he escaped a prolonged prison sentence in a fantasy kingdom, and set out traversing multiple dimensions to build up his power again. Dream frequently ran into other personified human concepts like Death, Destiny, Despair, and Delirium, and existed in a vast, complicated mythology world that your "Rocky Horror Picture Show"-attending buddies probably knew better than you.
Because of its cult popularity, scuttlebutt about a "Sandman" feature film began to spread sometime in the mid-1990s. Recalling the time, the buzz seemingly became loudest following the release of Alex Proyas' ultra-Goth comic book adaptation "The Crow," a film that appeared to be visually and tonally in...
Because of its cult popularity, scuttlebutt about a "Sandman" feature film began to spread sometime in the mid-1990s. Recalling the time, the buzz seemingly became loudest following the release of Alex Proyas' ultra-Goth comic book adaptation "The Crow," a film that appeared to be visually and tonally in...
- 8/26/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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
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
The Book of Genesis contains two competing creation stories: There’s the one where an all-powerful deity conjures everything in six days, and the version where a more anthropomorphic god rolls up his heavenly sleeves and makes man from clay.
Guess which one the visionary stop-motion artist Will Vinton would have preferred.
Co-inventor of the “Claymation” technique, Vinton wanted to be the second Walt Disney. Colorful eyegasm “ClayDream” celebrates all that Will Vinton Studios achieved — its most beloved characters include the California Raisins, rabbit-eared Domino’s Pizza menace “the Noid” and Eddie Murphy series “The PJs” — while musing about what might have been, had control of the company not been wrested away from him by Nike honcho Phil Knight, who rechristened it Laika and put his son Travis in charge.
That was an unhappy end for Vinton (who died in 2018), to be sure, but like the Old Testament origin story, this saga has multiple versions.
Guess which one the visionary stop-motion artist Will Vinton would have preferred.
Co-inventor of the “Claymation” technique, Vinton wanted to be the second Walt Disney. Colorful eyegasm “ClayDream” celebrates all that Will Vinton Studios achieved — its most beloved characters include the California Raisins, rabbit-eared Domino’s Pizza menace “the Noid” and Eddie Murphy series “The PJs” — while musing about what might have been, had control of the company not been wrested away from him by Nike honcho Phil Knight, who rechristened it Laika and put his son Travis in charge.
That was an unhappy end for Vinton (who died in 2018), to be sure, but like the Old Testament origin story, this saga has multiple versions.
- 8/5/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
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