Watch Coraline reveal Wildwood protagonist
‘Prue’
Award-winning animation studio LAIKA, known for Coraline,
ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing
Link, has built its global reputation on an impressive series of
“firsts.” Coraline was the first stop-motion animated film ever
shot in stereoscopic 3D and LAIKA was the first animation studio to
win an Oscar® for its innovation in rapid prototyping, among other
pioneering achievements. Now comes another first to introduce the
female protagonist of LAIKA’s sixth film, Wildwood, currently in
production outside Portland, Oregon and expected to be released in
2025.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240726773365/en/
LAIKA and Empire Magazine unveil first
ever stop-motion animation digital cover for LAIKA's upcoming epic
film WILDWOOD. (Graphic: Business Wire)
LAIKA and EMPIRE, the world’s biggest movie magazine, have
partnered on the first-of-its-kind stop-motion digital magazine
cover. Like Coraline, Wildwood is set in LAIKA’s home state of
Oregon. The digital cover begins with an iconic film scene:
Coraline opens the door in her living room and sees a spooky tunnel
that leads to the Other World. But in this special animation, the
tunnel leads to Wildwood’s Impassable Wilderness and ends on the
reveal of Prue, the intrepid female protagonist of LAIKA’s eagerly
awaited new film. A newly restored Coraline puppet was enlisted for
the shoot with new sets and costuming created specifically for the
cover production.
The Wildwood digital stop-motion cover goes live on Friday, July 26th at 8am PDT/ 4pm BST, and can be
viewed HERE. Digital versions will be available at online
newsstands, including Apple News+, and Empire’s bespoke digital
edition. A behind-the-scenes video on the making of the cover will
be shared on LAIKA and Empire’s social channels on Monday, July
29th.
“Empire magazine clearly loves movies, as does LAIKA,” said
LAIKA’s Chief Marketing and Operations Officer David Burke. “A
stop-motion Empire cover seemed the perfect way to introduce fans
around the world to our newest leading lady, Prue. Wildwood is a
love letter to LAIKA’s hometown of Portland, Oregon. As Coraline is
celebrating her 15th anniversary this year, it felt right for our
first female film heroine to pass the baton to Prue. We approached
this cover with the same dedication and creativity as we do our
films, enlisting the studio’s top artists and craftspeople to make
it truly special. We hope Empire fans love the result as much as we
do.”
“Nobody makes movies with more passion, creativity and attention
to detail than LAIKA,” said Empire editor Nick de Semlyen. “At
Empire, we have long been enchanted by their stunning, hugely
original work. It’s been an incredible privilege, as they prepare
to release their latest adventure, Wildwood, to team up with them
for this history-making stop-motion digital cover and the very
first look at their new heroine, Prue. We are blown away by the
result — as close to cinema as a magazine cover can get — and are
sure you will be too. Inside our new issue, meanwhile, is not only
a first look at Wildwood, but a lavish 15th anniversary celebration
of Coraline with all-new interviews. In this age of computer
effects, the art of stop-motion is still flourishing, and we’re
thrilled to be championing LAIKA’s work in such high style.”
About Wildwood: Beyond Portland, Oregon’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. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish
bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. Wildwood
is a tale of love, loss, sacrifice and secrets, and of the magic
you can find on your doorstep, if you’re willing to look for
it.
The cast includes: Oscar® nominee Carey Mulligan (Maestro),
Oscar® winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Peyton Elizabeth Lee
(Andi Mack), Jacob Tremblay (Room), Awkwafina (Shang Chi and the
Legend of the Ten Rings), Oscar® nominee Angela Bassett (Black
Panther: Wakanda Forever), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Charlie
Day (Horrible Bosses), Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte), Emmy®
nominee Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Emmy® nominee
Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the
Flower Moon), Grammy® winner Tom Waits, and Oscar® nominee Richard
E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).
Wildwood is based on the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead
singer for The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis. BAFTA®
winner Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee, Masters
of the Universe) directs from a script by Chris Butler (ParaNorman,
Missing Link). Six-time Oscar® nominee Caleb Deschanel (The Passion
of the Christ) is the cinematographer. Joe M. Aguilar (Puss in
Boots) produces alongside Knight.
About the Cover: It took four months and 160 LAIKAns
across 15 departments to create the stop-motion Empire cover.
Artists and technologists from Animation, Costume, Landscapes, Set
Shop, Model Shop, Motion Control, Puppet Paint, and VFX contributed
their skill, expertise, and vision to the final result. Animators
Dan MacKenzie and Tom Carey brought the action to life alongside
riggers Craig Atkinson and Matthew Emmons. A complete list of
credits is attached.
Fun Facts: An archived, previously unused version of
Coraline’s PJ costume was re-finished with one artist spending a
day to match the pink piping color on the pajama set. Two original
Coraline wigs, one a stunt wig for the wind blowing in her hair,
were re-worked for this piece.
About EMPIRE Magazine
Empire is the world’s biggest movie magazine. Since 1989, it has
chronicled the inside stories of Hollywood productions, with
unparalleled access to the biggest filmmakers and stars. Guest
editors include Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Sam Mendes.
As well as the print edition, now 35 years old, Empire’s digital
arm is growing ever stronger, with award-winning website Empire
Online, four podcasts and regular live events.
About LAIKA
LAIKA was founded in 2005 in Oregon by President & CEO
Travis Knight. The studio’s five films Coraline (2009), ParaNorman
(2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and
Missing Link (2019) have all been nominated for the Academy Award®
for Outstanding Animated Feature. Kubo and the Two Strings won the
BAFTA® Award for Best Animated Film and received an additional
Oscar® nomination for Visual Effects. Missing Link was awarded the
Golden Globe® for Best Animated Film. LAIKA was awarded a
Scientific and Technology Oscar® in 2016 for its innovation in 3D
printing. LAIKA is currently in production on its next animated
film Wildwood. The studio is developing the animated feature films
The Night Gardener, from an original idea by Bill Dubuque, creator
of the hit series Ozark, and Piranesi, based on the NYT bestselling
novel by Susanna Clarke. LAIKA has launched a Live Action
subsidiary with a range of projects in development including
feature films based on the action thriller novel Seventeen by
screenwriter John Brownlow and the original script Crumble, written
and directed by Brian Duffield with Phil Lord and Chris Miller
producing. www.laika.com
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240726773365/en/
For LAIKA Maggie Begley/MBC Maggie@mbcprinc.com; +1
310.749.3055
For Empire Magazine Zoe Branchflower
zoe.blanchflower2@bauermedia.co.uk; +44 1733.468.000