Line #22 Creator/Laika


1	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laika_transparent.png]]
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3	[[http://laika.com/ Laika, LLC]] is a stop-motion animation studio that creates highly-acclaimed feature films, commercials, music videos and other material. The company is based in UsefulNotes/{{Oregon}}, with studios in Hillsboro and Portland.
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5	The company was founded in 2005 following the collapse and massive reorganization of Will Vinton Studios, with two divisions: Laika Entertainment for feature films, and Laika/house for smaller projects like commercials; later named [=HouseSpecial=], Laika/house animated the ''Music/TheyMightBeGiants'' AnimatedMusicVideo ''Bastard Wants to Hit Me''. In 2009, Laika released their first film, ''{{WesternAnimation/Coraline}}'', directed by Creator/HenrySelick (''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', ''Film/{{Monkeybone}}''), which was nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward. In 2012, they released their next feature, ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'', to similar (if slightly smaller) success. This was followed by ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls'', which was released in 2014, and ''WesternAnimation/KuboAndTheTwoStrings'', released in 2016. Their most recent film is ''WesternAnimation/MissingLink'', released in 2019.
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7	Besides feature films, Laika has also produced commercials for a variety of clients, including Ben & Jerry's, Apple, Advertising/MAndMs and Honda, among many others. Their "Rivalries" spots for Coca-Cola were aired throughout South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East during the 2006 World Cup. Laika eventually spun off its commercial division in May 2014. In July 2014, company head Travis Knight announced that the studio has considered making a completely hand-drawn animated feature. The medium has been used for special effects in their past features and has been met with unanimous excitement from fans who wish to see a medium that's all but disappeared from American feature animation.
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9	Their first four features were distributed by [[Creator/{{Universal}} Universal Pictures]], under their Creator/FocusFeatures label. In this regard, Laika functioned as a stop-motion arthouse-level animation studio to go along with Universal's homebase studio Creator/IlluminationEntertainment and acquired firm Creator/DreamWorksAnimation. Of course, since Laika isn't owned by Creator/{{NBC}}Universal, neither the man who operates Illumination, Chris Meledandri, or DWA founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and current DWA head Bonnie Arnold had any involvement or influence on the studio or its works.
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13	!!Works
14	[[index]]
15	* ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' (2005): Their first project. Co-production with Creator/TimBurton, Creator/WarnerBros and Creator/CosgroveHall. Nominated for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAnimatedFeature.
16	* ''King of California'' (2007): Animated a stop-motion dream sequence.
17	* ''{{WesternAnimation/Coraline}}'' (2009): Their first fully-independent feature; nominated for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAnimatedFeature.
18	* ''Film/AVeryHaroldAndKumar3DChristmas'' (2011): Stop-motion sequence.
19	* ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' (2012): Nominated for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAnimatedFeature.
20	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls'' (2014): Also nominated for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAnimatedFeature.
21	* ''WesternAnimation/KuboAndTheTwoStrings'' (2016): Once again nominated for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAnimatedFeature ''and'' for Best Visual Effects.
22	* ''WesternAnimation/MissingLink'' (2019): First film not to be released by Creator/FocusFeatures, instead by the newly formed United Artists Releasing on behalf of Creator/AnnapurnaPictures. Became the first film from Laika (and the stop-motion format in general) to win the MediaNotes/GoldenGlobeAwardForBestAnimatedFeatureFilm.
23	[[/index]]
24	!!Films in development
25	[[index]]
26	* ''Wildwood'' (based on [[Music/TheDecemberists Colin Meloy]]'s novel)
27	* ''Seventeen''
28	* ''The Night Gardener''
29	[[/index]]
30	!! Tropes Associated with Laika films
31	* CreatorThumbprint: A few.
32	** Stunning stop-motion animation, their main medium.
33	** Dark fantasy stories involving frightening supernatural forces and young children having to face them.
34	** Themes of family, frequently with flawed, abusive or villainous family figures, and familial love.
35	** Themes of loneliness.
36	** At least one [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman non-human character with human qualities]], questioning the definition of "human".
37	* DefangedHorrors: Most of their films are made with a child audience in mind, but are darker than a typical kids' flick, including a lot of [[NightmareFuel horror elements]].
38	* LighterAndSofter: ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls'' is a bit more lighter but still has its dark moments. ''WesternAnimation/MissingLink'' is also relative light and devoid of horror elements (although both of them have [[VileVillainSaccharineShow truly despicable villains]]).
39	* ShadesOfConflict:
40	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'': BlackAndGrayMorality
41	** ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'': WhiteAndGreyMorality
42	** ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls'': WhiteAndGreyMorality, though it later turns to TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil
43	** ''WesternAnimation/KuboAndTheTwoStrings'': WhiteAndGreyMorality
44	** ''WesternAnimation/MissingLink'': BlackAndGrayMorality, at worst, BlackAndWhiteMorality at best.
45	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: They're more towards the idealistic end, even through the hard situations their films include.
46	* SpaceWhaleAesop: Laika films ''love'' this.
47	** ''Coraline'': Be a little more grateful for what you have, otherwise an evil spider HumanoidAbomination from another dimension will try to eat you.
48	** ''[=ParaNorman=]'': People are different. Treat people fairly or they will return as vengeful ghosts and cast a centuries' long curse on your community.
49	** ''The Boxtrolls'': It's important to listen to people. Overcome your fears or some giant Steampunk machine will destroy the city.
50	** ''Kubo And The Two Strings'': Forgetting what's truly important to you will turn you into a giant spirit snake demon.
51	** ''Missing Link'': Learn to be more considerate of others, even if you have to travel halfway around the world to do it.

Context Creator / Laika