Laika, whose five films (Missing Link, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Coraline) have all received Oscar nominations for Best Animated Film, will partner with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry for multiple screenings of all its films as well as filmmaker discussions and a display of puppets and sets this October.
Laika was awarded a Scientific & Technical Oscar in 2016 for its innovations in facial animation and won the BAFTA for Kubo and the Two Strings and the Golden Globe for Missing Link. At the heart of every LAIKA film are the artists who meticulously craft every element. Through its display of puppets and sets from all of Laika’s Oscar-nominated films, visitors to OMSI can immerse themselves in Laika’s creative process, exploring the production design, sets, props, puppets, costumes, and world-building that have become the studio’s hallmarks. During the two-week engagement, some of the key artists who created each film will engage with visitors in a series of Q&As and showings at OMSI’s Empirical Theatre.
“Animation has a unique ability to entertain, educate, and inspire audiences. We feel so fortunate to have Laika here in Portland providing us the unique opportunity to spotlight their creative, award-winning films,” said Russ Repp, vice president of retail and marketing at OMSI. “Laika’s work aligns with our mission to inspire curiosity in people of all ages, so we’re delighted to celebrate their 15 years of artistic innovation by hosting this truly special event.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with a world-class institution like OMSI to share the magic of Laika’s filmmaking with our hometown fans,” said David Burke, chief marketing officer and senior vice president, business operations at Laika. “Our studio has a unique approach to filmmaking, enhancing the artisanal stop-motion technique with technological innovations and through installations like this, fans have a chance to see that artistry up close whilst getting some behind-the-scenes details from our filmmakers.”