While it may feel like The Hunger Games franchise just arrived on Netflix, it will be leaving the streamer at the end of the month. The story of Katniss Everdeen starting a true revolution in the dystopian world and leading it to victory has captivated young adult viewers for more than 10 years now, but it will soon have to find another home.
On May 31, all of the films in The Hunger Games franchise will be removed from Netflix. But that fate awaits more movies than that. Here are 8 other movies you might want to watch before the end of the month, before they're gone from your subscription.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) – May 11
Coming-of-age murder mystery starring Normal People’s Daisy Edgar-Jones will be leaving the platform in just a couple of days. So, if you want to give a story of a young girl, who raised herself but ended up...
On May 31, all of the films in The Hunger Games franchise will be removed from Netflix. But that fate awaits more movies than that. Here are 8 other movies you might want to watch before the end of the month, before they're gone from your subscription.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) – May 11
Coming-of-age murder mystery starring Normal People’s Daisy Edgar-Jones will be leaving the platform in just a couple of days. So, if you want to give a story of a young girl, who raised herself but ended up...
- 5/11/2024
- by virginia-singh@startefacts.com (Virginia Singh)
- STartefacts.com
If you’re trying to figure out what movie to watch on Netflix, an easy way to whittle down the choices is to find out what movies are soon leaving the streaming service. To that end, we’ve got the full list of movies leaving Netflix in May 2024, and there are some bangers on here.
The entire original “Hunger Games” franchise will depart at the end of the month, while the critically acclaimed sequel “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” expires on May 9. And if you’re hankering for some stress, “Uncut Gems” leaves on May 8, while the bestseller adaptation “Where the Crawdads Sing” will depart Netflix on May 11.
See the full list of what’s leaving Netflix in May 2024 below.
Leaving May 1
Bennett’s War
Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Leaving May 2
Survive the Night
Leaving May 3
Arctic Dogs
Leaving May 8
Uncut Gems
Leaving May 9
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish...
The entire original “Hunger Games” franchise will depart at the end of the month, while the critically acclaimed sequel “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” expires on May 9. And if you’re hankering for some stress, “Uncut Gems” leaves on May 8, while the bestseller adaptation “Where the Crawdads Sing” will depart Netflix on May 11.
See the full list of what’s leaving Netflix in May 2024 below.
Leaving May 1
Bennett’s War
Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Leaving May 2
Survive the Night
Leaving May 3
Arctic Dogs
Leaving May 8
Uncut Gems
Leaving May 9
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish...
- 5/5/2024
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
With each new month comes a strong desire to let go of some things in order to make room for what is new. And it seems that even the biggest streaming platforms feel the same way.
That's why they update their libraries every month. There are a lot of different movies leaving Netflix in May, but these 5 are a must watch (or rewatch) if you are a fan of quality cinema.
1. Uncut Gems (2019) – May 9
Many of you may not think much of Adam Sandler, at least that's what a lot of people say out loud, even though there's a good chance they fall asleep watching Sandler's best rom-coms. But every once in a while he stars in a movie that ends up proving how brilliant of an actor he really is.
Uncut Gems has a 91% on Tomatometer and features the actor in a serious role, portraying a man named Howard Ratner.
That's why they update their libraries every month. There are a lot of different movies leaving Netflix in May, but these 5 are a must watch (or rewatch) if you are a fan of quality cinema.
1. Uncut Gems (2019) – May 9
Many of you may not think much of Adam Sandler, at least that's what a lot of people say out loud, even though there's a good chance they fall asleep watching Sandler's best rom-coms. But every once in a while he stars in a movie that ends up proving how brilliant of an actor he really is.
Uncut Gems has a 91% on Tomatometer and features the actor in a serious role, portraying a man named Howard Ratner.
- 5/4/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Rachel Bailey)
- STartefacts.com
Netflix has released their monthly list of every movie and TV show that will be expiring from the streaming service soon.
Beginning on May 1, 2024, Netflix will be removing 39 total titles. Unfortunately, there are some fan favorites included here. Notably, all four Hunger Games films will be removed next month! Other title leaving are one of the Magic Mike movies, You’ve Got Mail, The Great Gatsby, Split, and more.
Head inside to see the full list of movies and TV shows being removed from Netflix in May 2024…
Everything Leaving Netflix in May 2024:
Leaving 5/1/24
Bennett’s War
Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Leaving 5/2/24
Survive the Night
Leaving 5/3/24
Arctic Dogs
Leaving 5/8/24
Uncut Gems
Leaving 5/9/24
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Leaving 5/10/24
St. Vincent
Leaving 5/11/24
Where the Crawdads Sing
Leaving 5/14/24
Fifty Shades of Black
Leaving 5/19/24
Rosario Tijeras (Mexico): Seasons 1-3
Leaving 5/11/24
Sam Smith: Love Goes – Live at Abbey Road Studios
Leaving 5/22/24
The Boxtrolls...
Beginning on May 1, 2024, Netflix will be removing 39 total titles. Unfortunately, there are some fan favorites included here. Notably, all four Hunger Games films will be removed next month! Other title leaving are one of the Magic Mike movies, You’ve Got Mail, The Great Gatsby, Split, and more.
Head inside to see the full list of movies and TV shows being removed from Netflix in May 2024…
Everything Leaving Netflix in May 2024:
Leaving 5/1/24
Bennett’s War
Magic Mike’s Last Dance
Leaving 5/2/24
Survive the Night
Leaving 5/3/24
Arctic Dogs
Leaving 5/8/24
Uncut Gems
Leaving 5/9/24
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Leaving 5/10/24
St. Vincent
Leaving 5/11/24
Where the Crawdads Sing
Leaving 5/14/24
Fifty Shades of Black
Leaving 5/19/24
Rosario Tijeras (Mexico): Seasons 1-3
Leaving 5/11/24
Sam Smith: Love Goes – Live at Abbey Road Studios
Leaving 5/22/24
The Boxtrolls...
- 4/24/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Henry Selick's 2009 film "Coraline" was unique in the history of animation in that it was the first stop-motion feature to use 3-D printers to construct its maquettes. For Selick's 1993 hit "The Nightmare Before Christmas," each character's individual face had to be hand-sculpted separately, requiring boxes and boxes of various Jack Skellington heads. 3-D printing for "Coraline" sped up the process and allowed the animators a wider variety of faces for the titular bratty girl and the terrifying adults in her life.
The story of "Coraline" was taken from Neil Gaiman's 2002 children's horror novel, itself heavily cribbing from Clive Barker's 1992 novel "The Thief of Always." In the film, Coraline (Dakota Fanning) moves with her parents to a remote house out in the middle of the woods. Coraline makes no mystery of how much she hates the move, how...
Henry Selick's 2009 film "Coraline" was unique in the history of animation in that it was the first stop-motion feature to use 3-D printers to construct its maquettes. For Selick's 1993 hit "The Nightmare Before Christmas," each character's individual face had to be hand-sculpted separately, requiring boxes and boxes of various Jack Skellington heads. 3-D printing for "Coraline" sped up the process and allowed the animators a wider variety of faces for the titular bratty girl and the terrifying adults in her life.
The story of "Coraline" was taken from Neil Gaiman's 2002 children's horror novel, itself heavily cribbing from Clive Barker's 1992 novel "The Thief of Always." In the film, Coraline (Dakota Fanning) moves with her parents to a remote house out in the middle of the woods. Coraline makes no mystery of how much she hates the move, how...
- 4/20/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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
Studio Ghibli, like Western counterparts Disney, Pixar and the UK’s Aardman, is one of the most important animation studios in movie history. Since its first feature film, “Castle in the Sky” in 1986, Studio Ghibli has delivered two dozen thought-provoking tales beautifully rendered in a unique brand of animation. To date, its output has racked up have a lucky seven Oscar bids for Best Animated Feature.
“Spirited Away” was the first Studio Ghibli movie to break into the Academy Awards conversation and did so with aplomb in 2003. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (Miyazaki the recipient) over “Ice Age,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” and “Treasure Planet.”
In 2006, Miyazaki was again nominated — this time for “Howl’s Moving Castle” alongside “Corpse Bride” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” with the latter movie, an Aardman creation, reigning victorious.
Miyazaki and Suzuki were the nominees...
“Spirited Away” was the first Studio Ghibli movie to break into the Academy Awards conversation and did so with aplomb in 2003. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (Miyazaki the recipient) over “Ice Age,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” and “Treasure Planet.”
In 2006, Miyazaki was again nominated — this time for “Howl’s Moving Castle” alongside “Corpse Bride” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” with the latter movie, an Aardman creation, reigning victorious.
Miyazaki and Suzuki were the nominees...
- 2/16/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Amazon’s Masters Of The Universe film may finally have a director, with Bumblebee and Kubo And The Two Strings’ Travis Knight said to be in ‘final negotiations.’
Tinseltown trade outlets often talk about actors and filmmakers ‘circling’ movie projects and deals, as though they’re little kestrels hovering about looking for their lunch.
The kestrel in question here is Travis Knight, who most recently directed the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee for Paramount Pictures. According to Deadline’s exclusive, Knight’s in “final talks” with Amazon MGM Studios to direct the latest film adaptation of Masters Of The Universe, based on the 1980s animated series and toy line of the same name.
Knight clearly has strong ideas for the film, with Deadline’s sources saying the filmmaker showed up at the studio’s offices with a presentation which laid out his take on He-Man. That presentation impressed Amazon MGM bosses enough...
Tinseltown trade outlets often talk about actors and filmmakers ‘circling’ movie projects and deals, as though they’re little kestrels hovering about looking for their lunch.
The kestrel in question here is Travis Knight, who most recently directed the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee for Paramount Pictures. According to Deadline’s exclusive, Knight’s in “final talks” with Amazon MGM Studios to direct the latest film adaptation of Masters Of The Universe, based on the 1980s animated series and toy line of the same name.
Knight clearly has strong ideas for the film, with Deadline’s sources saying the filmmaker showed up at the studio’s offices with a presentation which laid out his take on He-Man. That presentation impressed Amazon MGM bosses enough...
- 2/14/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
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
Exclusive: Oregon studio Laika has brought in new talent, hiring director Pete Candeland, along with Victor Maldonado & Alfredo Torres, the Annie Award-winning duo together known as Headless, to develop new animated features.
The appointments are effective immediately, though there’s no word yet on what the projects are.
Maldonado and Torres are an L.A.-based team that landed their Annie for the helming of “Win, Lose or Draal,” an episode of the Guillermo del Toro series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Double Dare You Productions. The duo also directed three episodes of the Emmy-winning Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots, additionally partnering on the 2007 fantasy Nocturna which won Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars. Maldonado directed that title alongside Adrià García, with Torres serving as production designer and tackling numerous other creative responsibilities.
Maldonado and Torres also...
The appointments are effective immediately, though there’s no word yet on what the projects are.
Maldonado and Torres are an L.A.-based team that landed their Annie for the helming of “Win, Lose or Draal,” an episode of the Guillermo del Toro series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Double Dare You Productions. The duo also directed three episodes of the Emmy-winning Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots, additionally partnering on the 2007 fantasy Nocturna which won Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars. Maldonado directed that title alongside Adrià García, with Torres serving as production designer and tackling numerous other creative responsibilities.
Maldonado and Torres also...
- 10/25/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s something uniquely special about the films you discover when you’re a child. Whether it’s a wondrous flight of fantasy, a mind-boggling work of animation, an adventure in a whole new world, or a coming-of-age tale that teaches you some of life’s biggest lessons, the movies we see when we’re kids stay with us for life — and the best ones help shape who we are. But in an age where you don’t have to leave the house — or even the sofa — to lose yourself in the magic of moving pictures, it can be hard to even know where to start when it comes to finding the films that will truly connect with the next generation of budding young film buffs.
Thankfully, your cool aunt/uncle Empire is here to help. We’ve got down with the kids, reconnected with the child within, and spent...
Thankfully, your cool aunt/uncle Empire is here to help. We’ve got down with the kids, reconnected with the child within, and spent...
- 10/18/2023
- by Jordan King
- Empire - Movies
To celebrate the release of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken available to Download & Keep September 25 and the Make A Splash Edition on DVD on October 9 2023, we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!
Dive into the turbulent waters of high school with this heart warming action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Learning to be an all-powerful sea creature while hiding among humans is hard enough for Ruby, but to make matters worse, her super popular new bestie, Chelsea, is secretly a mermaid! Mermaids have been battling the Krakens for eons to rule the ocean, but Chelsea has come to land to finally put an end to that conflict. However, when Chelsea double-crosses her, Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who...
Dive into the turbulent waters of high school with this heart warming action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Learning to be an all-powerful sea creature while hiding among humans is hard enough for Ruby, but to make matters worse, her super popular new bestie, Chelsea, is secretly a mermaid! Mermaids have been battling the Krakens for eons to rule the ocean, but Chelsea has come to land to finally put an end to that conflict. However, when Chelsea double-crosses her, Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who...
- 10/8/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Features the voices of: J.K. Simmons, Jimmy O. Yang, Chloe Bennet, Sharon Horgan, Lisa Lu, Catherine Tate, John Cleese | Written and Directed by Ross Venokur
It must be kind of difficult for any modern-day animated filmmakers to make a film that is going to be popular. Outside of Disney/Pixar, Dreamworks and Studio Ghibli, It’s hard to get noticed. Laika are perhaps the most successful outside of the big few production companies and they did it by making several great animated movies, including Coraline, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings. But it’s easy to see why the poster for Rally Road Racers says in bold ‘From The Producer Of Shrek’. Unfortunately, that might be one of the few reasons some viewers might give the movie a chance.
In Rally Road Racers, a loris (a slow-moving mammal) named Zhi who wants to follow in his father’s...
It must be kind of difficult for any modern-day animated filmmakers to make a film that is going to be popular. Outside of Disney/Pixar, Dreamworks and Studio Ghibli, It’s hard to get noticed. Laika are perhaps the most successful outside of the big few production companies and they did it by making several great animated movies, including Coraline, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings. But it’s easy to see why the poster for Rally Road Racers says in bold ‘From The Producer Of Shrek’. Unfortunately, that might be one of the few reasons some viewers might give the movie a chance.
In Rally Road Racers, a loris (a slow-moving mammal) named Zhi who wants to follow in his father’s...
- 9/14/2023
- by Alain Elliott
- Nerdly
For director Anthony Stacchi (“The Box Trolls”), re-energizing the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West” for Netflix’s animated feature “The Monkey King” meant turning the titular character into something very modern: an antihero. This was supported by executive producer Stephen Chow (“Kung Fu Hustle”), who previously directed a live-action version of “Journey to the West.”
“Stephen Chow has made a career of making heroes out of really unlikeable jerks,” Stacchi told IndieWire. “And you stick with ’em on their journey ’cause you know why they are the way they are, and you’re hoping for them to redeem themselves. So we did that here. He is a selfish, arrogant jerk from the beginning, and that way through the end. But you understand why he’s fighting for acceptance, you know where his anti-authoritarian attitude comes from.”
They also emphasized a goofy tone throughout the journey, in which Monkey King...
“Stephen Chow has made a career of making heroes out of really unlikeable jerks,” Stacchi told IndieWire. “And you stick with ’em on their journey ’cause you know why they are the way they are, and you’re hoping for them to redeem themselves. So we did that here. He is a selfish, arrogant jerk from the beginning, and that way through the end. But you understand why he’s fighting for acceptance, you know where his anti-authoritarian attitude comes from.”
They also emphasized a goofy tone throughout the journey, in which Monkey King...
- 8/18/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Back in the early ’90s, a New Jersey-based company called GoodTimes Entertainment carved out a place for itself in the home-video space churning out straight-to-video knockoffs of Disney animated features. While “The Lion King” was in theaters, there was GoodTimes’ “Leo the Lion: King of the Jungle” on retail shelves, packaged (for maximum mix-uppability) in Disney’s signature white clamshell case. From a copyright perspective, GoodTimes’ strategy was super-sketchy, but as far as parents were concerned, it was easy to get confused — and most kids probably didn’t know the difference.
That bait-and-switch phenomenon crossed my mind when I saw that Netflix was making “The Monkey King,” which — like GoodTimes’ “Aladdin” or “The Little Mermaid” — was certainly fair game, since the source material (the 16th-century Chinese classic “Journey to the West”) was squarely in the public domain. The cynical part of my brain instantly imagined that the streamer was churning...
That bait-and-switch phenomenon crossed my mind when I saw that Netflix was making “The Monkey King,” which — like GoodTimes’ “Aladdin” or “The Little Mermaid” — was certainly fair game, since the source material (the 16th-century Chinese classic “Journey to the West”) was squarely in the public domain. The cynical part of my brain instantly imagined that the streamer was churning...
- 8/18/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
“Coraline,” 2009’s Oscar-nominated animated feature from Laika Studios, grossed a combined $4.91 million in a limited theatrical rerelease via Fathom Events.
The success of the screenings, which were held Monday and Tuesday, has led to two additional screenings of the Henry Selick-directed film being added on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.
The showings, hosted by Fathom in partnership with Laika and Park Circus, placed the film third in gross box office behind “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” It ranked as the highest grosser in per screen average on both days, making $3,000 per screen.
“As of now, Coraline is Fathom’s biggest classic movie of all time and the second highest grossing title for 2023,” Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Events, said in a statement. “This film carries such a large fan following year after year, and they certainly came out in force this year to see their favorite film.”
The stop-motion film based on the...
The success of the screenings, which were held Monday and Tuesday, has led to two additional screenings of the Henry Selick-directed film being added on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.
The showings, hosted by Fathom in partnership with Laika and Park Circus, placed the film third in gross box office behind “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” It ranked as the highest grosser in per screen average on both days, making $3,000 per screen.
“As of now, Coraline is Fathom’s biggest classic movie of all time and the second highest grossing title for 2023,” Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Events, said in a statement. “This film carries such a large fan following year after year, and they certainly came out in force this year to see their favorite film.”
The stop-motion film based on the...
- 8/16/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Special mention went to Chinese feature ‘Flaming Cloud’.
Malaysian drama Abang Adik scooped the top prize at the New York Asian Film Festival, which closed last night with a screening of Netflix animation The Monkey King.
Abang Adik received the Uncaged Award for best feature film, beating eight other titles from across Asia in Nyaff’s competition strand. It marks the directorial debut feature of Jin Ong and follows two orphaned brothers whose bond is tested after a brutal accident.
Director Ong was in New York to present the North American premiere of the film at the festival. Accepting the award,...
Malaysian drama Abang Adik scooped the top prize at the New York Asian Film Festival, which closed last night with a screening of Netflix animation The Monkey King.
Abang Adik received the Uncaged Award for best feature film, beating eight other titles from across Asia in Nyaff’s competition strand. It marks the directorial debut feature of Jin Ong and follows two orphaned brothers whose bond is tested after a brutal accident.
Director Ong was in New York to present the North American premiere of the film at the festival. Accepting the award,...
- 7/31/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Producer Pellin Chou set to attend special screening.
Netflix animation The Monkey King has been set as the closing film of the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), marking the first time the festival has partnered with the streaming giant.
The special screening will take place on July 30, more than two weeks before the August 18 premiere on Netflix worldwide. It will be attended by Netflix Animation producer Peilin Chou, a former Oriental Dreamworks executive who produced Abominable and was Oscar-nominated for Over The Moon.
The feature is directed by Anthony Stacchi, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for co-directing The Boxtrolls,...
Netflix animation The Monkey King has been set as the closing film of the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), marking the first time the festival has partnered with the streaming giant.
The special screening will take place on July 30, more than two weeks before the August 18 premiere on Netflix worldwide. It will be attended by Netflix Animation producer Peilin Chou, a former Oriental Dreamworks executive who produced Abominable and was Oscar-nominated for Over The Moon.
The feature is directed by Anthony Stacchi, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for co-directing The Boxtrolls,...
- 7/18/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
"Maybe defeating everyone isn't the answer. Maybe... it's helping other people." Netflix has revealed the trailer for The Monkey King animated movie, directed by animation filmmaker Anthony Stacchi, with animation by ReelFX. Inspired by an epic Chinese tale, The Monkey King is an action-packed family comedy that follows a charismatic Monkey (voiced by Jimmy O. Yang) and his magical fighting Stick on an epic quest for victory fighting over 100 demons, an eccentric Dragon King, and Monkey’s greatest foe of all —his own ego! This will be streaming on Netflix worldwide starting in August. Sounds like fun! The voice cast includes Jimmy O. Yang with Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Nan Li, Bowen Yang, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Bd Wong, Andrew Kishino, Sophie Wu and many others. This reminds me of DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda in the look and feel. I can appreciate how they handle the plot about his ego,...
- 7/17/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
As part of Netflix’s appearance this week at the Annecy International Animation Festival, the streaming service hosted a sneak peek at upcoming work and the world premiere of Nimona, the anticipated adaptation of Nd Stevenson’s graphic novel coming to the platform on June 30. Additionally, the studio announced that Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget — Aardman Animations’ anticipated sequel to 2000’s Chicken Run — will get a Dec. 15 release.
In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken Run — from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shawn the Sheep — the Annecy audience was introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken Run‘s Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed in a truck carting chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase — with Ginger, Rocky and others in hot pursuit of the truck — they begin to devise a rescue plan.
In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken Run — from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shawn the Sheep — the Annecy audience was introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken Run‘s Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed in a truck carting chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase — with Ginger, Rocky and others in hot pursuit of the truck — they begin to devise a rescue plan.
- 6/14/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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
Laika, the Portland-based animation studio behind movies such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, has hired Jeremy Kipp Walker and Chaz Salembier as part of a push into live-action filmmaking.
Walker becomes executive vp, live-action production after serving as head of production for Netflix’s independent film division. His credits include The Big Sick, Half Nelson, Table 19, Mississippi Grind and It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
Salembier, a veteran of Walt Disney Studios, becomes creative vp, live-action film at Laika, charged with identifying and developing stories for the indie studio’s live-action film slate, starting at the Cannes Film Festival.
Both Laika hires will report to Matt Levin, president of live-action film and series, who joined the indie studio in the new role in February after a long tenure at Netflix.
Besides production on its sixth animated movie Wildwood, directed by Laika founder Travis Knight, the studio...
Walker becomes executive vp, live-action production after serving as head of production for Netflix’s independent film division. His credits include The Big Sick, Half Nelson, Table 19, Mississippi Grind and It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
Salembier, a veteran of Walt Disney Studios, becomes creative vp, live-action film at Laika, charged with identifying and developing stories for the indie studio’s live-action film slate, starting at the Cannes Film Festival.
Both Laika hires will report to Matt Levin, president of live-action film and series, who joined the indie studio in the new role in February after a long tenure at Netflix.
Besides production on its sixth animated movie Wildwood, directed by Laika founder Travis Knight, the studio...
- 5/25/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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
Lin (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Monkey King (Jimmy O. Yang) – Photo Credit: Netflix © 2023)
Netflix’s slate of upcoming animated films includes The Monkey King directed by Anthony Stacchi (The Boxtrolls) and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie – a new SpongeBob SquarePants film. The 2023-2024 slate also includes the animated musical comedy Leo featuring the voice of Adam Sandler, along with a new Chicken Run film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The streaming service also released details on In Your Dreams, That Christmas, Thelma the Unicorn, Nimona, and Ultraman.
Nimona – Summer 2023
This summer, Netflix will release the highly anticipated Nimona, based on the bestselling graphic novel by Nd Stevenson. Nimona follows Ballister Boldheart, a knight framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the titular shapeshifter who sets out to help him prove his innocence.
Netflix confirms joining the film’s previously announced cast members Chloë Grace Moretz...
Netflix’s slate of upcoming animated films includes The Monkey King directed by Anthony Stacchi (The Boxtrolls) and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie – a new SpongeBob SquarePants film. The 2023-2024 slate also includes the animated musical comedy Leo featuring the voice of Adam Sandler, along with a new Chicken Run film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The streaming service also released details on In Your Dreams, That Christmas, Thelma the Unicorn, Nimona, and Ultraman.
Nimona – Summer 2023
This summer, Netflix will release the highly anticipated Nimona, based on the bestselling graphic novel by Nd Stevenson. Nimona follows Ballister Boldheart, a knight framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the titular shapeshifter who sets out to help him prove his innocence.
Netflix confirms joining the film’s previously announced cast members Chloë Grace Moretz...
- 4/26/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Netflix’s animated output is certainly having a moment, between the Best Animated Feature win for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” and the acquisition of Animal Logic, the Australian animation studio that had previously been responsible for “Happy Feet,” “The Lego Movie” and “DC League of Super-Pets” (among many others). The streamer has just unveiled its 2023-2024 slate, revealing new details about upcoming projects like “Nimona” and announcing new movies like “Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,” a brand-new “SpongeBob SquarePants” film.
Read on for the full rundown of Netflix’s upcoming animated films and see brand-new images.
“Nimona” “Nimona” (Netflix)
Coming this summer is “Nimona,” based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson and set in a futuristic yet still medieval world, it centers around a disgraced knight (Riz Ahmed) and a young shapeshifter (Chloë Grace Moretz) who team up to clear both of their names. We’d...
Read on for the full rundown of Netflix’s upcoming animated films and see brand-new images.
“Nimona” “Nimona” (Netflix)
Coming this summer is “Nimona,” based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson and set in a futuristic yet still medieval world, it centers around a disgraced knight (Riz Ahmed) and a young shapeshifter (Chloë Grace Moretz) who team up to clear both of their names. We’d...
- 4/25/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
This year Netflix is returning to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival as newly crowned kings, having just secured the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio.” Not that they have any intention of slowing down, as this year they are bringing a slate of potential commercial and artistic triumphs to the rolling hills of the French countryside – from Annapurna’s “Nimona” to Aardman’s highly anticipated “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” and much, much more.
On Wednesday, June 14, Annecy will present an exclusive screening of their absolutely fabulous new feature film “Nimona” at the Theater Bonlieu at 6 p.m. which will include appearances from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, creator Nd Stevenson (whose graphic novel is the basis for the film), producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary and production designer Aidan Sugano. The team will reconvene for a “Making Of” session on Thursday,...
On Wednesday, June 14, Annecy will present an exclusive screening of their absolutely fabulous new feature film “Nimona” at the Theater Bonlieu at 6 p.m. which will include appearances from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, creator Nd Stevenson (whose graphic novel is the basis for the film), producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary and production designer Aidan Sugano. The team will reconvene for a “Making Of” session on Thursday,...
- 4/24/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
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
Laika and the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle will launch the largest exhibition ever mounted devoted to the acclaimed, global leading stop-motion studio. “Hidden Worlds: The Films of Laika” opens March 17 at MoPop and spans more than 7,500 square feet of exhibition space with immersive displays, film artifacts, and interactives concerning Laika’s state-of-the art crafts and emerging tech.
The exhibition will spotlight Laika’s five Oscar-nominated films — “Coraline” (2009), “ParaNorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014),”Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016), “Missing Link” (2019) — along with the upcoming fantasy-adventure “Wildwood,” directed by Laika president Travis Knight, and featuring a voice cast led by Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett.
“Laika is a multifaceted community of dreamers, makers, storytellers, scientists, engineers, and artists all committed to making movies that matter,” said David Burke, Laika’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president operations. “We believe that cinema is...
The exhibition will spotlight Laika’s five Oscar-nominated films — “Coraline” (2009), “ParaNorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014),”Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016), “Missing Link” (2019) — along with the upcoming fantasy-adventure “Wildwood,” directed by Laika president Travis Knight, and featuring a voice cast led by Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett.
“Laika is a multifaceted community of dreamers, makers, storytellers, scientists, engineers, and artists all committed to making movies that matter,” said David Burke, Laika’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president operations. “We believe that cinema is...
- 1/31/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
“It was an incredible learning experience,” reflects Guy Davis about working on “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.” For our recent webchat, his fellow production designer Curt Enderle agrees, “It was magical. It was the project of a lifetime.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
The film retells the classic Italian tale of a wooden puppet who is brought to life. It is directed by two-time Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”). The film is made with stop-motion animation where wooden puppets were moved and filmed.
SEEBrian Leif Hansen and Georgiana Hayns interview: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ VFX team
The film mixes sharp humor and heart with dark themes. Pinocchio faces a fascist and conman and oppressive priest. Davis explains, “The story itself is timeless and open to so many interpretations over the years. Guillermo made it his own. He didn’t turn it into a tale...
The film retells the classic Italian tale of a wooden puppet who is brought to life. It is directed by two-time Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”). The film is made with stop-motion animation where wooden puppets were moved and filmed.
SEEBrian Leif Hansen and Georgiana Hayns interview: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ VFX team
The film mixes sharp humor and heart with dark themes. Pinocchio faces a fascist and conman and oppressive priest. Davis explains, “The story itself is timeless and open to so many interpretations over the years. Guillermo made it his own. He didn’t turn it into a tale...
- 12/22/2022
- by Matt Noble
- Gold Derby
"They're not models!" the curator immediately corrected me when I erred in describing the miniatures puppets on display.
In an age of computer-generated 3D overtaking pop culture consciousness, the Oregon-based stop-motion studio Laika (also stylized as Laika) shoots for the stars, creating an alive "it's actually there" tangibility. Founded in 2005, Laika has raked in recognition from prestige circles, earning nods from the Academy Awards, Annie Awards, and a Golden Globe win. Now the textured puppets of Laika have stop-motioned their way to New York's Museum of the Moving Image for the "Laika: Life in Stop Motion" exhibition.
I had a chat with curator Barbara Miller and Laika's Marketing Production Manager Dan Pascal to get to know these puppets and the evolution of Laika. An exhibit 10 years in the making, it spotlights characters and sets from Laika classics: from "Coraline" (2009), "ParaNorman" (2012), "The Boxtrolls" (2014), "Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016), and "Missing Link...
In an age of computer-generated 3D overtaking pop culture consciousness, the Oregon-based stop-motion studio Laika (also stylized as Laika) shoots for the stars, creating an alive "it's actually there" tangibility. Founded in 2005, Laika has raked in recognition from prestige circles, earning nods from the Academy Awards, Annie Awards, and a Golden Globe win. Now the textured puppets of Laika have stop-motioned their way to New York's Museum of the Moving Image for the "Laika: Life in Stop Motion" exhibition.
I had a chat with curator Barbara Miller and Laika's Marketing Production Manager Dan Pascal to get to know these puppets and the evolution of Laika. An exhibit 10 years in the making, it spotlights characters and sets from Laika classics: from "Coraline" (2009), "ParaNorman" (2012), "The Boxtrolls" (2014), "Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016), and "Missing Link...
- 9/2/2022
- by Caroline Cao
- 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
Updated: Laika president Travis Knight has set the voice cast for the animation house’s stop-motion feature “Wildwood,” which he also directs: 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.
Earlier: Laika has begun production on its sixth stop-motion feature, “Wildwood,” the studio’s first fantasy adventure set in the natural beauty of hometown Portland, Oregon. Laika President & CEO Travis Knight directs, and legendary cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Right Stuff”) makes his first foray into stop-motion. The six-time Oscar nominee brings his naturalistic style to handcrafted animation after lensing the virtual world of Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King.”
“Wildwood” is based on the first in a trilogy of YA fantasy novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for Portland-based The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.
Earlier: Laika has begun production on its sixth stop-motion feature, “Wildwood,” the studio’s first fantasy adventure set in the natural beauty of hometown Portland, Oregon. Laika President & CEO Travis Knight directs, and legendary cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Right Stuff”) makes his first foray into stop-motion. The six-time Oscar nominee brings his naturalistic style to handcrafted animation after lensing the virtual world of Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King.”
“Wildwood” is based on the first in a trilogy of YA fantasy novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for Portland-based The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.
- 8/25/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
“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
Partnership announced on heels of Laika’s recent 15th anniversary.
Shout! Factory has struck a distribution agreement with Laika on four of the animation studio’s stop-motion titles giving it exclusive AVoD rights in the US and worldwide broadcast, digital Est and TVoD rights.
The features in question are the Oscar-nominated quartet of Kubo And The Two Strings (pictured), The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Coraline.
The deal was negotiated by Shout! Factory EVP of kids and family Melissa Boag and head of business development Michael Waghalter on behalf of Laika.
It comes after Laika recently celebrated its 15th anniversary and announced its latest stop-motion title,...
Shout! Factory has struck a distribution agreement with Laika on four of the animation studio’s stop-motion titles giving it exclusive AVoD rights in the US and worldwide broadcast, digital Est and TVoD rights.
The features in question are the Oscar-nominated quartet of Kubo And The Two Strings (pictured), The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Coraline.
The deal was negotiated by Shout! Factory EVP of kids and family Melissa Boag and head of business development Michael Waghalter on behalf of Laika.
It comes after Laika recently celebrated its 15th anniversary and announced its latest stop-motion title,...
- 5/16/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Laika, the animation house known for Oscar-nominated films from “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” to “The Boxtrolls” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” has announced its seventh feature. Titled “The Night Gardener,” the project is based on an original screenplay by “Ozark” co-creator Bill Dubuque and will be directed by Travis Knight, Laika’s CEO and president. Knight previously directed “Kubo and the Two Strings” as well as Paramount’s live-action “Bumblebee.”
Laika pitches the film as a “gritty neo-noir folktale centered on a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. The film will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge.”
“’The Night Gardener’ is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” Knight said. “Bill is a masterful storyteller. He’s crafted a lyrical world layered with complex characters, provocative ideas,...
Laika pitches the film as a “gritty neo-noir folktale centered on a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. The film will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge.”
“’The Night Gardener’ is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” Knight said. “Bill is a masterful storyteller. He’s crafted a lyrical world layered with complex characters, provocative ideas,...
- 4/27/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Laika’s CEO and President Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) is gearing up to direct the stop-motion animated feature The Night Gardener, written by Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque, for his storied Hillsboro, Oregon studio. (Check out a film still unveiled by Laika below.)
The film based on Dubuque’s original idea is billed as a gritty neo-noir folktale centered on a young man in rural Missouri, who’s fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. Pic will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge. News of the new Laika film comes with the studio currently in production on Wildwood, the first film set in its hometown of Portland, Oregon. Knight is directing the animated film, based on the bestselling fantasy novel written by Colin Meloy—the multi-hyphenate best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group The Decemberists.
The film based on Dubuque’s original idea is billed as a gritty neo-noir folktale centered on a young man in rural Missouri, who’s fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. Pic will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge. News of the new Laika film comes with the studio currently in production on Wildwood, the first film set in its hometown of Portland, Oregon. Knight is directing the animated film, based on the bestselling fantasy novel written by Colin Meloy—the multi-hyphenate best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group The Decemberists.
- 4/27/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Laika CEO and president Travis Knight to direct.
Laika has teamed up with Ozark creator Bill Dubuque on stop-motion neo-noir folktale The Night Gardener to be directed by Laika CEO and president Travis Knight.
Dubuque’s screenplay centres on a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. According to the studio, the film will “paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge”.
Knight, whose directing credits include Laika’s Kubo And The Two Strings and in-production Wildwood and Paramount’s Bumblebee, said The Night Gardener was “a beautiful and...
Laika has teamed up with Ozark creator Bill Dubuque on stop-motion neo-noir folktale The Night Gardener to be directed by Laika CEO and president Travis Knight.
Dubuque’s screenplay centres on a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. According to the studio, the film will “paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge”.
Knight, whose directing credits include Laika’s Kubo And The Two Strings and in-production Wildwood and Paramount’s Bumblebee, said The Night Gardener was “a beautiful and...
- 4/27/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Laika is teaming with the creator of “Ozark” for a new stop-motion animated feature described as a “gritty neo-noir folktale.” Bill Dubuque, who created Netflix series “Ozark,” wrote the original screenplay for “The Night Gardener,” which will be directed by Laika’s CEO and President Travis Knight, who previously helmed the Laika feature “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
Described as a gritty folktale, the new film follows a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. The film will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge, per an official description.
“’The Night Gardener’ is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” said Knight in a statement. “Bill is a masterful storyteller. He’s crafted a lyrical world layered with complex characters, provocative ideas, and keenly felt emotion. It’s gonna be one helluva movie.
Described as a gritty folktale, the new film follows a young man in rural Missouri fighting to keep his family together in the wake of a tragedy. The film will paint an unflinching portrait of sacrifice, self-reliance and revenge, per an official description.
“’The Night Gardener’ is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” said Knight in a statement. “Bill is a masterful storyteller. He’s crafted a lyrical world layered with complex characters, provocative ideas, and keenly felt emotion. It’s gonna be one helluva movie.
- 4/27/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Exclusive: The Gotham Group has launched an Nft-focused Emerging Technologies department, with the Hollywood management and production company tapping longtime manager Matt Shichtman to run it, while elevating him to partner.
The division already has a first project, with production underway on the adult animated series Alien to Me. It will be fully Web3 with only those that purchase NFTs getting access to the series, which hails from Shichtman-repped comedian and digital artist Connor Kerrigan and Melbourne-based animation studio Pixel’s Andrew Goldsmith and Monique Mulcahy.
“While studios have had considerable success over the past decade consolidating market power, Web3 has moved swiftly in the opposite direction, decentralizing networks, building grassroots communities, increasing transaction speeds, decreasing fees, and pushing towards carbon neutrality, a goal many blockchains have now achieved,” Shichtman said. “With over $25 billion in Nft sales in 2021, we couldn’t be more excited to leverage the power this new...
The division already has a first project, with production underway on the adult animated series Alien to Me. It will be fully Web3 with only those that purchase NFTs getting access to the series, which hails from Shichtman-repped comedian and digital artist Connor Kerrigan and Melbourne-based animation studio Pixel’s Andrew Goldsmith and Monique Mulcahy.
“While studios have had considerable success over the past decade consolidating market power, Web3 has moved swiftly in the opposite direction, decentralizing networks, building grassroots communities, increasing transaction speeds, decreasing fees, and pushing towards carbon neutrality, a goal many blockchains have now achieved,” Shichtman said. “With over $25 billion in Nft sales in 2021, we couldn’t be more excited to leverage the power this new...
- 2/18/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
In honor of their 15th anniversary, Laika is partnering with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to bring their Oscar-nominated films back to the big screen. The museum will play host to multiple screenings of the critically acclaimed stop-motion films, along with filmmaker discussions and Q&a's. The five films in question are "Missing Link," "Kubo and the Two Strings," "The Boxtrolls," "ParaNorman," and "Coraline."
Tickets for Laika at Osmi are currently on sale, with screenings scheduled for October 15, 2021 through October 31, 2021. But screenings and panels aren't all the studio has to offer — they're going big for this anniversary...
The post Laika's ParaNorman and Coraline Return to Theaters for the Studio's 15th Anniversary appeared first on /Film.
Tickets for Laika at Osmi are currently on sale, with screenings scheduled for October 15, 2021 through October 31, 2021. But screenings and panels aren't all the studio has to offer — they're going big for this anniversary...
The post Laika's ParaNorman and Coraline Return to Theaters for the Studio's 15th Anniversary appeared first on /Film.
- 9/21/2021
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
Laika studios has announced its sixth stop-motion movie, “Wildwood.”
The feature is based on the novel written by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis. The announcement was made Wednesday by Travis Knight, President & CEO of the award-winning animation studio, who will direct the film. “Wildwood” is currently in production at Laika’s facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The synopsis for the film reads: “Beyond Portland’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.
The feature is based on the novel written by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis. The announcement was made Wednesday by Travis Knight, President & CEO of the award-winning animation studio, who will direct the film. “Wildwood” is currently in production at Laika’s facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The synopsis for the film reads: “Beyond Portland’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.
- 9/15/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Laika President & CEO Travis Knight is directing the studio’s next animated feature, Wildwood—an adaptation of the bestselling novel written by The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, and illustrated by Carson Ellis.
The film penned by Chris Butler (Missing Link) is set beyond Portland’s city limits, in 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.
Ariane Sutner is producing Laika’s latest, which marks Oscar...
The film penned by Chris Butler (Missing Link) is set beyond Portland’s city limits, in 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.
Ariane Sutner is producing Laika’s latest, which marks Oscar...
- 9/15/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Stop-motion animation studio Laika has announced what will be their sixth animated feature film: “Wildwood.” And Travis Knight, the company’s president and CEO, is making his return to animated films and will direct the project for the studio.
“Wildwood” is based on a book by the lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, Colin Meloy, which also features illustrations by artist Carson Ellis. Production is underway now at the Laika facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The film also has something of a hometown tie for Laika, as it’s the story of an enchanted world called Wildwood that exists just outside Portland’s city limits. When one girl finds her way there after her baby brother has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, she finds herself at the center of a fairy tale encountering strange talking animals, roguish bandits and powerful figures with dark intentions.
“Wildwood” is based on a book by the lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, Colin Meloy, which also features illustrations by artist Carson Ellis. Production is underway now at the Laika facility outside Portland, Oregon.
The film also has something of a hometown tie for Laika, as it’s the story of an enchanted world called Wildwood that exists just outside Portland’s city limits. When one girl finds her way there after her baby brother has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, she finds herself at the center of a fairy tale encountering strange talking animals, roguish bandits and powerful figures with dark intentions.
- 9/15/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Hello, everyone! Now that September is nearly upon us (which means we’re getting closer and closer to our favorite season), we have one last round of home entertainment releases ahead of us before we can finally bid August a fond farewell - and there are a lot of different titles making their way home tomorrow. Arrow Video is keeping busy this week with their 4K release of Dune as well as the special edition release of The Brotherhood of Satan, and Kino Lorber is resurrecting several classics on Blu-ray this Tuesday, including The Raven, The Last Man on Earth, and The Comedy of Terrors.
If you have younger genre fans at home, you’ll definitely want to pick up the new editions of Coraline and The Boxtrolls from Scream Factory, and for you cult film fans, Vinegar Syndrome has you covered with their new Blu-rays for Killer’s Delight, The Lamp...
If you have younger genre fans at home, you’ll definitely want to pick up the new editions of Coraline and The Boxtrolls from Scream Factory, and for you cult film fans, Vinegar Syndrome has you covered with their new Blu-rays for Killer’s Delight, The Lamp...
- 8/30/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Laika has announced it will release four films with new Blu-ray and DVD editions: “Coraline” and “The Boxtrolls” on Aug. 31, followed by “ParaNorman” and “Kubo and the Two Strings” on Sept. 14.
The Laika editions feature new commemorative essays by journalists Peter Debruge (Variety), Ramin Zahed (Animation Magazine[/link]), Bill Desowitz (Indiewire) and Charles Solomon (author and former Los Angeles Times critic).
“Coraline,” based on the novella of the same name by Neil Gaiman, follows a young girl who walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life — along with alternate parents, who try to keep her forever.
The voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr. and Ian McShane.
“The Boxtrolls” follows the Boxtrolls, perceived to be foul monsters who crawl out of the sewers at night and steal what the townspeople most...
The Laika editions feature new commemorative essays by journalists Peter Debruge (Variety), Ramin Zahed (Animation Magazine[/link]), Bill Desowitz (Indiewire) and Charles Solomon (author and former Los Angeles Times critic).
“Coraline,” based on the novella of the same name by Neil Gaiman, follows a young girl who walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life — along with alternate parents, who try to keep her forever.
The voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr. and Ian McShane.
“The Boxtrolls” follows the Boxtrolls, perceived to be foul monsters who crawl out of the sewers at night and steal what the townspeople most...
- 8/20/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
Three new animated feature films and series from Asian American creators are coming to Netflix in 2023, including Stephen Chow’s “The Monkey King,” starring the voice talents of Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Stephanie Hsu, Andrew Pang, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie and Bd Wong.
“The Monkey King” is inspired by the famous Chinese tale “Journey to the West,” in which a special monkey fights gods, demons, dragons — and his own hubris. The film is executive produced by Chow, with “Over the Moon’s” Peilin Chou and “How to Train Your Dragon 2’s Kendra Haaland producing. Anthony Stacchi (“The Boxtrolls”) is directing.
“The Monkey King has endured for generations with his unique character and spirit,” said Chow. I’m so excited to be collaborating with Tony, Peilin, and everyone at Netflix to bring this joyful tale to audiences worldwide!”
Additionally,...
“The Monkey King” is inspired by the famous Chinese tale “Journey to the West,” in which a special monkey fights gods, demons, dragons — and his own hubris. The film is executive produced by Chow, with “Over the Moon’s” Peilin Chou and “How to Train Your Dragon 2’s Kendra Haaland producing. Anthony Stacchi (“The Boxtrolls”) is directing.
“The Monkey King has endured for generations with his unique character and spirit,” said Chow. I’m so excited to be collaborating with Tony, Peilin, and everyone at Netflix to bring this joyful tale to audiences worldwide!”
Additionally,...
- 5/20/2021
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Netflix and 21 Laps are teaming up for the Vampire action thriller Uprising, an adaption of Raymond Villareal the book A People’s History of the Vampire Uprising with Travis Knight on board to direct. Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen are producing for 21 Laps as part of their overall deal with Netflix. Jeremy Slater penned the latest draft, with previous drafts by Jay Basu and Jd Payne & Patrick McKay.
The film is set after a global viral outbreak turns people into vampires and follows CIA agent Lauren Webb, who works against the clock to uncover the truth behind a growing uprising that threatens to wipe out humanity. Emily Morris will oversee for 21 Laps.
As the CEO of Laika since 2006, Knight has now become one of the more coveted live-action directors in recent years following his debut on the Transformers‘s spin-off Bumblebee. Knight’s ability to deliver a film that...
The film is set after a global viral outbreak turns people into vampires and follows CIA agent Lauren Webb, who works against the clock to uncover the truth behind a growing uprising that threatens to wipe out humanity. Emily Morris will oversee for 21 Laps.
As the CEO of Laika since 2006, Knight has now become one of the more coveted live-action directors in recent years following his debut on the Transformers‘s spin-off Bumblebee. Knight’s ability to deliver a film that...
- 5/17/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
With their first five features––Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link––the Oregon-based studio Laika have set a high bar for American animation since their founding in 2005. They are now expanding their footprint with the announcement of their first-ever live-action film.
They’ve optioned the rights to adapt John Brownlow’s forthcoming novel Seventeen, which he wrote during the pandemic, and plan to make it into a live-action feature, with Brownlow also scripting. The electrifying thriller follows a hitman named Seventeen who is assigned to kill his predecessor…until suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted. Although no director has been attached yet, Laika CEO and Kubo director Travis Knight has some experience with live-action already, directing the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee.
“For the past 15 years, Laika has been committed to making movies that matter,” Knight tells Deadline. “Across mediums and genres, our studio has fused art,...
They’ve optioned the rights to adapt John Brownlow’s forthcoming novel Seventeen, which he wrote during the pandemic, and plan to make it into a live-action feature, with Brownlow also scripting. The electrifying thriller follows a hitman named Seventeen who is assigned to kill his predecessor…until suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted. Although no director has been attached yet, Laika CEO and Kubo director Travis Knight has some experience with live-action already, directing the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee.
“For the past 15 years, Laika has been committed to making movies that matter,” Knight tells Deadline. “Across mediums and genres, our studio has fused art,...
- 3/31/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Laika is expanding into the world of live-action filmmaking for the first time, with an adaptation of John Brownlow’s upcoming debut novel, Seventeen.
Known for its groundbreaking work in stop-motion animation, the Oregon studio secured rights to Seventeen following an intense bidding war. The option announcement was made Wednesday by Laika’s president and CEO Travis Knight.
“For the past 15 years, Laika has been committed to making movies that matter,” he said. “Across mediums and genres, our studio has fused art, craft and technology in service of bold, distinctive and enduring stories. With Seventeen, Laika is taking that philosophy in an exciting new direction.”
“Seventeen is a stiff cocktail of wicked wit, exhilarating action and raw emotion,” Knight added. “John has such a wonderfully unique voice. He’s crafted a brilliant universe with its own powerful identity. Seventeen is a thriller with soul, a sinuous adrenaline-fueled actioner with a...
Known for its groundbreaking work in stop-motion animation, the Oregon studio secured rights to Seventeen following an intense bidding war. The option announcement was made Wednesday by Laika’s president and CEO Travis Knight.
“For the past 15 years, Laika has been committed to making movies that matter,” he said. “Across mediums and genres, our studio has fused art, craft and technology in service of bold, distinctive and enduring stories. With Seventeen, Laika is taking that philosophy in an exciting new direction.”
“Seventeen is a stiff cocktail of wicked wit, exhilarating action and raw emotion,” Knight added. “John has such a wonderfully unique voice. He’s crafted a brilliant universe with its own powerful identity. Seventeen is a thriller with soul, a sinuous adrenaline-fueled actioner with a...
- 3/31/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
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