Since coming onto the scene in 2005, LAIKA has been making some of the most memorable, technologically advanced stop-motion feature films in history. That’s a tall order considering that stop-motion has been a tried-and-true animation method for well over 100 years. Long before computer-generated animation software made the impossible possible, stop-motion animators were painstakingly bringing dinosaurs, monsters of mythology, and sci-fi creations to life through the slow, laborious, frame-by-frame tweaks to lifeless models.
Today, LAIKA exists on the cutting-edge of computer-generated animation technology which the studio marries to the most advanced stop-motion puppetry out there. LAIKA’s puppets grow more and more expressive year after year thanks to 3D printing technology achievements that give animators access to a wider range of facial expressions, with incredible artistry from the craftspeople creating minuscule costumes and set decorations and highly interactive and meticulously engineered sets that form the backdrops of the studio’s fantastic stories. Couple these practical advancements with powerful computer software that can extend stop-motion animated scenes by adding characters, digital effects, and even creatures that would be far too small to be traditionally animated, and you have a winning combination for classic films with a strong following.
But even as animation technology continues to improve, LAIKA remains as committed as ever to making sure they have the right story, a story they will spend years animating. In their four solo productions, two have been original tales and two have been adaptations of beloved works. 2009 brought about the acclaimed adaptation ofNeil Gaiman’s storyCoraline, followed by the original taleParaNormanin 2012. Another adaptation followed in 2014 withThe Boxtrolls, adapted from a section ofAlan Snow’s “Here Be Monsters!” whileKubo and the Two Stringswas the studio’s latest original take, released in 2016. The studio hasMissing Linkon deck for an April 12th release in the U.S. this year.
So how does one rank these films when the filmmaking technology and source material are so different from one project to the next? The answer: very carefully. Let’s be clear in saying that the “worst” LAIKA film is still better than the majority of animated features out there and the “best” rivals popular live-action or traditionally animated films; all four have earned Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature. There’s a lot to love in each of these four films; some just came together better than others. Here’s how I think they stack up.
‘The Boxtrolls’
This one breaks my heart. I actually got to visit LAIKA’s studios and tour the set forThe Boxtrolls, a fantasy adventure story that cracked the monstrous tome of “Here Be Monsters!” to focus on the story of the orphaned human known as Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright).Irena BrignullandAdam Pava’s script puts Eggs and his Boxtroll pals in conflict with Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) and his plans to exterminate the “pests” to secure a position in high society in the skewed city of Cheesebridge.
DirectorsGraham AnnableandAnthony Stacchimanage the many settings ofThe Boxtrollsexpertly with standout sequences including the waltz, the battle against Snatcher’s contraption, and an extensive run through the Boxtrolls' subterranean abode. As is the case with LAIKA’s stories, this one centers on family, though it also has strong tones of class struggle and vilification of “The Other.” But despite the fantastic nature of the story’s setting and the incredibly charismatic Boxtrolls, this one just doesn’t quite tug at the heartstrings as much as the others. It’s a fun romp that skews toward the younger end of the spectrum, offering up easy-to-digest moral lessons and an explosive ending that’s sure to gross out viewers of all ages. But in the tough task of ranking LAIKA’s efforts,The Boxtrollsdraws the short straw.
‘ParaNorman’
ParaNorman, an original effort from writerChris Butlerand directors Butler andSam Fell, keeps the themes of the other LAIKA films: a family focus, a conflicted and misunderstood protagonist, and a twist of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. The spooky side of things worksreallywell inParaNormansince the script centers on the title character’s ability to converse with those who have passed on, but the small town of Blithe Hollow itself also channels these spirits by refusing to let go of an old witch’s tale. The legend acts as a sort of identity anchor for the town as well as a source of revenue for tourists seeking out kitsch. However, it’s soon revealed that the town’s inability to tell the witch’s true story and lay her legend to rest has led to Blithe Hollow being overrun by ghosts, zombies, and the wicked witch herself.
There’s so much going on inParaNormanthat it’s easy to identify with Norman’s feeling of being overwhelmed and cast aside. His strength comes not just from his otherworldly abilities but in his knack for getting others to cooperate for a greater good thanks to his compassion. Another of LAIKA’s recurring themes is a protagonist that cannot win against the villain through strength of arms alone but must find an alternative path to victory, one that often redeems the villain, rights past wrongs, and reaffirms the hero’s humanity. Norman is an excellent example of just such a protagonist andKodi Smit-McPhee’s performance is certainly a major factor.
ParaNormanshouldn’t just be praised for its excellent conclusion but also for itsinclusion; much has been made of the reveal that Mitch, the prototypically macho and athletically capable character who draws the attention of Norman’s sister Courtney, is actually gay, a first for a mainstream animated movie. This moment is just one of the subversions of traditional horror movie tropes which also co-exist alongside homages to those very same horror films.ParaNormanis a delight to watch anytime of year, and I love it to pieces, but it comes up just short of being in LAIKA’s top two.
‘Coraline’
Easily the most terrifying of LAIKA’s films to date,Coralinealso remains the studio’s most financially successful. That’s thanks in part to the beloved source material, Gaiman’s story about a little girl who discovers a parallel world to her own in which the inhabitants are an ideal version of her friends, family, and neighbors in her own world, despite the fact that their eyes have been replaced by buttons. Additionally,Coralineowes some of its success to writer/directorHenry Selick’s signature style and artistry.
LAIKA certainly likes to revisit their chosen type of protagonist, but perhaps Coraline (Dakota Fanning) herself is actually the studio’s muse, a character they found success with and have attempted to replicate over the years. With just a little help from her crazy cast of friends and creatures, Coraline is able to defeat the spider-like Other Mother and free both her parents and the souls of previously capture children, by liberating and returning their eyes, of course…
Though beautifully animated and with a style all its own,Coralinestands as a fantastic example of what was possible with stop-motion animation nearly a decade ago. However, those technological limitations also keepCoralinefrom being the best that LAIKA has to offer, though just barely.
‘Kubo and the Two Strings’
Yes, the latest LAIKA offering is also their greatest yet. The technological advancements ofKubo and the Two Stringsare far and away the best we’ve seen from the studio so far. The story about the title character, voiced byArt Parkinson, takes him and viewers on a journey from a small coastal fishing village to a vast snowy country, an underground cave of bones guarded by a giant skeleton, a voyage across the sea on a ship of leaves, a hypnotic and mystical underwater world, and a final confrontation that takes place back in Kubo’s village, now awash in pale moonlight. The journey alone is worth the price of admission since it takes audiences to worlds never glimpsed in a stop-motion movie before.
But the tech alone is not what netsKubo and the Two Stringsthe top spot; it’s the story. LAIKA has honed their family-focused stories centering on a protagonist of strong moral character to an unbreakable sword’s edge at this point, andKubois the benefactor of that.Marc HaimesandChris Butler’s original tale is brought to life through the confident and competent hands of LAIKA CEOTravis Knight, who made his directorial debut with this film. It’s a story that weaves together Japanese mythology with an original story, one that unfolds quite literally as origami puppets act out the beats, guided by Kubo’s music.
If Kubo, Coraline, Eggs, and Norman all got together to tackle some shared, stop-motion universe threat, Kubo would clearly be their leader (though he’d have to fight Coraline for it); that’s just how strong the character is. He is forced to go through life with just one eye thanks to the actions of a not-so-kindly grandfather. But rather than let this make him bitter and angry, Kubo rarely mentions his missing eye and is in good humor when others draw attention to it. Oh, and there’s the fact that he’s been taking care of his ailing mother for as long as he can remember, even as he wishes he could talk to his deceased father just once.
What follows is an incredible journey that lays the wrongs of Kubo’s family members out in plain sight and forces Kubo himself to put them to rights, with a little help from some interesting characters along the way.Kubo and the Two Stringsis a perfect family film that will delight young and young-at-heart audiences alike, though the adults might have to walk the little ones through some of the story beats. It’s destined to be a contemporary classic, but will its #1 spot be bumped once LAIKA’s next film is unveiled? Time will tell!
