LAIKA | The Confluence

PSU & LAIKA Announce Partnership

October 28, 2024 Oregon Film BIPOC, Diverse, Education, Jobs, Oregon Animation Industry, Scholarship, TrainingLeave a Comment

Portland State University and award-winning Portland-based animation studio LAIKA — known for groundbreaking Oscar®-nominated animated feature films such as Coraline, ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings — today announced an industry partnership to help develop and diversify the region’s creative workforce.

“This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to nurture the creative talent that will enhance Portland’s vibrant arts and cultural landscape,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “We believe diversity of thought and experience is the spark of creativity and innovation. Continue reading... “PSU & LAIKA Announce Partnership”

Portland Community College Plans Animation Degree, Backed by Laika

April 3, 2024 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Animation/VFX, Award, Education, Film and Media Industry, Oregon Animation History, Oregon Animation Industry, Stop motion, TrainingLeave a Comment

In an exciting development for the Oregon animation community, Portland Community College announced plans to offer an animation degree beginning in 2025, partly funded by a $60,000 donation from Oregon film studio Laika.

Laika announced Tuesday that it will give $30,000 to the PCC Foundation in each of the next two years to help fund three new classes in animation and stop-motion filmmaking, and the new degree in animation and motion graphics.

In addition, Oregon Film supports a paid placement at Laika for a PCC student each year through the Creative Opportunity Program. Continue reading... “Portland Community College Plans Animation Degree, Backed by Laika”

LAIKA is an Industry Trailblazer in the Pacific Northwest

April 1, 2024April 1, 2024 Oregon Film Animation/VFX, Crew, Economic Impact, Film and Media Industry, Oregon Animation Industry #OregonMade, LAIKALeave a Comment

The award-winning feature film studio based just outside of Portland, Oregon uses cutting-edge technology and innovative processes to create stop-motion animation in a way no other studios are. And the company’s culture — focused on DEI and growth opportunities — is driven by team members who share a passion for telling great stories.

“We have a collaborative culture and a great deal of diversity in terms of creative voices and ways of working across the studio,” said David Burke, LAIKA’s chief marketing and operations officer. Continue reading... “LAIKA is an Industry Trailblazer in the Pacific Northwest”

Laika Announces A New Animated Feature, To Be Written By Ozark’s Bill Dubuque & Directed By Travis Knight

April 27, 2022 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Animation/VFX Bill Dubuque, LAIKA, The Night Gardener, Travis KnightLeave a Comment

Laika announced today they are teaming up with “Ozark” co-creator, Bill Dubuque, to bring a new stop-motion animated feature, “The Night Gardener” to the screen. Laika’s CEO, Travis Knight, will be directing.

The film is based on Dubuque’s original idea and is described 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.

“The Night Gardener is a beautiful and timeless story that quickens the pulse as often as it breaks the heart,” Knight said in a statement.

LAIKA Is 15! Get Tickets For The OMSI Screenings & Interactive Exhibit – Starts Today!

October 15, 2021 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Animation/VFX, Events LAIKA, LAIKA 15, OMSILeave a Comment

Opening Tonight: 15 Years of LAIKA!

Explore the 15th anniversary and stop-motion fantasia of LAIKA Studios with screenings of all five of its Oscar-nominated films, from Coraline to Missing Link, at OMSI’s Empirical Theater! Delve deeper into the artistry and technical innovation behind the films with key filmmakers on hand for Q&As preceding each film. Walkthrough displays of puppets and sets from each legendary film and explore the meticulous craftsmanship of LAIKA’s creative process. Tickets here. Continue reading... “LAIKA Is 15! Get Tickets For The OMSI Screenings & Interactive Exhibit – Starts Today!”

LAIKA Committed To Keeping Staff On Payroll Through Studio’s Temporary Closure

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Oregon Animation Industry LAIKALeave a Comment

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Travis Knight, (CEO, LAIKA) has committed to keeping staff on the company payroll through the temporary closure of the animation studio that is due to the spread of Covid-19. Knight said, in a memo obtained and published by the Hollywood Reporter that, “When this ends, and it will end, the world will need storytellers more than ever,” “The world will need hope and inspiration and empathy and high-spirited joy. The world will need beauty and poetry and restorative works of art. Continue reading... “LAIKA Committed To Keeping Staff On Payroll Through Studio’s Temporary Closure”

LAIKA Heads into the Oscars

February 3, 2020 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

A few weeks ago, LAIKA’s latest film “Missing Link” won LAIKA’s first-ever Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature up against a sea of blockbuster sequels and remakes. And just last week it won two Visual Effects Society awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Character competing against a similarly challenging field.

“Missing Link” also became LAIKA’s fifth straight film to be nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar. Voting for the award ends this Tuesday, 2/4, and in the final run up we are helping to celebrate the artistry of this uniquely #OregonMade studio. Continue reading... “LAIKA Heads into the Oscars”

Laika’s “Missing Link” – Oscar Nominated For “Best Animated Feature”

January 13, 2020February 3, 2020 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Animation/VFX, Awards 92nd Academy Awards, 92nd Oscars, Annapurna, LAIKA, Missing Link, OscarsLeave a Comment

The 92nd Academy Awards nominees were announced this morning in Los Angeles. Congratulations to Laika and Annapurna Pictures on their Oscar nomination for, “Best Animated Feature” for the studio’s 5th feature, “Missing Link.”

Coming off their recent Golden Globe win for, “Best Animated Feature” (also for “Missing Link“) Laika beat out Disney’s, “Frozen 2” and “The Lion King”, DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”, so it will be exciting to see how they fare at the Oscars. Continue reading... “Laika’s “Missing Link” – Oscar Nominated For “Best Animated Feature””

Golden Globe Win For Laika With “Missing Link”

January 6, 2020January 13, 2020 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Awards Best Animated Feature, Golden Globes, LAIKA, Missing LinkLeave a Comment

Congratulations to Laika on their first Golden Globe win for “Best Animated Feature” with “Missing Link“. Laika beat out Disney’s, “Frozen 2” and “The Lion King”, DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”.

The stop-motion feature was written and directed by Chris Butler and features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Dabid Williams, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia, Emma Thompson and Zach Galifinakis.

LAIKA’s “Missing Link” Receives 8 Annie Award Nominations!

December 2, 2019December 2, 2019 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Animation/VFX, Awards, Nominations 47th Annie Awards, Annie Award Nominations, Chris Butler, LAIKA, Missing LinkLeave a Comment

Exciting news today – the 47th Annie Awards announced their 2019 nomination lineup – with Laika Studios‘ “Missing Link” receiving 8 (as did Disney with “Frozen”).

The nominations for this #OregonMade stop motion feature are:

“Best Feature” – LAIKA
“Best FX for Feature” – CG Look Development Lead: Eric Wachtman; Lead CG Effects Artist: David Horsley; Senior Technical Director: Peter Stuart; Lead Technical Compositor: Timu Khodzhaev; Lead CG Lighter: Joe Strasser.
“Best Character Animation – Animated Feature” – Rachelle Lambden; Characters: Multiple.