Netflix unveiled the trailer for “Ultraman: Rising” (premiering at Annecy June 12 and streaming June 14), the animated feature from first-time director Shannon Tindle, who re-imagines the legendary anime franchise from Tsuburaya Productions as an action-packed, heartwarming ode to parenthood.
With Tokyo under siege from rising kaiju attacks, Dodgers baseball superstar Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of rogue superhero Ultraman from his father (Gedde Watanabe) while signing with the Giants. But he has trouble balancing his passion for baseball and his family obligation to be Ultraman. Then, when forced to raise a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju girl, Sato must confront his huge ego to protect her and Japan from destruction.
Tindle first conceived of his film as an original parental superhero story (“Made in Japan”). That was back in 2001 when he was a character designer on “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.” He later developed it...
With Tokyo under siege from rising kaiju attacks, Dodgers baseball superstar Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of rogue superhero Ultraman from his father (Gedde Watanabe) while signing with the Giants. But he has trouble balancing his passion for baseball and his family obligation to be Ultraman. Then, when forced to raise a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju girl, Sato must confront his huge ego to protect her and Japan from destruction.
Tindle first conceived of his film as an original parental superhero story (“Made in Japan”). That was back in 2001 when he was a character designer on “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.” He later developed it...
- 5/16/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The British Film Institute has partnered with film animation studio Laika to start its event series Stop Motion: Celebrating Hand-Crafted Animation On The Big Screen, which will offer free screenings for children under 16 and include Laika’s five films to date: “Coraline” (2009), “Paranorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014), “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) and “Missing Link” (2019), all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for outstanding animated feature.
The season, curated by BFI Southbank Lead Programmer Justin Johnson, will take place from Aug. 1 through Oct. 9. Additional titles playing on the big screen throughout the season will include “King Kong” (1933), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Chicken Run” (2001), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Coraline” (2009), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) and “Anomalisa” (2015).
A free exhibition at BFI Southbank, Laika: Frame x Frame, will also run and showcase the art, science and innovation of the studio’s films. The exhibition will allow visitors an exclusive look at puppets, sets and artifacts from...
The season, curated by BFI Southbank Lead Programmer Justin Johnson, will take place from Aug. 1 through Oct. 9. Additional titles playing on the big screen throughout the season will include “King Kong” (1933), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Chicken Run” (2001), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Coraline” (2009), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) and “Anomalisa” (2015).
A free exhibition at BFI Southbank, Laika: Frame x Frame, will also run and showcase the art, science and innovation of the studio’s films. The exhibition will allow visitors an exclusive look at puppets, sets and artifacts from...
- 5/15/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Lexi Carson, Jack Dunn and Selena Kuznikov
- Variety Film + TV
He-Man and his musclebound companions will finally return to the big screen in 2026 with Masters Of The Universe.
“I have the power!” was the memorable phrase that He-Man would cry in the 1980s animated TV show, Masters Of The Universe. A hugely popular Mattel line of toys for several years, the series eventually became a 1987 movie starring Dolph Lundgren.
He-Man’s power, it seems, hasn’t helped get a 21st century film about him into production. The long-gestating Masters Of The Universe movie has been in development at Warner Bros, Sony and Netflix in the recent past, with all three studios electing to pull the plug rather than give the green light to what is sure to be an expensive project.
Netflix was the most recent studio to put Masters Of The Universe into turnaround after spending a reported $30m developing it. The studio then couldn’t figure out how...
“I have the power!” was the memorable phrase that He-Man would cry in the 1980s animated TV show, Masters Of The Universe. A hugely popular Mattel line of toys for several years, the series eventually became a 1987 movie starring Dolph Lundgren.
He-Man’s power, it seems, hasn’t helped get a 21st century film about him into production. The long-gestating Masters Of The Universe movie has been in development at Warner Bros, Sony and Netflix in the recent past, with all three studios electing to pull the plug rather than give the green light to what is sure to be an expensive project.
Netflix was the most recent studio to put Masters Of The Universe into turnaround after spending a reported $30m developing it. The studio then couldn’t figure out how...
- 5/2/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
In July of 2023, Netflix announced that not only had they axed their plans to adapt Mattel's "Masters of the Universe" property into a live-action film, but they were doing so after spending over $30 million in development. Fans had been looking forward to a human He-Man flick since it was first announced in 2007, but the development with Sony Pictures in 2022 seemed like a sure bet. Then it was scrapped, but the project's move to Netflix made sense considering the streamer is home to "He-Man & Masters of the Universe," "Masters of the Universe: Revelation," and "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power." Unfortunately, Netflix dropped the project, which had already cast actor/dancer Kyle Allen to play He-Man/Prince Adam, and Mattel was left looking for a new home for the film. According to a recent report from Variety, that home has been found with Amazon and Travis Knight has been announced as the director.
- 5/2/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The long-awaited live-action “Masters of the Universe” movie is one step closer to becoming a reality, with Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films dating the project for worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2026.
Travis Knight is on board to direct the film adaptation of the popular franchise, with Chris Butler writing the screenplay, following initial drafts written by David Callaham and Aaron and Adam Nee. Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner, Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing.
According to its official synopsis, “Masters of the Universe” introduces a 10-year-old Prince Adam, who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword — the only link to his home on Eternia.
“After tracking it down almost two decades later,” the synopsis explains, “Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain,...
Travis Knight is on board to direct the film adaptation of the popular franchise, with Chris Butler writing the screenplay, following initial drafts written by David Callaham and Aaron and Adam Nee. Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner, Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing.
According to its official synopsis, “Masters of the Universe” introduces a 10-year-old Prince Adam, who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword — the only link to his home on Eternia.
“After tracking it down almost two decades later,” the synopsis explains, “Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
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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
Ultraman is back in Ultraman: Rising, a new animated feature film that’s coming soon from Netflix. New key art unveiled today finally revealed a release date for the adorable new film that sees Ultraman playing dad to an adorable baby kaiju.
Check out the new key art below.
In the upcoming movie, “With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans.”
From director Shannon Tindle (Kubo & The Two Strings) & co-director John Aoshima (Kubo & The Two Strings), and based on characters by Eiji Tsuburaya, a creative mind behind Godzilla, the action-packed...
Check out the new key art below.
In the upcoming movie, “With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans.”
From director Shannon Tindle (Kubo & The Two Strings) & co-director John Aoshima (Kubo & The Two Strings), and based on characters by Eiji Tsuburaya, a creative mind behind Godzilla, the action-packed...
- 2/29/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
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
Here we go again. Another year is starting, which means it's time for the "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" movie to get yet another director. Like so many projects stuck in developing hell, it seems like practically every director currently working in Hollywood has, at some point, been involved in this film.
Now, Deadline reports that Travis Knight — the director of "Bumblebee" and "Kubo and the Two Strings," founder and CEO of Laika, and son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight — is the latest name to be attached to the long-in-development "Masters of the Universe" movie from Mattel. The report specifically says he is in "final negotiations" to direct, yet the deal hasn't closed just yet as other elements of the film are still being figured out. Nevertheless, this is exciting news, and brings the project one step closer to actually getting made.
Knight is reportedly bringing along writer...
Now, Deadline reports that Travis Knight — the director of "Bumblebee" and "Kubo and the Two Strings," founder and CEO of Laika, and son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight — is the latest name to be attached to the long-in-development "Masters of the Universe" movie from Mattel. The report specifically says he is in "final negotiations" to direct, yet the deal hasn't closed just yet as other elements of the film are still being figured out. Nevertheless, this is exciting news, and brings the project one step closer to actually getting made.
Knight is reportedly bringing along writer...
- 2/13/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Ten films representing a broad range of visual effects work made the VFX category shortlist for the 96th Academy Awards, among them Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a rare animated feature selection.
Also advancing in the VFX Oscar race are The Creator, Godzilla Minus One, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Napoleon, Poor Things, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire and Society of the Snow.
The VFX branch executive committee selected the shortlist. Next, all branch members will be invited to participate in a “bake-off” during which they will be invited to view excerpts and interviews with the artists from each of the shortlisted films, before they vote to nominate five of these films for the VFX Oscar.
It’s infrequent to see an animated movie, like Sony Pictures Animation’s bold Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,...
Also advancing in the VFX Oscar race are The Creator, Godzilla Minus One, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Napoleon, Poor Things, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire and Society of the Snow.
The VFX branch executive committee selected the shortlist. Next, all branch members will be invited to participate in a “bake-off” during which they will be invited to view excerpts and interviews with the artists from each of the shortlisted films, before they vote to nominate five of these films for the VFX Oscar.
It’s infrequent to see an animated movie, like Sony Pictures Animation’s bold Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Here at Empire, we have a tradition of sharing one article from our year at Christmas — consider it a digital stocking-filler. As 2023 rolls out, let us bring you some bonus cheer with a feature that’s close to our hearts: our visit to the Portland headquarters of stop-motion animation legends Laika. We got up close and personal with the puppets, sat down for a lengthy chat with studio boss Travis Knight, and even got an extended set visit for Laika’s next big-screen epic, Wildwood. That won’t be out until 2025 (stop-motion takes time), so in the meantime, please enjoy the next best thing…
The dogfight was going to look awesome. The boy was sure of it. Buzzing from the movies he had sat through, enthralled, on Saturday-morning TV or at cinema matinées in his farm town outside of Portland, Oregon — stop-motion classics such as the Ray Harryhausen-enhanced The...
The dogfight was going to look awesome. The boy was sure of it. Buzzing from the movies he had sat through, enthralled, on Saturday-morning TV or at cinema matinées in his farm town outside of Portland, Oregon — stop-motion classics such as the Ray Harryhausen-enhanced The...
- 12/21/2023
- by Nick De Semlyen
- Empire - Movies
It’s that time of the year when major productions are vying for award nominations, and Marvel Studios is in the spotlight. ‘Loki’ has already clinched Critics Choice TV Awards nods for Best Drama, Best Actor (Tom Hiddleston), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), and Best Supporting Actress (Sophia Di Martino).
The 51st Saturn Awards, known for honoring sci-fi and high-fantasy projects, made surprising choices, nominating ‘Secret Invasion’ and ‘She-Hulk’ for Best Superhero Series, despite mixed fan reactions. Meanwhile, ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ secured nominations for Best Superhero Movie.
‘Ms. Marvel’ earned its first Emmy for Outstanding Motion Design, and now Marvel Studio boasts three visual effects finalists: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and ‘The Marvels’—all advancing to the next round.
While superhero films may not be academy favorites, facing criticism from high-profile actors and directors,...
The 51st Saturn Awards, known for honoring sci-fi and high-fantasy projects, made surprising choices, nominating ‘Secret Invasion’ and ‘She-Hulk’ for Best Superhero Series, despite mixed fan reactions. Meanwhile, ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ secured nominations for Best Superhero Movie.
‘Ms. Marvel’ earned its first Emmy for Outstanding Motion Design, and now Marvel Studio boasts three visual effects finalists: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and ‘The Marvels’—all advancing to the next round.
While superhero films may not be academy favorites, facing criticism from high-profile actors and directors,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
It’s that time of the year again when various big-budget productions are lining up nominations for various awards, and Marvel Studios has plenty of projects eligible. ‘Loki’ has already scored Critics Choice TV Awards nominations for Best Drama Drama, Best Actor (Tom Hiddleston), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), and Best Supporting Actress (Sophia Di Martino).
The annual 51st Saturn Awards, which tend to honor sci-fi and high-fantasy projects, had their pick as well, nominating ‘Secret Invasion’ and ‘She-Hulk’ for the award of Best Superhero Series, to the utter shock of fans, considering that ‘Secret Invasion’ was nonsensical and ‘She-Hulk’ for the better part unwatchable. The movies ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ were nominated for Best Superhero movie as well.
‘Ms. Marvel’ scored its first Emmy for Outstanding Motion Design. Now the news is that Marvel Studio has...
The annual 51st Saturn Awards, which tend to honor sci-fi and high-fantasy projects, had their pick as well, nominating ‘Secret Invasion’ and ‘She-Hulk’ for the award of Best Superhero Series, to the utter shock of fans, considering that ‘Secret Invasion’ was nonsensical and ‘She-Hulk’ for the better part unwatchable. The movies ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ were nominated for Best Superhero movie as well.
‘Ms. Marvel’ scored its first Emmy for Outstanding Motion Design. Now the news is that Marvel Studio has...
- 12/8/2023
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
The top 20 finalists for the visual effects Oscar have been notified they have made it to the next round of voting. With Oscars shortlist voting opening in eight categories on Thursday, Dec. 14, Variety has learned exclusively that the visual effects finalists include Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire” and the lone animated feature contender, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” The Academy declined to confirm the final list of the 20 movies.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
The 20 movies will go on to the next round of voting, which will occur Dec. 14 to 18. Ten films will be named on Dec. 21, along with nine other categories. The five nominees will be determined after the Jan. 11-16 voting, with the noms announced on Jan. 23 in all categories.
The finalists are full of IP...
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
The 20 movies will go on to the next round of voting, which will occur Dec. 14 to 18. Ten films will be named on Dec. 21, along with nine other categories. The five nominees will be determined after the Jan. 11-16 voting, with the noms announced on Jan. 23 in all categories.
The finalists are full of IP...
- 12/7/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has dropped the trailer for the animated superhero offering ‘Ultraman: Rising.’
Based on the beloved Japanese character, Netflix’s ‘Ultraman’ follows baseball superstar Ken Sato as he returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman. He soon finds more than he bargained for when he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Ken must go on a heroic journey, balancing parenthood, his estranged father, and the relentless Kaiju Defense Force to rise beyond his ego and discover what it truly means to be ‘Ultraman.’
The movie is directed by Shannon Tindle, the creator of ‘Lost Ollie,’ and co-directed by John Aoshima (Kubo and the Two Strings).
Also in trailers – “I’ve got all the time in the world…” Trailer lands for ‘Orion and the Dark’
The post “That’s for messing up my game…” Teaser trailer drops for...
Based on the beloved Japanese character, Netflix’s ‘Ultraman’ follows baseball superstar Ken Sato as he returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman. He soon finds more than he bargained for when he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Ken must go on a heroic journey, balancing parenthood, his estranged father, and the relentless Kaiju Defense Force to rise beyond his ego and discover what it truly means to be ‘Ultraman.’
The movie is directed by Shannon Tindle, the creator of ‘Lost Ollie,’ and co-directed by John Aoshima (Kubo and the Two Strings).
Also in trailers – “I’ve got all the time in the world…” Trailer lands for ‘Orion and the Dark’
The post “That’s for messing up my game…” Teaser trailer drops for...
- 11/10/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The world’s biggest hero makes his way to Netflix in “Ultraman: Rising.” The streamer has released the first teaser for the CG-animated feature film, which is slated to premiere in 2024.
Based on characters from Eiji Tsuburaya, known for co-creating the “Godzilla” franchise, “Ultraman: Rising” will follow baseball star Ken Sato, who returns home to Japan to carry the mantle of Ultraman. Things take an unexpected turn when a newborn kaiju monster thinks he is her parent. Now, Sato must raise the offspring of his greatest enemy as his own child, on top of grappling with his own estranged relationship with his father and the schemes of the Kaiju Defense Force
Netflix has partnered with Tsuburaya Productions for the film, which the streamer also partners with on its “Ultraman” animated series. “Ultraman: Rising” is directed by Shannon Tindle, known for his animation work on “Coraline” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,...
Based on characters from Eiji Tsuburaya, known for co-creating the “Godzilla” franchise, “Ultraman: Rising” will follow baseball star Ken Sato, who returns home to Japan to carry the mantle of Ultraman. Things take an unexpected turn when a newborn kaiju monster thinks he is her parent. Now, Sato must raise the offspring of his greatest enemy as his own child, on top of grappling with his own estranged relationship with his father and the schemes of the Kaiju Defense Force
Netflix has partnered with Tsuburaya Productions for the film, which the streamer also partners with on its “Ultraman” animated series. “Ultraman: Rising” is directed by Shannon Tindle, known for his animation work on “Coraline” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,...
- 11/9/2023
- by Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
Ultraman is back in Ultraman: Rising, a brand new animated feature film that’s coming soon from Netflix. During “Geeked Week” tonight, Netflix debuted a first-look teaser trailer.
This one boasts not only gorgeous animation, but a really fun storyline as well.
In the upcoming movie, “When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe.”
From director Shannon Tindle (Kubo & The Two Strings) & co-director John Aoshima (Kubo & The Two Strings), and based on characters by Eiji Tsuburaya, a creative mind behind Godzilla, the action-packed animated film Ultraman: Rising hits Netflix in 2024.
Watch the official teaser for Ultraman: Rising below, while you wait.
Ultraman is, per his official bio, “An alien superhero from Nebula M78.” He first appeared in the ’60s Japanese TV series “Ultraman,...
This one boasts not only gorgeous animation, but a really fun storyline as well.
In the upcoming movie, “When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe.”
From director Shannon Tindle (Kubo & The Two Strings) & co-director John Aoshima (Kubo & The Two Strings), and based on characters by Eiji Tsuburaya, a creative mind behind Godzilla, the action-packed animated film Ultraman: Rising hits Netflix in 2024.
Watch the official teaser for Ultraman: Rising below, while you wait.
Ultraman is, per his official bio, “An alien superhero from Nebula M78.” He first appeared in the ’60s Japanese TV series “Ultraman,...
- 11/9/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
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
The “Transformers” franchise returned to theaters in 2023 with “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” the latest installment in the big-screen, live-action adaptation of the beloved Hasbro toy line. “Rise of the Beasts,” which is the planned start of a new trilogy, is the seventh film in the series. Chronologically, it comes after “Bumblebee,” which was a prequel to the first five films in the series. This means you don’t technically have to watch or rewatch any of the Michael Bay-helmed movies before — but don’t you kind of want to anyway?
In case you forgot, Michael Bay was behind the camera for “Transformers” (2007), “Revenge of the Fallen” (2009), “Dark of the Moon” (2011), “Age of Extinction” (2014), and “The Last Knight” (2017). Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings”) took over for “Bumblebee” (2018) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”) stepped in for “Rise of the Beasts” (2023). The latest film in the franchise takes place in the 1990s,...
In case you forgot, Michael Bay was behind the camera for “Transformers” (2007), “Revenge of the Fallen” (2009), “Dark of the Moon” (2011), “Age of Extinction” (2014), and “The Last Knight” (2017). Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings”) took over for “Bumblebee” (2018) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”) stepped in for “Rise of the Beasts” (2023). The latest film in the franchise takes place in the 1990s,...
- 10/11/2023
- by Kayti Burt
- The Wrap
George Harrison was less interested in guitars and more interested in another instrument when he wrote The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” He revealed another rock star helped him create the song. Prince gifted the world with an awe-inspiring cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
Why people love The Beatles’ ‘Why My Guitar Gently Weeps’
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has interesting lyrics. However, it’s most beloved for its guitar riffs. That’s ironic, given George’s mindset at the time.
The book George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters includes an interview from 1977. In that interview, George discussed the composition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” “Well, for eight studio dates, and then I’d get the guitar out and just play, you know, learn a part and play for the record.” he said. “But I’d really lost a lot of interest in the guitar.
Why people love The Beatles’ ‘Why My Guitar Gently Weeps’
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has interesting lyrics. However, it’s most beloved for its guitar riffs. That’s ironic, given George’s mindset at the time.
The book George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters includes an interview from 1977. In that interview, George discussed the composition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” “Well, for eight studio dates, and then I’d get the guitar out and just play, you know, learn a part and play for the record.” he said. “But I’d really lost a lot of interest in the guitar.
- 10/8/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkey King is an animated adventure comedy movie. Directed by Anthony Stacchi, the Netflix movie is inspired by the epic Ming Dynasty classic Journey to the West. In the film we follow the Monkey King’s journey to become immortal, he is assisted by a girl named Lin. So, if you loved The Monkey King here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Kung Fu Panda (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – DreamWorks Animations
Synopsis: Prepare for awesomeness with this delightful Academy Award®-nominated DreamWorks Animation film. Jack Black is the voice of Po, a noodle slurping dreamer who must embrace his true self-fuzzy flaws and all–in order to become the real Dragon Warrior. Filled with high-kicking humor, groundbreaking animation, and an all-star cast including Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan and Dustin Hoffman.
Raya and The Last Dragon (Disney+) Credit – Walt Disney Animation
Synopsis: Walt Disney Animation...
Kung Fu Panda (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – DreamWorks Animations
Synopsis: Prepare for awesomeness with this delightful Academy Award®-nominated DreamWorks Animation film. Jack Black is the voice of Po, a noodle slurping dreamer who must embrace his true self-fuzzy flaws and all–in order to become the real Dragon Warrior. Filled with high-kicking humor, groundbreaking animation, and an all-star cast including Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan and Dustin Hoffman.
Raya and The Last Dragon (Disney+) Credit – Walt Disney Animation
Synopsis: Walt Disney Animation...
- 8/18/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
“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
Ctam and Common Sense Media have partnered on StreamSafely Summer Camp,, an online destination at StreamSafely.com where parents and kids can find safe, family-friendly programming without the risks that come with pirated content. The site includes a collection of 46 movies curated by the nonprofit Common Sense Media available through June, July and August, along with a checklist for parents on safe streaming.
A Ctam study from October 2022 found that 38% of households with kids report accessing pirated content a few times a year, well above the mean for the US adult population overall (26%). Piracy sites appear free, but they make money by stealing personal information, often by installing destructive malware or ransomware on users’ home computers. Digital video piracy accounts for more than $50 billion in revenue losses for the global tv and movie industry, according to the study.
“Many families stream pirated content...
A Ctam study from October 2022 found that 38% of households with kids report accessing pirated content a few times a year, well above the mean for the US adult population overall (26%). Piracy sites appear free, but they make money by stealing personal information, often by installing destructive malware or ransomware on users’ home computers. Digital video piracy accounts for more than $50 billion in revenue losses for the global tv and movie industry, according to the study.
“Many families stream pirated content...
- 6/26/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Tl;Dr:
George Harrison learned jazz and blues chords inspired The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” He learned it from a rock star who also inspired “Julia” from The White Album. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was not a single in the United States.
Donovan helped inspire The Beatles‘ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” In addition, Donovan influenced some of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s songwriting. Notably, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was covered by numerous famous rockers.
Donovan knew some chords that inspired The Beatles’ ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’
Donovan is known for playing the guitar in a style known as the Claw Hammer. During a 2011 interview with Pennyblackmusic, he discussed how he learned to play the guitar that way. “The unique Claw Hammer was invented by Ma Carter of The Carter Family, John Cash married into,” he said. “May Carter developed it from the banjo...
George Harrison learned jazz and blues chords inspired The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” He learned it from a rock star who also inspired “Julia” from The White Album. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was not a single in the United States.
Donovan helped inspire The Beatles‘ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” In addition, Donovan influenced some of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s songwriting. Notably, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was covered by numerous famous rockers.
Donovan knew some chords that inspired The Beatles’ ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’
Donovan is known for playing the guitar in a style known as the Claw Hammer. During a 2011 interview with Pennyblackmusic, he discussed how he learned to play the guitar that way. “The unique Claw Hammer was invented by Ma Carter of The Carter Family, John Cash married into,” he said. “May Carter developed it from the banjo...
- 6/21/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
They’re the studio behind some of cinema’s most beloved stop-motion characters and stories – including the dark, fantastical coming-of-age Coraline, zombie comedy ParaNorman, samurai epic Kubo And The Two Strings, and, most recently, the massively fun Missing Link. All five of their feature films were nominated for Oscars, and they remain one of the most imaginative, original and eccentric homes for animation in the world. Yes, we’re talking about Laika, the stop-motion super-studio led by CEO and feature director Travis Knight – and in the new issue of Empire, we get to pull back the painstakingly-animated curtain on Laika’s process, paying a visit to their headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
Talking to Knight, plus members of the team including animator Jason Stalman, head of production Arianne Sutner and more, Empire walks around Laika’s 40,000-square-foot warehouse, getting world-exclusive access to every inch of the puppet-filled studios. We stop by the sets,...
Talking to Knight, plus members of the team including animator Jason Stalman, head of production Arianne Sutner and more, Empire walks around Laika’s 40,000-square-foot warehouse, getting world-exclusive access to every inch of the puppet-filled studios. We stop by the sets,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Sophie Butcher
- Empire - Movies
Kubo And The Two Strings Photo: Laika Kubo And The Two Strings, Itvx, streaming now
We've recently highlighted some of the foreign and indie films that are worth catching on ITV's free streaming service Itvx and it's worth noting that there's also some great films for kids on there. Among them is this entertaining and original stop-motion adventure with plenty of heart. It marked the directorial debut of Travis Knight - who is currently on pre-production for a film version of The Six Billion Dollar Man as well as another animation, Wildwood. This is the absorbing tale of a young boy (Art Parkinson) who goes on a dangerous quest with his talking monkey (Charlize Theron on no-nonsense vocals) and a samurai who is stuck in a bug outfit (Matthew McConnaughey). Using origami as inspiration for the animation, every inch of the film is a visual feast built around memorable...
We've recently highlighted some of the foreign and indie films that are worth catching on ITV's free streaming service Itvx and it's worth noting that there's also some great films for kids on there. Among them is this entertaining and original stop-motion adventure with plenty of heart. It marked the directorial debut of Travis Knight - who is currently on pre-production for a film version of The Six Billion Dollar Man as well as another animation, Wildwood. This is the absorbing tale of a young boy (Art Parkinson) who goes on a dangerous quest with his talking monkey (Charlize Theron on no-nonsense vocals) and a samurai who is stuck in a bug outfit (Matthew McConnaughey). Using origami as inspiration for the animation, every inch of the film is a visual feast built around memorable...
- 4/24/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Tubi originals for April include “Dead Hot,” co-starring Vanessa Hudgens and Gg Magree. They play witchcraft students who long to connect with the spirit world. But when a ghost hunt goes wrong, they head to Salem, Massachusetts, for a masterclass.
“A Good Man,” another streamer original, lands on April 13. A man enters a new relationship in the aftermath of his wife’s affair. But soon, things go awry when he notices familiar signs of betrayal.
The four movies that comprise “The Scorpion King” arrive April 1. A prequel and spinoff of “The Mummy,” the first movie, in 2002, is a sorcery action-adventure film starring starring Dwayne Johnson, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov, and Michael Clarke Duncan. An evil ruler wants to conquer the tribes of the desert.
Jim Carrey fans will want to revisit the two “Ace Ventura” comedies. Carrey shows off his gift for physical comedy, while creating a wacky...
“A Good Man,” another streamer original, lands on April 13. A man enters a new relationship in the aftermath of his wife’s affair. But soon, things go awry when he notices familiar signs of betrayal.
The four movies that comprise “The Scorpion King” arrive April 1. A prequel and spinoff of “The Mummy,” the first movie, in 2002, is a sorcery action-adventure film starring starring Dwayne Johnson, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov, and Michael Clarke Duncan. An evil ruler wants to conquer the tribes of the desert.
Jim Carrey fans will want to revisit the two “Ace Ventura” comedies. Carrey shows off his gift for physical comedy, while creating a wacky...
- 3/31/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
“Sing 2,” the delightfully entertaining movie, is back to rouse youngsters and adults alike with its encouraging story. In the original “Sing” film, we were taught how to be courageous in life by disregarding our worries about failures or other people’s judgments. We learned that it is essential to stay true to ourselves and pursue our goals without hesitation as well as let music heal us. Let’s join them again on an incredible journey filled with heartwarming tunes!
The stars of Buster Moon’s theater must put their lessons to the test in “Sing 2” as they pursue even bigger dreams. With larger stages, more spectators, and higher stakes than ever before, the group will have to battle their stage fright as well as grapple with difficult feelings while mastering some tough new dance moves. The beloved animals and their inspiring acts return from the first film for...
The stars of Buster Moon’s theater must put their lessons to the test in “Sing 2” as they pursue even bigger dreams. With larger stages, more spectators, and higher stakes than ever before, the group will have to battle their stage fright as well as grapple with difficult feelings while mastering some tough new dance moves. The beloved animals and their inspiring acts return from the first film for...
- 2/20/2023
- by Buddy TV
- buddytv.com
Laika, the Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio behind modern classics “Coraline” and “ParaNorman,” is getting serious about entering the live-action space. The studio just named longtime Netflix executive Matt Levin as President, Live-Action Film & Series, a new role at the company. The first live-action project is a film based on John Brownlow’s thriller novel “Seventeen.”
Levin served as Director, Original Independent Film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022. He co-founded the Original Independent Film department growing it into a full-scale mini-major with 20+ executives. Levin oversaw projects like Macon Blair’s “I Don’t Feel At Home in the World Anymore,” underrated Elizabeth Winstead-led action movie “Kate,” and Charlie Kaufman’s puzzling “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.” Levin also worked on Tom Hardy’s upcoming “Havoc” from director Gareth Evans (due out sometime later this year).
Levin reports directly to President and CEO Travis Knight (director of Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings...
Levin served as Director, Original Independent Film at Netflix from 2014 to 2022. He co-founded the Original Independent Film department growing it into a full-scale mini-major with 20+ executives. Levin oversaw projects like Macon Blair’s “I Don’t Feel At Home in the World Anymore,” underrated Elizabeth Winstead-led action movie “Kate,” and Charlie Kaufman’s puzzling “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.” Levin also worked on Tom Hardy’s upcoming “Havoc” from director Gareth Evans (due out sometime later this year).
Levin reports directly to President and CEO Travis Knight (director of Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings...
- 2/7/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
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’s no mystery why stop-motion animation is admired by critics and audiences alike. The extensive manual labor every visual composition requires keeps us connected to cinema’s tactile past, to an era when the term “special effects” referred to pyrotechnics and animatronics rather than CGI. Stop-motion features have a texture computers, as of now, are unable to successfully replicate.
CGI is a cheaper and, some feel, increasingly suitable alternative to stop motion—“Rango” and “The Lego Movie” mostly pulled it off, after all—but one artist who clearly understands the inimitable quality of stop motion, the beautifully imperfect aesthetic that’s produced by working with raw materials, is Guillermo del Toro, whose “Pinocchio” was launched on Netflix December 9. It’s hard not to be romantic about handcrafted animation when AI is generating art and big budget films are predominantly assembled out of frame.
That the umpteenth iteration of “Pinocchio...
CGI is a cheaper and, some feel, increasingly suitable alternative to stop motion—“Rango” and “The Lego Movie” mostly pulled it off, after all—but one artist who clearly understands the inimitable quality of stop motion, the beautifully imperfect aesthetic that’s produced by working with raw materials, is Guillermo del Toro, whose “Pinocchio” was launched on Netflix December 9. It’s hard not to be romantic about handcrafted animation when AI is generating art and big budget films are predominantly assembled out of frame.
That the umpteenth iteration of “Pinocchio...
- 12/29/2022
- by Ronald Meyer and Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
It’s no mystery why stop-motion animation is admired by critics and audiences alike. The extensive manual labor every visual composition requires keeps us connected to cinema’s tactile past, to an era when the term “special effects” referred to pyrotechnics and animatronics rather than CGI. Stop-motion features have a texture computers, as of now, are unable to successfully replicate.
CGI is a cheaper and, some feel, increasingly suitable alternative to stop motion—“Rango” and “The Lego Movie” mostly pulled it off, after all—but one artist who clearly understands the inimitable quality of stop motion, the beautifully imperfect aesthetic that’s produced by working with raw materials, is Guillermo del Toro, whose “Pinocchio” was launched on Netflix December 9. It’s hard not to be romantic about handcrafted animation when AI is generating art and big budget films are predominantly assembled out of frame.
See ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio...
CGI is a cheaper and, some feel, increasingly suitable alternative to stop motion—“Rango” and “The Lego Movie” mostly pulled it off, after all—but one artist who clearly understands the inimitable quality of stop motion, the beautifully imperfect aesthetic that’s produced by working with raw materials, is Guillermo del Toro, whose “Pinocchio” was launched on Netflix December 9. It’s hard not to be romantic about handcrafted animation when AI is generating art and big budget films are predominantly assembled out of frame.
See ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio...
- 12/29/2022
- by Ronald Meyer and Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” hit Netflix a few weeks back, and it has already received a few critics’ awards and nominations, though it’s a very different animated movie than we normally get over the course of a year, being a stop-motion animated film del Toro directed with Mark Gustafson, working with Portland stop-motion animation house ShadowMachine. Lisa Henson, daughter of the late great puppeteer Jim Henson, is one of the film’s producers, which gives the film even more of a pedigree within that world.
SEEOscar odds update: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ ascends in Best Picture race
But let’s rewind a bit. Del Toro’s 2006 movie “Pan’s Labyrinth” was Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Film (now known as Best International Feature), but lost to Germany’s “The Lives of Others.” Nevertheless, it was a visual masterpiece that won three Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction,...
SEEOscar odds update: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ ascends in Best Picture race
But let’s rewind a bit. Del Toro’s 2006 movie “Pan’s Labyrinth” was Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Film (now known as Best International Feature), but lost to Germany’s “The Lives of Others.” Nevertheless, it was a visual masterpiece that won three Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction,...
- 12/25/2022
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
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Where do you look when trying to reinvent “Pinocchio?” How do you bring Carlo Collodi’s novel to the modern world when another, beloved animated version has existed for over 80 years? You look outside of animation, of course. For “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” cinematographer Frank Passingham took inspiration from live-action to give a brand new look to the the tale of a wooden boy brought to life.
“There was one film in particular I wanted my lighting camera people to watch, and that was ‘The Godfather,'” Passingham told IndieWire. “I’m a big fan of Gordon Willis because he has a very naturalistic approach that emphasizes and brings out drama.” For Passingham, Willis’ work on Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” and its sequel became the key to subverting what audiences expect “Pinocchio” to look and feel like. Though the film still features a talking cricket, magical beings,...
Where do you look when trying to reinvent “Pinocchio?” How do you bring Carlo Collodi’s novel to the modern world when another, beloved animated version has existed for over 80 years? You look outside of animation, of course. For “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” cinematographer Frank Passingham took inspiration from live-action to give a brand new look to the the tale of a wooden boy brought to life.
“There was one film in particular I wanted my lighting camera people to watch, and that was ‘The Godfather,'” Passingham told IndieWire. “I’m a big fan of Gordon Willis because he has a very naturalistic approach that emphasizes and brings out drama.” For Passingham, Willis’ work on Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” and its sequel became the key to subverting what audiences expect “Pinocchio” to look and feel like. Though the film still features a talking cricket, magical beings,...
- 12/9/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Indiewire
After Michael Bay's series of "Transformers" films awkwardly ended with "Transformers: The Last Knight," the last thing everyone expected was for the franchise to suddenly be revitalized with the 2018 spin-off "Bumblebee." The movie is a prequel film set in the '80s led by Hailee Seinfeld, and it received much better reviews than any of Bay's more recent "Transformers" movies. A big part of that success is director Travis Knight, the "Kubo and the Two Strings" director who brought his distinct vision and personality to the franchise. Following this success, there was renewed hope in making "Transformers" films that were worth seeing in theaters again.
Moreover, any worries that the next "Transformers" film would revert to the lifeless projects that most of the sequels turned out to be should have their fears put to rest by the first trailer for "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts." Directed by Steven Caple Jr....
Moreover, any worries that the next "Transformers" film would revert to the lifeless projects that most of the sequels turned out to be should have their fears put to rest by the first trailer for "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts." Directed by Steven Caple Jr....
- 12/8/2022
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
It’s getting close to the time of year when the executive committee of the Academy’s visual effects branch selects the 10 shortlisted films that will continue in the VFX category race, and among the anticipated contenders, the branch also has some unexpected choices to consider.
While the presumed frontrunner, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, won’t be released until Dec. 16, the sequel to the director’s 2009 fantasy film seems a fait accompli for the shortlist. The work was led by Weta FX and four-time Oscar-winning senior VFX supervisor Joe Letteri (who with Weta also led the work on the original Avatar, which won the VFX Oscar). The Way of Water involves new techniques, including those used in performance capture.
Also expected are multiple contenders from the long list of this year’s effects-laden Marvel and DC movies, which include...
It’s getting close to the time of year when the executive committee of the Academy’s visual effects branch selects the 10 shortlisted films that will continue in the VFX category race, and among the anticipated contenders, the branch also has some unexpected choices to consider.
While the presumed frontrunner, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, won’t be released until Dec. 16, the sequel to the director’s 2009 fantasy film seems a fait accompli for the shortlist. The work was led by Weta FX and four-time Oscar-winning senior VFX supervisor Joe Letteri (who with Weta also led the work on the original Avatar, which won the VFX Oscar). The Way of Water involves new techniques, including those used in performance capture.
Also expected are multiple contenders from the long list of this year’s effects-laden Marvel and DC movies, which include...
- 12/5/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With Guillermo del Toro‘s stop-motion “Pinocchio” becoming Netflix’s greatest hope for a Best Picture Oscar nomination (in addition to its frontrunning Best Animated Feature status) there could be a spill-over into the craft races as well. That would be a historic breakthrough for the tactile, handmade technique, which, up until now, has only garnered a Sci-Tech Oscar (for Laika’s innovative 3D character animation printing system) and nominations in visual effects (for Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings” and Disney’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”) and original score (for Alexandre Desplat’s work on Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox”).
But the exposure from del Toro’s masterful version of Carlo Collodi’s fable — which the Oscar-winning director of “The Shape of Water” recasts as a tale of rebellion set against the backdrop of Mussolini’s Fascist Italy — could finally point the Academy...
But the exposure from del Toro’s masterful version of Carlo Collodi’s fable — which the Oscar-winning director of “The Shape of Water” recasts as a tale of rebellion set against the backdrop of Mussolini’s Fascist Italy — could finally point the Academy...
- 12/1/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Longtime Laika executive Jeff Stringer has been upped to the post of Chief Technology Officer at the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio.
Stringer’s promotion comes following his more than 13-year run as the company’s Director of Production Technology. He will now head up its newly reorganized Technology Group, which combines the creative talent and resources of the formerly independent It, Production Technology and Business Systems departments. The restructuring reinforces the strategic role of the Technology Group as active partners with Production and Business Operations and will help Laika establish studio-wide technology standards, thereby helping it to scale up production, modernize operations, and usher in new innovations. Stringer reports directly to the studio’s President and CEO, Travis Knight.
Said Knight: “The fusion of art and technology has been essential to our company since its founding and since 2008 Jeff has been central to that creative effort. As our studio grows,...
Stringer’s promotion comes following his more than 13-year run as the company’s Director of Production Technology. He will now head up its newly reorganized Technology Group, which combines the creative talent and resources of the formerly independent It, Production Technology and Business Systems departments. The restructuring reinforces the strategic role of the Technology Group as active partners with Production and Business Operations and will help Laika establish studio-wide technology standards, thereby helping it to scale up production, modernize operations, and usher in new innovations. Stringer reports directly to the studio’s President and CEO, Travis Knight.
Said Knight: “The fusion of art and technology has been essential to our company since its founding and since 2008 Jeff has been central to that creative effort. As our studio grows,...
- 11/28/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Almost 30 years after “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), Henry Selick returns with “Wendell & Wild,” another stop-motion animated sensation that’s sure to generate acclaim throughout the industry. Co-written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Jordan Peele, the Netflix feature film debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and may have asserted itself as the new frontrunner for best animated feature.
Based on Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman’s unpublished book of the same name, the film tells the story of two scheming demon brothers, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of a 13-year-old Kat (Lyric Ross) to summon them to the Land of the Living. It also features the voice talents of Angela Bassett, James Hong and Ving Rhames.
Marking Selick’s first film since “Coraline” (2009), his sole Oscar-nominated feature, Selick brings the razzle-dazzle stop-motion effects to the screen, exquisitely assembling luscious set designs and breathtaking effects. Finally, five...
Based on Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman’s unpublished book of the same name, the film tells the story of two scheming demon brothers, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of a 13-year-old Kat (Lyric Ross) to summon them to the Land of the Living. It also features the voice talents of Angela Bassett, James Hong and Ving Rhames.
Marking Selick’s first film since “Coraline” (2009), his sole Oscar-nominated feature, Selick brings the razzle-dazzle stop-motion effects to the screen, exquisitely assembling luscious set designs and breathtaking effects. Finally, five...
- 9/11/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
"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
There's a strange thing that happens in Hollywood more often than one might imagine. Two projects get greenlit that aren't just similar, but pull from nearly the same source material. Though this often happens in early stages of projects, like when a wild story suddenly becomes a hot commodity, it's rare that both versions actually end up being born into the world at the same time.
Yet there are times when years of brainstorming, production, and post-production somehow ultimately align, leading to near-simultaneous releases that look intentionally competitive, even if they're not. This is what seems to be happening with "Pinocchio," a classic story that's somehow receiving two very distinct adaptations this fall. While one will debut in September and remake a family film we know and love, the other hits theaters in November and pull inspiration from the darker Italian novel of the same name. Let's dig into the...
Yet there are times when years of brainstorming, production, and post-production somehow ultimately align, leading to near-simultaneous releases that look intentionally competitive, even if they're not. This is what seems to be happening with "Pinocchio," a classic story that's somehow receiving two very distinct adaptations this fall. While one will debut in September and remake a family film we know and love, the other hits theaters in November and pull inspiration from the darker Italian novel of the same name. Let's dig into the...
- 9/1/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
“Lost Ollie” has been found – and he’s on Netflix right now.
The four-episode series, loosely based on a William Joyce book (“Ollie’s Odyssey”), had been in development for more than a decade. What began as a project from Joyce’s own production entity was eventually rescued by Netflix and 21 Laps, one of the production companies behind “Stranger Things.” That’s when Shannon Tindle, an insanely talented designer and animator who had created Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings,” pitched his version of the story, which follows a lost toy (voiced by Jonathan Groff), who teams up with a pair of mismatched toys (played by Tim Blake Nelson and Mary J. Blige) and heads out in search of his owner, set deep in the American South.
And to chart Ollie’s odyssey, Tindle found the perfect partners – chiefly director Peter Ramsey, who is one of the most influential...
The four-episode series, loosely based on a William Joyce book (“Ollie’s Odyssey”), had been in development for more than a decade. What began as a project from Joyce’s own production entity was eventually rescued by Netflix and 21 Laps, one of the production companies behind “Stranger Things.” That’s when Shannon Tindle, an insanely talented designer and animator who had created Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings,” pitched his version of the story, which follows a lost toy (voiced by Jonathan Groff), who teams up with a pair of mismatched toys (played by Tim Blake Nelson and Mary J. Blige) and heads out in search of his owner, set deep in the American South.
And to chart Ollie’s odyssey, Tindle found the perfect partners – chiefly director Peter Ramsey, who is one of the most influential...
- 9/1/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)
"Pinocchio" is a beloved story about a little wooden boy who longs to become human, and we're about to be blessed with a truly imaginative take on the tale. Guillermo del Toro, the writer and director of some of the greatest cinematic fairy tales of our time, including "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Shape of Water," is creating a stop-motion animated film about the doll that longed for a flesh and blood body. It looks absolutely incredible, featuring some of the most detailed stop-motion models I've ever seen. Del Toro's "Pinocchio" will take the story back to its roots, riffing on the 1883 novel by Carlo Collodi and subverting it to tell a more del Toro-themed tale about the dangers of fascism.
"Pinocchio" is a beloved story about a little wooden boy who longs to become human, and we're about to be blessed with a truly imaginative take on the tale. Guillermo del Toro, the writer and director of some of the greatest cinematic fairy tales of our time, including "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Shape of Water," is creating a stop-motion animated film about the doll that longed for a flesh and blood body. It looks absolutely incredible, featuring some of the most detailed stop-motion models I've ever seen. Del Toro's "Pinocchio" will take the story back to its roots, riffing on the 1883 novel by Carlo Collodi and subverting it to tell a more del Toro-themed tale about the dangers of fascism.
- 8/30/2022
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
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
"Lost Ollie" is Netflix's latest limited series, an animation/live-action hybrid with a narrative that will be familiar to everyone who has seen "Toy Story" or "The Velveteen Rabbit." It follows a patchwork bunny who has lost his human and best friend, Billy, and subsequently embarks on an epic adventure to be reunited with him.
The series packs more emotional gut punches than any warning can prepare you for, but it is still a delightful and fun adventure in the vein of a Mark Twain novel. It also has an incredible cast that includes Jonathan Groff, Tim Blake Nelson, Mary J. Blige, Gina Rodriguez, and Jake Johnson. Sure, the mid-point can be a bit repetitive and slow, but the pay-off of the show can easily cue the waterworks. In her review for /Film, Shania Russell wrote: "'Lost Ollie' doesn't need to be a grand epic or end-of-the-world type quest.
The series packs more emotional gut punches than any warning can prepare you for, but it is still a delightful and fun adventure in the vein of a Mark Twain novel. It also has an incredible cast that includes Jonathan Groff, Tim Blake Nelson, Mary J. Blige, Gina Rodriguez, and Jake Johnson. Sure, the mid-point can be a bit repetitive and slow, but the pay-off of the show can easily cue the waterworks. In her review for /Film, Shania Russell wrote: "'Lost Ollie' doesn't need to be a grand epic or end-of-the-world type quest.
- 8/23/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Is there a more universal experience than the festering fear of looking around and realizing you're lost? It happens to children and adults, and evidently, it's also a very common occurrence for toys. "Lost Ollie" certainly isn't the first time we've seen a beloved toy embark on a dangerous journey to find its way home, but it might very well be the most adorable. To be fair, this particular story has the advantage of following Ollie, the world's cutest stuffy — a patchwork bunny with unbeatable spirit and the voice of Jonathan Groff.
When he wakes to find himself in an unfamiliar place, it's up to Ollie to swallow his fear and begin a quest filled with danger, mystery, and more emotional gut punches than one can honestly prepare for. And why put himself through all that? Because somewhere out there is Billy (Kesler Talbot), a young boy who needs his favorite toy.
When he wakes to find himself in an unfamiliar place, it's up to Ollie to swallow his fear and begin a quest filled with danger, mystery, and more emotional gut punches than one can honestly prepare for. And why put himself through all that? Because somewhere out there is Billy (Kesler Talbot), a young boy who needs his favorite toy.
- 8/17/2022
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
The Book of Genesis contains two competing creation stories: There’s the one where an all-powerful deity conjures everything in six days, and the version where a more anthropomorphic god rolls up his heavenly sleeves and makes man from clay.
Guess which one the visionary stop-motion artist Will Vinton would have preferred.
Co-inventor of the “Claymation” technique, Vinton wanted to be the second Walt Disney. Colorful eyegasm “ClayDream” celebrates all that Will Vinton Studios achieved — its most beloved characters include the California Raisins, rabbit-eared Domino’s Pizza menace “the Noid” and Eddie Murphy series “The PJs” — while musing about what might have been, had control of the company not been wrested away from him by Nike honcho Phil Knight, who rechristened it Laika and put his son Travis in charge.
That was an unhappy end for Vinton (who died in 2018), to be sure, but like the Old Testament origin story, this saga has multiple versions.
Guess which one the visionary stop-motion artist Will Vinton would have preferred.
Co-inventor of the “Claymation” technique, Vinton wanted to be the second Walt Disney. Colorful eyegasm “ClayDream” celebrates all that Will Vinton Studios achieved — its most beloved characters include the California Raisins, rabbit-eared Domino’s Pizza menace “the Noid” and Eddie Murphy series “The PJs” — while musing about what might have been, had control of the company not been wrested away from him by Nike honcho Phil Knight, who rechristened it Laika and put his son Travis in charge.
That was an unhappy end for Vinton (who died in 2018), to be sure, but like the Old Testament origin story, this saga has multiple versions.
- 8/5/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Are you ready to find “Lost Ollie?”
The upcoming Netflix series, which debuts August 24, is based on a story by William Joyce, whose stories have been adapted into “Robots,” “Meet the Robinsons” and “Rise of the Guardians.” It follows a lovable, hopelessly lost toy rabbit named Ollie (voiced by Jonathan Groff) as he searches for his young owner (Kesler Talbot).
His search sees him traversing many dangers in a surprisingly naturalistic deep south, as he teams up with a clown doll named Zozo (Tim Blake Nelson) and a battle-hardened bear (Mary J. Blige). And you can watch the trailer (above).
Also Read:
‘Light & Magic’ Director Lawrence Kasdan Explains Why He Made a Docuseries About the History of VFX
“Lost Ollie” is directed by Peter Ramsey, who directed “Rise of the Guardians” and was one of the directors behind “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and created by animator Shannon Tindle. The...
The upcoming Netflix series, which debuts August 24, is based on a story by William Joyce, whose stories have been adapted into “Robots,” “Meet the Robinsons” and “Rise of the Guardians.” It follows a lovable, hopelessly lost toy rabbit named Ollie (voiced by Jonathan Groff) as he searches for his young owner (Kesler Talbot).
His search sees him traversing many dangers in a surprisingly naturalistic deep south, as he teams up with a clown doll named Zozo (Tim Blake Nelson) and a battle-hardened bear (Mary J. Blige). And you can watch the trailer (above).
Also Read:
‘Light & Magic’ Director Lawrence Kasdan Explains Why He Made a Docuseries About the History of VFX
“Lost Ollie” is directed by Peter Ramsey, who directed “Rise of the Guardians” and was one of the directors behind “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and created by animator Shannon Tindle. The...
- 8/2/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
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