Stop-Motion

Robot Chicken Creators at NY Comic Con

Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are set to appear as special guests at New York Comic Con (NYCC) where they will be joined by Breckin Meyer, Geoff Johns and Kevin Shinick on a panel discussing all aspects of the popular Adult Swim series ROBOT CHICKEN. Now in its fourth season, the network's Emmy-and-Annie-winning series uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format. The panelists will be available to sign ROBOT CHICKEN material in the VIP Lounge after the session and signing cards will be provided.

In Event, Stop-Motion, Event, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Laika Lays Off 65, Pulls Jack and Ben

Portland-based animation studio Laika has laid off 65 people and shelved its second CG film JACK AND BEN'S ANIMATED ADVENTURE, according to THE OREGONIAN.

Laika is owned by Nike founder Phil Knight, and is releasing their first film, 3-D stop-motion feature CORALINE on February 6.

JACK AND BEN was slated to come out after CORALINE, but the film's writer, former Pixar animator Jorgen Klubien left the studio over "creative differences" last year. Laika hired MULAN director Barry Cook to direct JACK AND BEN, and was moving forward with the project.

In Business, Stop-Motion, Business, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Henson Headline News

Stop-Motion Pinocchio Pairs Del Toro, Jim Henson Co.

Guillermo del Toro and the Jim Henson Co. are working to develop a PINOCCHIO stop-motion feature with a darker tone, per VARIETY.

Henson Co. co-presidents Brian Henson and Lisa Henson will produce with SVP Jason Lust. Del Toro will exec produce. Del Toro revealed his involvement with the project on BLOODYDISGUSTING.com; saying he was working on the screenplay with Gris Grimly, who was the illustrator on 2002's PINOCCHIO. Grimly and Adam Parrish King will co-direct.

In Films, Stop-Motion, Films, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Headline News

Peter & The Wolf Comes To U.S. DVD In December

The 2007 Academy Award Winner for Best Animated Short PETER & THE WOLF arrives on DVD December 9 from Magnolia Home Ent.

Based on the classic musical composition PETER AND THE WOLF by Sergei Prokofiev, this spellbinding new interpretation combines stop-frame model animation and state-of-the-art digital technology, along with a new orchestra recording to create a magical world in which little boys can find the strength and courage to overcome their fears.

In Home Entertainment, Stop-Motion, Home Entertainment, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Special Events: Annecy | Geographic Region: All, North America

Headline News

Aardman Rights Takes Wallace & Gromit, Timmy On International Adventure

Aardman Rights, the newly created division of award-winning Aardman Animations has concluded a number of pre-sales for its two new animated series WALLACE & GROMIT IN A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH and TIMMY TIME.

Wallace & Gromit’s new half hour adventure is currently in production for BBC One at Aardman’s Bristol studios with delivery expected this autumn. Aardman has secured pre-sale deals at MIPCOM with broadcasters around the globe including: ABC TV Australia, M6 France, Super RTL Germany, YLE Finland, NRK Norway, Zapp Netherlands and SVT Sweden.

In Licensing, Stop-Motion, Licensing, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All, Australia, Europe

Film ANIMATIONWorld

On the Set with 'Coraline': Where the Motion Doesn't Stop

XSI expert Ed Harriss chips away at ICE to tell us the scoop on the latest edition of Softimage|XSI.

In Stop-Motion, Production, Stop-Motion | ANIMATIONWorld

Motion Headline News

Aardman Animations Creates New TV Series With Blackmagic Design, Stop Motion Pro

Aardman Animations is using Blackmagic Design capture cards and Stop Motion Pro for their latest TV production, TIMMY.

In Stop-Motion, Technology, Stop-Motion, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Cuppa Coffee Celebrates Nerds At MIPCOM

Do you know how many sun swords a wizard with only seven charisma points needs to slay a wandering armored Tharg troll? Likely, you don't have a clue, but this is common knowledge in NERDLAND, a new stop-motion animated pilot debuting at MIPCOM in October from Cuppa Coffee Studios and set to air this fall on TELETOON.

In Licensing, Stop-Motion, Licensing, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All

Films Headline News

Academy To Visit The Fantastic World Of George Pal

Invading Martians will hit the screen at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' "George Pal: Discovering the Fantastic" event on Wednesday, August 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The centennial celebration, hosted by director Joe Dante (GREMLINS), will feature a panel discussion with several Pal collaborators as well as a screening of two Pal "Puppetoons" and THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) in its entirety.

In Event, Stop-Motion, Event, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Wars Headline News

Episode II For Robot Chicken: Star Wars A Go

ROBOT CHICKEN: STAR WARS, the sequel, has been greenlit, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Just days after earning an Emmy nomination for Best Animated Series, the Adult Swim show is moving forward with Episode II, to air November 16.

"It doesn't even seem real -- getting to make STAR WARS twice!" said ROBOT CHICKEN co-creator Seth Green. Green won an Annie Award for directing the first one, and will helm the sequel. The first ROBOT CHICKEN: STAR WARS special was released to DVD on Tuesday.

In Stop-Motion, Technology, Stop-Motion, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Stop-Motion Headline News

Laika Reveals Development Slate

Nike co-founder and billionaire Phil Knight is making some noise with Laika, the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio he bought six years ago, according to VARIETY.

Laika, which does both CG and stop-motion, is scheduled to release their first feature, CORALINE on February 6, 2009 from Focus Features.

The stop-motion film follows a girl (voiced by Dakota Fanning) who stumbles upon a dark fantasy alternate universe. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS director Henry Selick helmed the picture, with Knight's son Travis the lead animator.

In Films, Stop-Motion, Films, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Game Headline News

3-D Stop-Motion Feature Coraline To Be Video Game

D3Publisher has entered a worldwide publishing agreement with the Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group for video games based on Focus Features and LAIKA Ent.'s CORALINE, the upcoming HD stop-motion animated feature -- the first to be originally filmed in 3-D.

In Licensing, Stop-Motion, Licensing, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Stop-Motion Headline News

On AWNtv This Week - WALL*E, Stop-Motion Commotion & Murder

This week AWNtv has a place for stop-motion fans to start a commotion. There's a food fight, caged birds, funerals, rockin' puppets, lumps of clay, cyborgs, soul-sucking looms and Manny Schmeckstein.

Hot trailers ! WALL*E behind-the scenes peek! Two SIGGRAPH previews! And the LOVE GURU!

The cool vids of the week take a Middle Eastern flare with Omid Khoshnazar's ZERO DEGREE, Mashaallah Mohammadi's OTHER BEING, and Shlomi Schillinger & Tamar Moshkovitz's PLUSHOOD.

Check it all out today!

In Stop-Motion, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Disney Headline News

Disney Channel Worldwide Acquires Timmy From Aardman Animations

Disney Channel programmers from North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific have joined forces to acquire global rights for the stop-motion animated series TIMMY from the acclaimed U.K. production company Aardman Animations (WALLACE & GROMIT).

It is scheduled to premiere in 2009 on Playhouse Disney channels and programming blocks around the world. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, President, Disney Channels Worldwide.

In Licensing, Stop-Motion, Licensing, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Headline News

Peter & The Wolf To Air On PBS

Oscar's 2008 Best Animated Short PETER & THE WOLF will be airing at 8 p.m. on March 26 on PBS' GREAT PERFORMANCES.

Suzie Templeton's take on how little boys can find extraordinary courage, set to the Russian composer's famous score, offers the latest in stop-motion animation, particularly effective here in the tale's updating into the grim realities of a more contemporary Russia.

Richard Jones' darkly imaginative take on Humperdink's HANSEL AND GRETEL will air immediately after at 9 p.m.

In Stop-Motion, Television, Stop-Motion, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animated Headline News

A Rat, A Wolf & An Armored Bear Win Oscars

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has handed out the winners of the 80th Academy Awards. The first animated related prize of the evening went to Brad Bird for Outstanding Animated Feature for RATATOUILLE. In the category of Animated Short Subject, director Suzie Templeton and producer Hugh Welchman took home Oscars for the stop-motion film, PROKOFIEV'S PETER AND THE WOLF.

In Awards, Stop-Motion, Awards, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Cuppa Coffee Eyes U.S. for Zoo

Having secured a first-season run of 20 half-hours for its new animated reality series LIFE'S A ZOO on Canada's TELETOON, Cuppa Coffee Studios has now set its sights on the U.S. The new stop-motion show aimed at teens and up delivers a new spin on the reality television genre while also pushing a distinctly indie-music angle.

In Stop-Motion, Television, Stop-Motion, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Film Headline News

Aardman Acquires Award-Winning Peter and the Wolf

Aardman International has secured the worldwide TV, DVD and online rights to the award-winning PETER AND THE WOLF. The half-hour stop-motion animated film has already been licensed in several territories.

Produced by BreakThru Films, this latest film version of Prokofiev's classic work was first aired on Channel 4 last year. It was adapted and directed by the BAFTA-award-winning Suzie Templeton and set to a special new recording by the Philharmonia Orchestra.

In Stop-Motion, Television, Stop-Motion, Television | Headline News | Special Events: Annecy | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Capitan Headline News

Nightmare Before Christmas Returns in Disney Digital 3-D

The holiday tradition continues this Halloween when Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS returns to theaters in Disney Digital 3-D on Oct. 19-Nov. 18, including the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. Industrial Light & Magic worked on the 3-D transfer in collaboration with In-Three Inc. The film will be in three times as many theaters as last year -- around 600 nationwide.

In Films, Stop-Motion, Films, Stop-Motion | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Bent Image Lab Creates Stop-Motion Music Video for They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants recently turned to Portland-based Bent Image Lab to create an edgy two-and-a-half-minute music video for their hit song, "I'm Impressed." The video mixes a sense of epic scale with violent undertones. Its gladiatorial combat scenes draw on such influences as BEN-HUR, SPARTACUS and TRIUMPH OF THE WILL.

Director Rob Shaw worked for six weeks on the stop-motion video, which tells the story of a dictator's rise and fall, with robot warriors made out of paper.

In Commercials, Stop-Motion, Visual Effects, Commercials, Stop-Motion, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Cuppa Coffee Launches Life's a Zoo.tv

Cuppa Coffee Studios' new stop-motion animated comedy series LIFE'S A ZOO.TV is being formally launched at MIPCOM. With thirteen half-hours aimed at the "teens and up" crowd slated for a spring 2008 delivery, LIFE'S A ZOO.TV promises to deliver a new spin on "reality" television alongside its own Web channel at lifesazoo.tv.

In Stop-Motion, Television, Stop-Motion, Television | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All, North America

World Headline News

Aardman Spins Off Timmy

Aardman is making its foray into the preschool market, unveiling its brand new stop-motion animated series TIMMY at MIPCOM. The 52x10 series has already been pre-bought by CBeebies in the U.K., and Aardman International is looking to secure further worldwide pre-sale deals at the market.

In Stop-Motion, Television, Stop-Motion, Television | Headline News | Special Events: Annecy, MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

Cuppa Coffee and Yowza Make Kinetics Dance

Yowza Animation and Cuppa Coffee will join their talents in bringing a unique visual style to Star Farm's THE KINETICS (52x11) with a breakthrough blend of 3D effects and stop-motion animation. Star Farm will introduce the property to international buyers at MIPCOM Jr.

In Stop-Motion, Television, Stop-Motion, Television | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

LAIKA/house Animates Michael Douglas in King of California

Commercial animation studio LAIKA/house created the stop-motion animation dream sequence featuring Oscar winning actor/producer Michael Douglas for writer/director Mike Cahill's feature film, KING OF CALIFORNIA, opening nationwide Sept. 28th.

Douglas stars as Charlie, a former mental institution patient whose return home throws his daughter's (Evan Rachel Wood) life into chaos.

To illustrate Charlie's delusional state of mind Cahill asked LAIKA/house to create a dream sequence utilizing the woodblock print technique.