This Halloween, celebrate the spooky season with the whole family with new releases of the groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed films Coraline (LAIKA Studios Edition) and ParaNorman (LAIKA Studios Edition), now available everywhere from LAIKA and Shout! Factory. The Blu-ray+DVD combos of these beloved films are loaded with exciting new special features, including “Inside LAIKA” featurettes with the studio’s animation team, never-before-seen animation test footage, and feature-length storyboards for each of the films. Both films were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Film.
Along with digitally remastered editions of the films, new and existing bonus features, and new, collectible packaging, the LAIKA Studios Editions feature insightful, commemorative new essays by esteemed journalists Peter Debruge (Variety) and Bill Desowitz (Indiewire).
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, LAIKA is known for blending trailblazing artistry with bleeding-edge filmmaking technology. In making the studio’s first feature, director Henry Selick and the team behind 2009’s Coraline brought the film to life with painstakingly handcrafted stop-motion, utilizing an innovative combination of new and existing technology creating a sense of timelessness and securing its place as a modern classic. It was the first stop motion film ever conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, creating a new and thrilling experience for viewers.
The studio continued to innovate with 2012’s ParaNorman, the first film to use full color rapid prototype 3D printing of the puppet faces, pioneered by LAIKA. The supernatural comedy thriller about a young boy who can speak with the dead, ParaNorman was heralded by critics for its handling of complex and sometimes melancholy topics with a touching candor not often seen in family cinema. The supernatural comedy thriller directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler (who is writing LAIKA’s next feature film, Wildwood) was cheered by fans and extolled by many critics’ groups as the year’s best animated feature.
Fathom Events, LAIKA, Shout! Factory, and Park Circus are pleased to announce that tickets are on sale now for the second event in the LAIKA Studios 15th anniversary celebration, On Tuesday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time), the lauded stop-motion animated film ParaNorman will be presented in select cinemas nationwide, featuring exclusive bonus content that reveals the unique creative process behind LAIKA’s extraordinary movies. Tickets for ParaNorman can be purchased at www.FathomEvents.com and participating theater box offices now. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (participating theaters are subject to change).
Coraline (LAIKA Studios Edition) From Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach)) and based on the novella of the same name by author Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Coraline is a wondrous, thrilling, fun and suspenseful adventure and the first stop motion animated film ever to be conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, unlike anything moviegoers had ever experienced before. A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life – only much better. But when this wondrously off-kilter, fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her counterfeit parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to save her family and get back home.
Voice Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr., and Ian McShane. Produced by Bill Mechanic, Claire Jennings, Henry Selick, Mary Sandell. Based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Written for the screen and directed by Henry Selick.
Special Features:
- NEW Inside LAIKA-Discovering the Characters of Coraline Featuring Never-Before-Seen Test Footage
- NEW Inside LAIKA—Revisiting the Puppets with LAIKA’s Animation Team
- NEW Foreword by Peter Debruge, Chief Film Critic for Variety
- NEW Character, Concept Art and Behind the Scenes Photo Galleries
- Audio Commentary with Director Henry Selick and Composer Bruno Coulais
- The Making Of Coraline
- Original Featurettes
- Deleted Scenes
- Feature-Length Storyboards
ParaNorman (LAIKA Studios Edition) In the comedy thriller, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul-whisperer bravely summons up all that makes a hero – courage and compassion – as he finds his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
Voice Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, Jodelle Ferland, Tempestt Bledsoe, Alex Borstein, and John Goodman. Produced by Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight. Written by Chris Butler. Directed by Sam Fell, Chris Butler.
Special Features:
- NEW Feature-Length Storyboards
- NEW Inside LAIKA Featurette-Revisiting the Puppets with LAIKA’s Animation Team
- NEW Inside LAIKA Discovering the Characters and Effects of ParaNorman Featuring Never-Before-Seen Animation Test Footage
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Chris Butler and Co-Director Sam Fell
- “Peering Through the Veil”
- Original Featurettes
