"ParaNorman" - Laika's next stop-motion animated film

[Dagnie]

You've done such an incredible job. The moment I saw the poster for the movie, even, I knew I wanted to see it. The animation and creation of the characters and world is just so gorgeous.

You must require a lot of patience to do stop-motion, huh? An amount of patience that is completely worth it in the end, however, I'm sure. ;u;
The end product is beautifully done to say the least. I love it~

 

[dylanwho]

This looks so good, man!

 

[The 48th Ronin]

Thanks - I'm glad you think so!

I actually saw the finished film last weekend and couldn't be more proud to have been a part of its production - it really is pretty magnificent. It opens this Friday - the 17th - so please go check it out, and help support Laika's mission to keep the art of stop-motion animation alive and viable.

ParaNorman | This Little Light - YouTube

This is a cool little video that gives you a bit of insight into what a collaborative process it is to make a film like ParaNorman, with just *one* prop out of thousands - in this case, a table lamp from the Blithe Hollow Town Hall Archives.

It's also a tad bit misleading as well, unfortunately - the glass blowing was not done in-house at Laika (it was farmed out to a local artist), and they skipped the part where the base was molded and a resin casting is what was electroplated and utilized for the final prop.

The concept drawing was done by Alan Cook, the base pattern making and neck soldering (and final assembly) were done by Keith McQueen, the electroplating and polishing was done by Daniel Miller, the wiring/practical lighting was done by Matt DeLeu, and the painting/finishing was done by Leigh-Alexandra Jacob.

 

[Amish Trooper]

I am seeing this Friday or Saturday. In 3d or regular. Up in the air on that part. Excited about this.

 

[The 48th Ronin]

I'd suggest 3D, since it was shot in 3D... but I know that some people have trouble with 3D movies.

 

[Amish Trooper]

I'd suggest 3D, since it was shot in 3D... but I know that some people have trouble with 3D movies.

oh no , that is great! I hate it when it is filmed in 2d then converted. You convinced me 3d it is....

 

[Master of Fear]

Were you on the Nightmare team? Cause The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the greatest movies of all time. Sucks that they don't have the whole " Haunted Holiday" motif in Orlando Florida like they do California

 

[The 48th Ronin]

Nope - wasn't on Nightmare. ParaNorman was my first foray into stop-motion.

 

[agliarept]

Loved paranorman. for me, surpassed all other Stop Motion films hands down. it had everything I could ever ask for a funny horror film.

the witch was terrifying, and all the subtle (and not so subtle) nods to other horror films were great. LOVED "the thing" ish score you heard at times. just loved it.

 

[Amish Trooper]

Loved it, family loved it! Plan on going back and checking it out again

 

[The 48th Ronin]

Glad to hear that's it's getting some love (which it deserves) :thumbsup

I think I need to see it again, myself - there's a lot to take in.

 

[Jedi2016]

They must have seriously misrepresented this in the trailers... the trailer made it look extremely predictable and very "ho-hum", and now everyone is saying it's actually one of the best movies of the year. Might have to check it out after all.

 

[udoudo100]

D48thRonin... I am obsessed with this stuff and would die to even just have the tiniest prop from it! What do you do with all the puppets after production is finished because I know there were many puppets and I have always been trying to even see one or better buy one! Also how did you get into this job because my dream job is to do something in the movie interindustry just like this!
Thanks so much!
I also saw the movie yesterday and wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into it so I could enjoy it!

 

[The 48th Ronin]

D48thRonin... I am obsessed with this stuff and would die to even just have the tiniest prop from it! What do you do with all the puppets after production is finished because I know there were many puppets and I have always been trying to even see one or better buy one!

Many of the puppets - as well as several of the film sets, and a few of the props - have gone out on exhibit throughout the US. Everything else has gone into the Laika archives.

As a promotional tie-in before the film opened, 49 lucky individuals received mysterious crates from the Blithe Hollow Cemetery, which contained replica zombie puppets in their coffins, along with a small assortment of various screen-used props.

Here are links to some of them:

Neil Gaiman's Journal: Post-premiere thoughts. Also a grave box.

Super Punch: Here's what's inside Paranorman Box #3 (of 49)

Super Punch: There was more in the Paranorman box

Jonathan Coulton

Photo by thatkevinsmith • Instagram

Tomopop Exclusive: A new friend from ParaNorman Part 1 - TOMOPOP

Tomopop Exclusive: A new friend from ParaNorman Part 2 - TOMOPOP

Photo by feliciaday • Instagram

MAKE | The Mystery and Joys of Strange Crates in the Mail

ParaNorman Box #18/49 (NOTCOT)

Unboxing the astoundingly cool, dirt-filled ParaNorman press-box - Boing Boing

ParaNorman Mystery Box - Neatorama

Hark! A Vagrant:

knittyBlog | The undead have moved in.

SkottieYoung.com: ParaNorman ZOMBIE!

We Open A Mysterious Box, or, Paranorman Sent Us a Zombie | The Mary Sue

geek with curves: When you receive a coffin from ParaNorman in the mail...

Photo by jayzombie • Instagram

what are the haps

Also how did you get into this job because my dream job is to do something in the movie interindustry just like this!

Well, getting into Laika was a combination of timing, luck, and knowing the right people (and having 11 years of experience in the industry in LA)

I usually strongly discourage people when they say they want to get into the industry - it's definitely not all fun and games.

Here's a bit on my background and some of my experiences, from mattmunson's "Project Workbench" Youtube webseries:

Tim Arp Interview - Part 1 - YouTube

Tim Arp Interveiw - Part II - YouTube

Tim Arp Interveiw - Part III - YouTube

 

[udoudo100]

What would be the best job in the movie interindustry that you think? I like special effects and action movies but wasn't thinking about prop building...

 

[Goonie]

I saw the trailer last night on the Hunger Games Blu-Ray and am definitely thinking about checking this one out. Looks great!

 

[pitchforknumb]

Saw this movie yesterday, and I have to say it's in my top five movies of the year so far. It's not very often that there is a movie out there that my 3 year old son, and I both find entertaining. Great, great movie.

 

[robstyle]

There are a slew of items over at Universal Hollywood as im told the Terminator live action show is being replaced with a Paranorman exhibit. Not sure if things have changed but not too long ago the items were not being well cared for.

 

[casperdj777]

hands down one of the best movies ever . the props are amazing & So well done. do you know where I can find pages from the book that he used to put the witch to sleep?

 

[The 48th Ronin]

hands down one of the best movies ever . the props are amazing & So well done. do you know where I can find pages from the book that he used to put the witch to sleep?

Images of some of the pages can be seen on pg. 136 of The Art and Making of ParaNorman. Other than that, I dunno what to tell you...