This year at San Diego Comic Con fans of the innovative and successful stop motion studio Laika, can experience an interactive pop-up exhibit located at 520 5th Avenue in The Gaslamp Quarter. The exhibit and display gives fans 15-minute tours throughout the day during the convention. You don’t need a Comic Con ticket as the display is free to everyone who visits The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego between July 14th and July 23rd.
Each tour throughout the exhibit takes you through the studio’s movies, including Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, and Kubo and the Two Strings. Visitors will learn about the creation of each film, as well as the creative process and technologies used, including the revolutionary 3D printing process that Laika utilizes to created their magical worlds. Fans are treated to a visual experience of stop motion puppets, sets, and props from all of their films.
On one of the days I attended, the excellent and friendly Laika tour guide mentioned it takes three to four months to craft a new puppet for each film. For ParaNorman, it took over 60 puppet artists to create 178 full body puppets with 31,000 individual face parts. Norman required 20 different puppets and 8,800 faces with a range of individual pieces for possible facial expressions of 1.5 million. While Coraline, had 207,000 possible facial combinations, with 6,300 pieces also created by hand. Kubo had 23,187 pieces for 48 million possible facial expressions.
Laika is holding a contest every day to win a rare pair of Nike Laika themed sneakers. Fans also have the opportunity to meet and get a free signed poster, from none other than the talented voice artist, Dee Bradly Baker, who gave excellent performances as the voices of Fish, Wheels and Bucket in the Laika hit film, “The Boxtrolls“.
CEO, Lead Animator, and Director of “Kubo and the Two Strings“, Travis Knight was on hand for a special day of meeting and greeting fans of Laika‘s amazing films too. He posed for photos, gave autographs, and shared some behind the scenes info with exhibit attendees.
I had so much fun and learned a lot from the tour that I attended more than once during my time in San Diego while visiting from New York. This Laika exhibit was one of the main reasons I decided to fly to San Diego from New York. It was definitely worth it, and everyone I spoke with in line agreed. The Laika artists and employees at the exhibit were always friendly and informative and made the experience great. A special shout out to my Laika tour guide you see in the photo and HD video I shot. He really made our tour fun and informative. I’d also like to thank Mark and Maggie.
There’s one more day you can experience Laika‘s incredible display, tour, contest, and cool merchandise. Get down to 520 5th in The Gaslamp Sunday morning and have a great time 😉 .
Check put the full 1080P HD video tour of the entire Laika Experience with an appearance by Travis Knight, and Dee Bradly Baker right here at Movie Prop Collectors!
Video re uploaded to YouTube 8/3 to improve resolution
Click each photo for full size 🙂 .
The cool display set up by Laika in The Gaslight District
Fans were wrapped around the corner every day of the Laika Experience
Kubo himself was there to greet fans in The Gaslamp District !
Laika had a fun photo op set up for fans as they walked in the front doors of the exhibit 🙂
One of the great Laika artists giving a tour.
Voice artist, Dee Bradly Baker voice of Fish, Wheels and Bucket
Laika Production Designer, Nelson Lowry was there too!
