LAIKA Archives: The Evolution of Motion Control with Christopher Covel & Steve Switaj

Maneuvering a camera that’s roughly the size of a small refrigerator through a film set with puppets that are 1/6 human scale requires precision, expertise, and ingenuity. In the newest episode of the LAIKA Archive series, Steve Switaj (Head of Camera Engineering) and Christopher Covel (Motion Control Engineer) guide you through the nuts and bolts of motion control and their firsthand experiences of making LAIKA’s Oscar-nominated stop-motion animated features.
--
Subscribe to be notified when LAIKA uploads new videos: kzbin.info...
Follow LAIKA on social media: linktr.ee/LAIKAstudios
At LAIKA, our films are born in imagination, shaped into stories, and crafted by passionate artists who give life to unforgettable characters. Founded in 2005 and located just outside Portland, Oregon, LAIKA’s five films were all nominated for Oscars® and PGA Awards for Outstanding Animated Film.

[@ghostshrimp1]

Always so sad when these videos have to end. I could watch these for hours

[@stanm2.0]

Another fantastic piece of content. Kudos to the unsung heroes of stop motion....The Motion Control Gurus.

[@paradoxical998]

And this is why laika is one of my favorite movie studios. They're combining technology with artistry to tell stories in a way that can be extremely fantastical while still feeling tangible thanks to the fact that the puppets are actual, physical objects.

[@lilcrazymiami8306]

Respect for theses artist 🙏🏾

[@cortbailiff]

When I was a preteen in the 90’s I used to make stop motion in my basement. I love all your work and the fact your 30 minutes from my house makes me smile. Keep up the amazing work! You are a PNW treasure.

[@carterlcampbell]

Christopher and Steve are amazing people!!! Outstanding work on the films. 🙂 Excited for Wildwood! 🙂

[@amado7760]

I love LAIKA Studios; beautiful, groundbreaking, stop-motion masterworks. Congratulations on your numerous achievements !

[@marim0y]

This video had me enthralled right from the start. You don't often hear from teams like motion, so it was a wonderful, entertaining, and informative video. More, please!

[@nayaraq7606]

this was amazing, every step of a stop motion film requires so much creativty, RESPECT to these two powerhouses

[@AtrumNoxProductions]

Each one of these videos make me think how much fun it would be to work there.

[@wxlurker]

Please never stop making archive episodes, it was so insightful to hear about the artistry behind the works

[@jasbleidyrojo5516]

Mn v

[@arthurcavalovida4239]

Vv e a vv v. C.cc.v.c.v..cc.v..v.vv.vc.

[@rhaetiaamare-le7481]

I love your guy’s videos! I love making tiny houses, people, and clothes. And these videos are exactly what I’m interested in

[@wondrousworkshopofxenucede4859]

Thank you so much for posting these. What makes your films so real watchable is how much of what you do is physical. when I initially watched Paranorman and Kubo, I thought you guys would sometimes “cheat” with CGI to get scenes done. (understandably so) But even the camera movements and magic effects and toilet paper ghosts and giant skeletons are all physical real life items you guys used to tell a story

[@GeneralLiftMotionControl]

We love motion control!! We will keep making different motion control systems for people love StopMo!!

[@TILINEITOR69420]

Thanks for sharing this knowledge! Huge respect for all Laika teams!

[@StopMotionbyNicholas]

Wow! This episode was really different and I loved it! The bowling ball mechanism was so smart!

[@swissmetal69]

This is incredible! Love seeing people use industrial tools I use all the time to create something beautiful and tell incredible stories!

[@jj_eringa]

Beyond genius. How you'd even begin to think up the solutions to half the problems posed is some kind of a miracle. Absolutely incredible!!

[@CinnamonToastKing]

The skill and creativity that everyone has in every aspect of every role in these movies are just astonishing!

[@podoke]

laika movies hold such a special place in my heart really really cool to hear about what went into making these beloved films

[@PogieJoe]

These bring me so much joy! Just beautiful looks at the whole glorious process.

[@KahokoHinoEEVEE]

I absolutely adore these videos ❤❤❤

[@rhifunke6664]

Most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen.

[@joeymorelli2511]

Brilliant and inspiring, Steve and Chris! I have always been interested in motion control...you guys take it to another level. Incredible artistry! Thank you!

[@aidanlang961]

I like these series videos too. Keep up the good videos to show what’s been found in the archives.👍

[@doxielain2231]

I really enjoyed this deep dive, and yay crew getting their time in the light!

[@montylawler]

This is incredible... I-I am speechless.. jeez it's amazing, wow. Well done Laika, well done! :)

[@ntdtv]

Greetings, Divya here with NTD Television. We are one of the world's fastest growing media companies with over 100 million fans and 1 billion monthly video views across all of our social properties. Our motto is truth, hope, and humanity. We love your videos and our editors would like to showcase it by uploading it on some of our social media pages and websites so that our fans can see it. Of course, we are happy to credit your channel clearly to make sure people know how to find you and your videos. You will still hold the exclusive rights to the video. Can we have your permission to do that? Kind regards, Divya

[@RickGuinan]

2 of my favorite people!

[@orionteck]

Amazing stuff of Laika Studios. I was wondering if makes a few tutorial for building this control motion machines, maybe with simple things create with. Thanks for sharing!

[@annapplepie9342]

That's soooo interesting! Thank you!

[@hyrule.666]

Thanks guys! 🤌🖤

[@JoshuaKeveren-uo5cr]

Man, u people so good at stopmotion. U guys really are the best. Do u have any tips?

[@kaiz.m1461]

i live this the head of camera engineering guys energy is soo fun

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video...👍

[@animasibutler]

wow amazing

[@kaicollins7132]

will there be Kubo 2? If so,please do it,we support you and Kubo cartoon is the most wonderful i have ever watched.

[@GopalConnect]

This is real hardwork

[@JoshuaKeveren-uo5cr]

U guys are goooood

[@astro__gamingop5584]

This videos are so legit

[@astro__gamingop5584]

They must make coraline 2

[@qwertyboo]

Laika do you have a project slated for 2023-24? I really enjoyed Coraline and The Boxtrolls

[@-sanasun-9257]

MAKE A CORALINE 2 PLEASEEEEEE I BEGGG YOUU

[@unrellated]

Yeah, you could drill holes in the bowling ball. Or, you could just set the tracker to ignore any input it receives while you're at lunch.

[@arthurarte4238]

i am waiting the nex movie of LAIKA Studios.

[@hectormanuel8360]

I need a crossover short again

[@belsaiolivarez]

Ty

[@prussian-explosion]

"I'm never comfortable talking to human beings" he says and then proceeds to be one of the most insightful people on this series of videos haha. Much love and respect to everyone on the Laika team!

[@FlorHernandez-gc7fg]

Si

[@FlorHernandez-gc7fg]

11

[@justinaporras]

Gshh

[@teresaalvarez6693]

Ñ

[@celemarmolejo8770]

Teggehgf

[@samanthamcdanel6476]

How do I be apart of any LAIKA production

[@winzjammasungcad370]

Hope they release coraline 😢

[@badreddine_berraida-]

😍

[@AkashaBan-dhai]

Trataré de compartir su canal y tratar de atraer más personas ñ.ñ

[@hectormanuel8360]

Coraline, ParaNorman, Kubo, BoxTrolls and Link were shot on FHD not UHD ✍(◔◡◔)

[@jorgesotelo2287]

Cuando van a estrenar coraline 2 ??? Quiero ver la parte 2 se coraline

[@the_demon149]

There isn’t gonna be a Coraline 2

[@lin7x964]

🤣🤣🤣 Diogo tá a cara da Luiza sonsa kkkk

[@kainblood1000]

❤❤❤

[@pongponggamer8807]

i have a QUESTION is that a action figure?

[@Dannocaldrawings_fan]

Hiii

[@Casa.dos.Orixas]

ARITANA DE OXÓSSI 🌵🧚‍♂️🧚‍♀️

[@DGN76]

Please sir help me i need a platform

[@Abbi10900]

? And colaline?!!!!!

[@DGN76]

Hello sir please i learn and make cartoon movies

[@michaelrivera4299]

Aye she was thick and you know it, that's why you removed the comments on that video.

[@SonofS1lence]

Alg

[@dudukbkdudukbk2743]

L0

[@osneideracosta45]

No un

[@dudukbkdudukbk2743]

Llpl

[@juliantoro5135]

Julián.toro. Por favor.entredusir.enespañol