Stop-motion animation goes high tech at Laika

Laika studios blended handcrafted puppets, CGI, and 3D printing to create their latest epic, Kubo and the Two Strings. The Verge goes behind the scenes to talk to Kubo director and Laika CEO Travis Knight, and the team that made it happen.
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[@btchimmadara6950]

these guys deserve more money than the kardashians

[@ArsyadKamili]

Always want to ask this, what's a kardashian?

[@10kevinle]

Because they actually have some talent.

[@emperor68188]

They are a family that became famous because of some trashy reality TV show, Kanye West is married to one of them.

[@randomfunvideos8783]

Agreed

[@lexyshannon9428]

YES TRUE

[@dimasnaufalpratama4812]

Finally, a great content from the verge. More like that please

[@weeb3856]

A great content. I agree.

[@jeprillindain3150]

+Win Doe I a agree

[@alvin_row]

+Papa Apple I a a agree

[@bobBob-oz5zc]

+Alonso Mancini i a a a agree

[@carsonmccallum4810]

thought the same thing

[@MuhammadKeita94]

holy moly I thought stop motion was dead! definitely have to see this movie

[@bombappetit]

Aardman Animations of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Shaun, Timmy are still at it.

[@bombappetit]

Aardman Animations of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Shaun, Timmy are still at it.

[@LeoBrickFilms]

Take a look at the LEGO stop motion community (which I am part of), then you'll see it's definitely not dead!

[@LeoBrickFilms]

+LegoNinjaFan studios Aaaaaaaand there's one!

[@raquellogan2825]

#stop motion lives on >:3

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

How does Laika make stop motion move so smoothly? Stop motions tell tale sign are the jittery imperfect animation. My sister, and half the theater thought it was completely CGI until the small mid credits behind the scenes video that showed the team working on the skeleton. A lot of people gasped at that.

[@ViridianForests]

They probably go a bit slower than the other movies, have better equipment (so that the puppets don't move if someone accidentally bumps them a wee bit too much) and have a *lot* more faces to exchange. There is some cgi involved of course, but if you remember the skeletton at the end, it seems like some of their puppets (when there aren't any subtle changes in expression) can be moved by a computer and filmed like that. So it would end up being pretty smooth. Like the guy in the video said though, they pretty much have to reinvent the wheel every time they change studios. Stop motion animation isn't very widespread in popularity and you're probably thinking about some old movies that either didn't have the budget, the time or the ressources to iron out the little jarring bits. Yeah, it was awesome to see the skeleton move. I knew it was stop motion from the start, but I was still awed every second of the film to see how well it had been done!

[@ViridianForests]

DestinationMan Ooh cool. That would certainly help as well XD

[@AxelKimikoko]

Have you not seen Corpse Bride? That is a full puppet animation as well! XD

[@AkOsIrAnUto9980]

With the technology we have, they can smooth it out to make it less susceptible that it is stop motion... which is quite awesome by the way.

[@anasnejmi6961]

Laika deserves all the support it can get. Please support the studio by going and seeing the movie. So far all they've delivered is fantastic, and Kubo is their best to date.

[@rejoyy]

No dislikes so far too. Laika deserves all the likes and love it gets

[@rejoyy]

A measly 3 dislikes is practically nothing on this channel

[@galaxyofneon._.5352]

+Rejoy Panakkal 30 now

[@rejoyy]

30 dislikes compared to the 100 times more likes is still nothing

[@mrpineapple2938]

u did this u destroyed perfection

[@masuriasudjana9732]

stop motion is magical!

[@AakashKalaria]

Loved every second of it. Thank you, both Laika and The Verge.

[@haazimmalik1133]

+Narno Wibowo stfu

[@Chris-kw7nx]

That is awesome! You gotta appreciate the creativity and hard work behind the process of stop motion.

[@christianraddclife6852]

What?!? I thought kubo was a cgi animation movie!!! Wow that's crazy

[@AgentOrange88785]

That's what I love about Laika's films. They use minimal CGI.

[@umuahjokuamadi-obi7452]

Same

[@leoallan2225]

Yeah,I like how they for the most part keep the films good old stop motion.Cgi is pretty cool too though.

[@JonMow]

you must be young

[@christianraddclife6852]

+Duc Tran No the movie looks like a cgi film I don't know know what me being a child has to do with any of it.

[@charleslee8313]

Beautiful film. I wish more were watching it in the theaters.

[@rosegush533]

Does Laika make artbooks? I think they would be amazing. Would look to see photos of the earlier character designs and more in-depth photos of the props used in this film.

[@rosegush533]

Zachary Goddard Thank you!

[@always2day]

The artbook for Paranorman is a million times better than the one for Kubo. I got the two and I regret getting the Kubo Arbook, it mainly contains digital art unlike Paranorman where it has more concept arts, actual puppets and sets.

[@tokagero66]

justtoday x

[@AOO-Falcon]

So much awesome talent and hard work that isn't going to get enough recognition :( I so wish this would be more popular than Frozen

[@thomjoconnor]

It's time for a museum exhibit of their sets and characters!

[@TheDreamSyndicateArts]

And thus I've binged about an hour of Laika behind-the-scenes featurettes! KZbin, you truly are a magical place!

[@SynMusique]

Making and playing with puppets, getting artistic satisfaction and accolades and making money at the same time. These people have got there lives sorted. Wow what a talented bunch!

[@juswolf22]

I try to support everything Laika does and it isn't hard because they put out quality films, but stop motion is a hard art form. Truly appreciate this and hope they never stop

[@CemArsan]

Awesome mini documentary! Thanks Verge :)

[@talithajones8783]

Need to see more movies like 'Kubo' coming out. I honestly loved it so much! Best stop-motion animation film I've ever seen!

[@hanh7395]

This is purely amazing. I love the fact that these things are actual physical/practical/tangible objects that we could physically touch and see without it being on a computer screen. Would love to visit the studio/set.

[@emperor68188]

I just watched the movie, and actually did not even know that this was a stop-motion animation... well done, you guys kick ass.

[@philglass295]

People, if you're thinking of watching Kubo in theaters, please do, watch it twice even. It's so good and Laika needs the support for work that is this amazing and challenging. Stay gold, Laika!

[@stopfidgetting]

If you have to blink, do it now...

[@LilDaz26_]

Caudex ok *BLINK BLINK BLINK

[@charl7376]

This movie is so underated. It deserved to do way better at the box office.

[@11donto]

Wow the sets really look like an animation film without editing, that's how far we have come

[@Ladondorf]

What they did with the clothes is incredible.

[@cincoosaan]

Laika should open a museum!

[@xaixmaster]

Thank you for crafting such a beautiful film Laika!

[@Armaturenine]

Kubo ranks up there among my favorite animations of all time. Not because of the technique and animation, albeit amazing; it was the story that captured my heart. No better ending to a film ever, as far as I'm concerned.

[@emmayoung2089]

They're gonna have a hard time outdoing this one. Kubo was BEAUTIFUL

[@dailybrickco6133]

Laika is an incredible company. Keep making stop motion movies!

[@kdknitro]

As a mechanic i appreciate the work it takes to do all of this. Its always amazing to see these type movies play out and how things are made. Love the ocean wave and the mechanics behind the wave blanket.

[@BourneFighting]

I want toys from this movie sooooo baaaaaad.

[@tackofall2399]

yes, yes, and just yes

[@sarahd.4916]

There called PUPPETS

[@sidersproductions941]

These are the people living out their childhood dreams. So dope to have the privilege of doing something like this.

[@dpie4859]

Amazing!! I love that they use real dolls and not only CGI

[@TheHEROFamily]

Absolutely love stop motion. It's so beautiful.

[@muhdihsan93]

just finish watching the movie,didnt realised it was stop motion,the animation is soo smooth

[@rlperez1989]

I finally saw kubo. It's absolutely beautiful . So good!

[@NickCombs]

I can't say how awesome it is to see behind the scenes of this movie. Thank you!

[@dbsirius]

I have a new appreciation for stop-motion animation.

[@asheshshrestha]

a salute to Laika team. TIL a new side of movie making process and I am just speechless. great job verge for bringing new videos.

[@Slaphappy1975]

I just finished watching Kubo on bluray. What an amazing movie. Then I came here to find more info on Laika. Damn, I had no I idea it was stop-motion puppetry! I just knew there was something amazing going on in what I was watching. Bravo!

[@sunacchi9402]

I've always wanted to become an artist with clay figures in movies. After watching this I now have an idea of what kind of job it is. Thank you so much for uploading this! I hope my dream comes true!

[@97rhcpfan]

true artists, we need more companies/studios like Laika

[@gcason2]

I didn't want to see this movie but now I do. Well done, all.

[@rizazaini286]

these guys are the real MVP. art at the highest

[@jamlongsaiyot3323]

An epic stop motion work ever. Amazing!

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

It's nice to know that stop motion animation is still being done, even though it is augmented with some CGI. On that note, everyone who saw the original Star Wars knows about the "chess" game that R2 plays against Chewbacca and that it was all stop motion. But here's the interesting (and cool!) part: When episode VII was being planned, the guy who did the original chess game, Phil Tippet, was contacted to do the same thing for the chess game in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Why is this cool? Because, not only did they do it with stop motion instead of CGI, they also used the original guy (well, him and his team) and _even had their animation finish the "game" from the original movie!_ Very cool. JW3HH

[@jakewolf079]

absolutely LOVE this movie, sooo god damn GOOD

[@ypgc00_80]

I just wanna see a full video of how all these beautiful things were made. I don't care if it's longer then two days I'll watch it!

[@ShanksYea]

that's brilliant we always take Animation movies for granted never really appreciate as they supposed to be. gonna search for more stop motion videos.

[@shermagustave837]

Kubo was underappreciated. I really thought people would have loved it. It was special.

[@carsonmccallum4810]

Incredible video. I'll read the Verge way more because of this. I've been dying for more behind the scene looks at Laika -- especially for Kubo.

[@anime_in_motion5514]

these guys are the true GOAT and a huge inspiration for me

[@ballacaust]

This is wonderful! I'm so excited to see this movie and I hope Laika continues to raise the bar in animation.

[@feethefae171]

I love creating stuff and making stopmotion! this is so gonna be a Job for me when i'm older!

[@tagone05]

A lot of work goes into production but the finishing product is so worth it.

[@aaron-kurz]

That movie is beautiful, not just visually, but also story-wise....

[@FrOsTyBeArKiD]

I was afraid they were going to say the studio was good but not as great as Apple for a second.

[@sharvananenden6487]

looooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

Anyone else want Laika to publish an art book? Just to get a real in-depth look at each of their movies' visual styles, y'know.

[@Iamgodsarmy]

I wish i could do the stuff they do and all of those puppets look so cool.

[@damnthatmashlookstasty]

This movie looks beautiful! Working there would be my dream job!

[@kevenzhao]

Excellent video!

[@Lia57770]

havent watch this movie but its going to be one of my fav movies of all time.

[@burmesebeef]

so much talent!

[@RustemYeleussinov]

Amazing! Thank you The Verge!

[@nalinkumarsolanky8547]

,

[@BackfallGenius]

the friend i watched the movie with would not believe me when I told him it was stop-motion. goes to show how crazy good Laika is at their craft.

[@ayojones]

saw the screening and i can confidently say it's one of the best animations i've seen in a while. definitely will be seeing it again.

[@varghesejohn322]

Hope Laika releases their next movie in India. Will definitely watch..

[@watashiwanoodle4103]

I'm so excited to see this movie!

[@cyrus6560]

Looking forward for KUBO!

[@The_Leaf_Dragon]

oh my gosh this is amazing i wanna see this movie now stop motion is awesome

[@JJStudiosOfficialChannel]

Wow, everything is very detailed!

[@sharvananenden6487]

so much awesomeness....

[@gordoneats]

Wow! Simply wow!

[@KristyJean]

I love love love this studio.. Ahhh so amazing

[@MrRobinsteven]

wow, now i really want to see this movie. Good work Verge

[@hellowaya]

Thanks the verge, i really can't wait to see this animation.. It hooked me first with the beatles song, then the japanese culture, and of course the complexity of stop animation.. The trailer looks awesome

[@Mephisto_Pheles666]

This is amazing!! I’m seeing Kubo and the two strings in a whole new way!

[@MrSulastomo]

The movie seems fantastic!

[@isaacandrewdixon]

I watched Boxtrolls on netflix just now. Really enjoyed it and now I want to see Kubo also.

[@arannak3826]

they are crazy insane !

[@DmitrijPaskevic]

More stuff like this guys, it's great!

[@xtra.studs03]

I seriously think this is still one of the most underrated movies of all time

[@KnightMD]

This is absolutely magical..... I hope they're turning in a shitton of money for all that hard work of art.

[@LeopoldFan]

Truly amazing!

[@crow6148]

The movie was amazing! One of my favorites to be honest. I think it deservs a lot more praise than it got

[@Saveara.]

Oooo mesmerising... hope so someday my work be like this

[@BarcelonaDude6]

Let's go support this movie guys!!

[@difjaoisdjfoaisjdfoaiogeis]

this is amazing.

[@zachanikwano]

I've been in love with you guys since Coraline

[@scikick]

Thanks for reminding me why I had subscribed. More like these please.

[@heatherdixonwallwork1331]

Pretty fabulous.

[@samus-rd1channel453]

Animación stop motion tan perfecta que parece animación 3D!

[@rafe8pinkfluffy346]

Your studio so clean

[@nicholascheung]

This is just so...crazy omg!

[@michaelromanenko]

Sneak peak of the place, where magic happens!

[@SamuraiiiJack]

Beautiful

[@mootroidXproductions]

My tiny animation channel isn't quite here yet, but I'm certain it will be. This is where I want to go. Laika, please hire me at your earliest convenience. I don't care if I have to fetch coffee for $0.25 an hour. I'll do it. Just let me watch these sorcerers work.

[@perksofbeingme1531]

I'm sooo amazed, the hard work really paid off. Loved it👌🏽