LAIKA Studios

Cold brew and our favorite twitchy witchy girl—Coraline Jones! LAIKAns got a sneak preview of our new partnership with Stumptown Coffee Roasters at a recent employee event fueled by caffeine, lawn games, and music. Limited-edition cans of Stumptown Coffee Original Nitro Cold Brew featuring original art inspired by Coraline will be on sale nationwide throughout July and August in honor of the film’s 15th anniversary. Be sure to keep an eye out for Coraline Cold Brew cans at your local grocery retailers and check out special LAIKA-inspired installations at select Stumptown cafes. #LifeAtLAIKA

Ahead of the upcoming Frame x Frame exhibition at BFI Southbank, LAIKA’s Dan Pascall and Alina Campbell gave Empire Magazine a glimpse into LAIKA’s archive, discussing their favorite puppets, props, and costumes from each film, as well as the unique blend of practical artistry and cutting-edge technology that made them possible. Read more at Empire: https://lnkd.in/guCKsWm3

LAIKA’s new community garden may not feature red tulips (yet), but we know Coraline and her family would approve of the fantastic new garden beds being tended by volunteer LAIKAns, who have already planted marigolds, lettuce, shishito peppers, and so much more. All materials used in the beds have been repurposed, including the wood pallets the garden beds were built from and the food scraps and coffee grounds used in the compost material. The community garden is the latest initiative from our Sustainability Committee, which aims to make it a place for learning, growing, and collaboration. #LifeAtLAIKA #sustainability

Last week, LAIKAns were treated to a special screening of The Imaginary, the newest animated feature from Studio Ponoc about humanity, creativity, and imaginary friends. The following day, Yoshiaki Nishimura, Studio Ponoc founder, producer, and screenwriter, and Ian Sheppard, LAIKA’s Head of Animation Development, held a Q&A delving into our studios’ filmmaking philosophies, the art of balancing light and shadow in storytelling, and finding inspiration in a child’s curiosity. Thank you to Yoshiaki Nishimura and Studio Ponoc for the visit, and be sure to check out The Imaginary when it premieres on Netflix on July 5.

We love pride. We love lunch. We love crafting. We love love. This week, we combined all of these during a lunchtime event hosted by the LAIKA Pride ERG, where LAIKAns came together to write empowering and encouraging messages on 600 hearts cut from locally recycled seed paper. The hearts will be used as giveaways at this year’s Pride Parade in downtown Portland. It will be LAIKA’s third year participating and first year sponsoring! We can’t wait to celebrate all things pride on July 21. #LifeAtLAIKA #pride #PDXpride

The LAIKA Black ERG turned #Juneteenth into a week-long celebration, featuring food, hands-on learning opportunities, music, and community, while supporting local Black-owned businesses. The ERG’s theme for 2024 is Standing Together. As captured in this short video, last week highlighted the great work they’re doing here at the studio. #LifeAtLAIKA.

“Piranesi is a treasure, and very dear to me. As a filmmaker, I can scarcely imagine a more joyful experience than wandering through the worlds Susanna dreamed into being.” — Travis Knight, LAIKA President and CEO.   We’re thrilled to announce that LAIKA has acquired the rights to the international best-selling fantasy novel Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Travis Knight will direct the animated feature film.   

Our BFI Southbank August line-up includes seasons dedicated to the scores of Philip Glass, the work of Béla Tarr, and the art of stop-motion, as well as an accompanying exhibition curated by LAIKA Studios, and the sixth annual S.O.U.L FEST.

“Think outside the box. Just because it’s not offered or there’s not a lot of companies offering it doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t exist and it shouldn’t start with someone, and why not us? That’s kind of been our motto: Why not us? Why not us for online mental health, and why not us for an onsite medical clinic, and why not us for free tax filing for our employees?” — Beverley Menillo, LAIKA’s Director of Total Rewards Beverley and two other HR leaders from companies included on this year's Healthiest Employers of Oregon list recently participated in a roundtable hosted by the Portland Business Journal. The group explored recent evolutions in workplace culture, shared successes implementing new benefit offerings in response to evolving employee needs, and offered advice for navigating future challenges and opportunities in the HR space. #LifeAtLAIKA https://lnkd.in/gGfxJ7Ev

At Annecy Animation Festival this week, Variety's chief film critic Peter Debruge moderated a panel celebrating the 15th anniversary of Coraline. The conversation featured LAIKA’s Brian McLean (Director of Rapid Prototype), Oliver Jones (Director of Practical Effects) Jeff Stringer (Chief Technology Officer), and very special guest, Coraline director Henry Selick. Click through to watch the conversation, including brand new behind-the-scenes Coraline content. https://lnkd.in/g2qd8JR5