Big Screen Effects: LAIKA Studio’s Missing Link
Missing Link is a new stop-motion/CG animated feature from LAIKA Studio and director/writer Chris Butler. In fact, LAIKI Studio were the creators of Coraline and ParaNorman. Zoe Saldana, Hugh Jackman, and Zach Galifianakis all voice characters in the film. Dragonframe, stop-motion capturing software, was used in the making of Missing Link. In addition, thousands of facial expressions were created in Autodesk Maya and were 3D printed for the stop motion.
Missing Link Trailer
Inside the Magic of LAIKA
More at Cartoon Brew
Below, there’s more from Cartoon Brew.
Learn about How LAIKI animates Stop-Motion Movies
Movies Insider features Missing Link in this undoubtedly interesting Behind the Scenes look at how Laiki creates stop motion.
Behind the Scenes at Laika with the director of Missing Link
See also:
- Director Chris Butler talks about discovering his Missing Link from The Gate
- LAIKA’s ‘Missing Link’: Around the World in Stop-Motion from Animation World Network
Autodesk Maya used for 3D Printing Characters in Missing Link
I recently read an article at Variety, New 3D-Printing Technology Was ‘Missing Link’ for Laika’s Latest Stop-Motion Project. In brief, they talk about Maya being used for creating customized facial performances, which are printed with a 3D printer. Surely, it was not a small job!
The studio began the process of 3D printing of faces to painstakingly fashion expressions for the stop-motion characters in 2009’s “Coraline.” That project was completed with about 20,000 unique faces. For 2016’s “Kubo and the Two Strings” the number of expressions jumped to 64,000. “Missing Link,” to be released April 12, will feature a whopping 106,000.
Want to make your own stop motion animation? Check out Dragonframe!
The Premier Image Capture Software for Stop Motion Animation, Motion Design & Visual Effects
Dragonframe is the premier frame-grabbing software for stop motion animation and time-lapse photography. In addition, it has innovated in the world of stop motion software by pushing the functionality beyond frame grabbing to provide a full assortment of production tools.
Dragonframe works with still cameras. Watch the video below. It’s very informative!
Dragonframe Basics
Autodesk Maya
Make it with Maya Computer Animation Software
Maya® 3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software provides an integrated, powerful toolset. Use it for animation, environments, motion graphics, virtual reality, and character creation.
Autodesk Media and Entertainment Collection
End-to-end creative tools for entertainment creation
The Media & Entertainment Collection lets animators, modelers, and visual effects artists access the tools they need to create compelling effects, believable 3D characters, and massive digital worlds. Move assets quickly between creative tools with one-click workflows.
Posted by Michele Yamazaki
