Throughout the month of October, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will celebrate the artistry of one of the most renowned animation studios in the world with The Magical Films of LAIKA, presented as part of its Family Matinees series.
This series marks the first studio program partnership in which the Academy Museum will screen the studio’s entire filmography. LAIKA’s mastery of stop-motion storytelling, character and artistic craft will be on full display in brand-new 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos remastered versions of each of the studio’s five award-winning films.
In addition to the screenings, there will be a specially curated selection of LAIKA merchandise available in the Academy Museum Store, LAIKA artists will visit the studio to share their expertise and artistry with our guests, and walk-around characters from the films will be on hand for picture taking opportunities.
Every weekend, the Academy Museum screens films for families of all ages. All movies in this series are rated G or PG, unless otherwise noted. The museum also offer accommodative screenings with open captioning, dim lightning and lower volume for neurodivergent viewers.
Guests are encouraged to cosplay* for the scheduled films.
Screening Details
Oct. 1 | 11 a.m. | Missing Link: The most recent stop-motion feature from LAIKA — and, like all their previous films, an Animated Feature Oscar nominee — Missing Link tells the story of a scientist-explorer who thinks he has made the discovery of his life when he encounters a Sasquatch, only to find the Sasquatch has an agenda of his own that leads to a globe-spanning adventure and an unexpected friendship.
Oct. 8 | 11 a.m. | Kubo and the Two Strings: Kubo, a young musician and storyteller, must undertake a dangerous journey with the help of a snow monkey (voiced by Charlize Theron) and a beetle warrior (Matthew McConaughey) in this stop-motion adventure influenced by Japanese art and culture. One of LAIKA’s most visually ambitious productions, it received nominations for Animated Feature Film as well as Visual Effects, only the second all-stop-motion film to be nominated in that category.
Oct. 22 | 11 a.m. | The Boxtrolls: Alan Snow’s fantasy novel Here Be Monsters! inspired this gorgeously crafted stop-motion comedy about an orphaned boy, raised by a lovable pack of underground trolls, who has to save his unconventional family from an evil exterminator. Nominated for Animated Feature, the film features a vivid vocal performance by Ben Kingsley as the villainous Archibald Snatcher, supported by an impressive voice cast including Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Richard Ayoade, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.
Oct. 29 | 11 a.m. / Oct. 30 | 3 p.m. | ParaNorman: Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog) provides the voice of Norman in this visually imaginative and surprisingly emotional stop-motion animated feature from LAIKA, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Norman Babcock is a teenage boy with the ability to communicate with the dead who finds himself forced to save his hometown from a witch’s curse. ParaNorman was nominated for Animated Feature and features a charming score by Jon Brion (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).
The 10th Anniversary screening of ParaNorman (2012) on October 30 at 3 p.m. will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers Chris Butler (writer/director), Arianne Sutner (producer) and Deborah Cook (costume designer)
Oct. 30 | 11 a.m. | Coraline: For his first fully stop-motion feature since the classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), director Henry Selick adapted Neil Gaiman’s novella for this stylish, delightfully spooky, and dazzlingly designed horror fantasy, the first feature-length production from LAIKA and a nominee for Animated Feature. Dakota Fanning is the voice of Coraline Jones, a bold 11-year-old who passes through a tunnel from her new house to a seemingly perfect alternate home and family, but things are not as ideal as they seem.
Come dressed in your best Coraline and ParaNorman cosplay* and meet costumed characters from both films until 2:30 p.m.
Additional Activities
Through the Academy Museum’s Education department, LAIKA artists will participate in two days of activities. The Calm Morning gathering on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to noon and the Drop-in Workshop for Families on Sunday, October 30 from 1-3 p.m. will feature two of LAIKA’s brightest stars:
- Collaborative Costume Design Art Project with LAIKA’s award-winning costume designer Deborah Cook.
- ParaNorman-themed Toilet Paper Zombie making activity with LAIKA stop-motion rigger Lindzay Irving.
The Academy Museum Store will feature a wide-ranging assortment of LAIKA merchandise including early concept art from LAIKA films as well as sweatshirts, t-shirts, tote bags, a book of postcards, and collectible enamel pins. All items are exclusive to the Academy Museum Store.
Also available will be items celebrating ParaNorman’s 10th anniversary and the Halloween season, featuring a ParaNorman design that gives a nod to vintage horror comic books.
Visitor Info
Tickets to the Academy Museum are available only through advance online reservations via academymuseum.org and mobile app.
Film screening tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 62+), and $5 for students and children (age 17-). Matinees are $5 for all. Ticket prices for Academy Museum members are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students, children and matinee-goers.
General admission tickets for the museum’s exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (age 62+), and $15 for students. Admission for visitors ages 17 and younger, and for California residents with an EBT card is free.
Visitors are required to follow all current COVID-19 public health guidelines by the state of California and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in place at the time of their visit.
*Cosplay restrictions at the Academy Museum: body paint, functional props or weapons, full-face coverings. Guests in costume are subject to search at the discretion of Academy Museum staff at any time; the venue reserves the right to refuse entry for any reason.
