LAIKA: Frame x Frame Exhibition
Award-winning animation studio, LAIKA, have opened a free exhibition at BFI Southbank. The exhibition invites its visitors for an incredible journey behind the scenes of five much-loved stop-motion animation films, including ‘Coraline’ and ‘The Box Trolls’.
Stop Motion: Celebrating Handmade Animation on the Big Screen
Photo: Urban Adventurer
BFI Southbank is celebrating the magic of stop-motion animation with a series of events this August.
‘Stop Motion: Celebrating Handmade Animation on the Big Screen’ is an event series featuring special screenings, Q&As with directors, and other events, including a free exhibition co-presented by LAIKA studio.
LAIKA is the award-winning stop-motion animation studio behind the much-loved and intricately gorgeous animated films, ‘Coraline’ (2009), ‘ParaNorman’ (2012), ‘The Box Trolls’ (2014), ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ (2016) and ‘Missing Link’ (2019).
LAIKA: Frame x Frame exhibition features over 700 puppets, costumes, and awe-inspiring props, complete movie sets, and a life-size reproduction of the illuminating garden from ‘Coraline’.
The exhibition showcases never-seen-before props and storyboards, as well as video clips to highlight the painstaking work behind the boundary-pushing art and creativity that go into the making of one single frame of a stop-motion film (one second in the film takes at least 24 individual shots)
LAIKA: Frame x Frame exhibition is split into five sections, each showcasing an iconic film.
Coraline
@urbanadventurerldn [BLOG POST IN BIO] Award-winning animation studio, @LAIKA Studios , have opened a free exhibition in co-operation with @BFI LAIKA: Frame x Frame exhibition invites its visitors for an incredible journey behind the scenes of five much-loved stop-motion animation films, including ‘Coraline’ 🪡 and ‘The Box Trolls’ 📦 Over 700 puppets, costumes, awe-inspiring props, and a life-size reproduction of the illuminating garden from ‘Coraline’ 🌺 📍BFI Southbank | 0 Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XT 📆 Until 1 October 2024 🎟️ Free but need to book a time slot #laikastudios #coraline #stopmotion #stopmotionanimation #kuboandthetwostrings #paranorman #coralinemovie #coralinejones #exhibition #CapCut
♬ End Credits – Bruno Coulais & The Children’s Choir Of Nice
The exhibition starts with a life-size replica of Coraline’s illuminating garden where you have the opportunity to take amazing selfies.
Stepping into the next room, you’ll find yourself surrounded with puppets and props used in the film. You’ll find all the main characters from Coraline’s real world and the other world.
Make sure you pull out the drawers underneath the shelves to reveal more props, drawings, storyboards, and costumes.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
In the drawers, there are all the illuminating flowers used in the film, the ghost children’s eyes and Coraline’s other mother’s hand-painted heads and faces.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
LAIKA was one of the first stop-motion studios to introduce rapid prototype for replacement animation. Rapid prototyping (RP) means that a group of artists and engineers use computer modelling software to create 3D models. Those models are then sent to 3D printers to produce physical objects.
Each of the series of rapid prototype assets from ‘Coraline’ is meticulously hand-painted to get the final look you see in the movie.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
A complete scene from ‘Coraline’ is on display with the original mantis tractor, the bridge of the other garden, the illuminating pumpkins, Coraline’s other dad with his button eyes and monkey slippers and Coraline herself.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Make sure you don’t miss Coraline’s fully furnished bedroom in the other world right at the entrance on the left hand side.
ParaNorman, The Box Trolls, Kubo and the Two Strings & Missing Link
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The next sections are showcasing puppets and props from LAIKA’s other famous stop-motion films: ‘ParaNorman’, ‘The Box Trolls’, ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ and ‘Missing Link’.
@urbanadventurerldn 🎞️ [BLOG POST IN BIO] LAIKA: Frame x Frame exhibition’s next sections are showcasing puppets and props from other famous stop-motion films: ‘ParaNorman’, ‘The Box Trolls’, ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ and ‘Missing Link’. 🎞️ There are amazing large-scale artworks on display from each film, along with smaller props, costumes and prototypes, including zombie hands and heads from ‘ParaNorman’ and incredibly lifelike food from ‘The Box Trolls’ @LAIKA Studios @BFI #laikastudios #stopmotionanimation #stopmotion #kubo #boxtrolls #paranorman #bfisouthbank #exhibition #laikaframexframe #CapCut
Each section is packed full of wonder.
There are amazing large-scale artworks on display from each film, along with smaller props, costumes and prototypes, including zombie hands and heads from ‘ParaNorman’ and incredibly lifelike food from ‘The Box Trolls’.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
There is a large display showcasing the market scene from Kubo and we learn how the team at LAIKA explored traditional Japanese origami and folding techniques to move them into digital modelling and turn them into 3D rapid prototypes that they later used for digitally enhanced animation.
There is also a purpose-built 5D camera on display that LAIKA uses to shoot still images that come together to make up a film.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The Pullman train car set from ‘Missing Link’ is also on display at the last section of the exhibition. The purpose-built train has movable panels to give full flexibility and lots of space for animators to work.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
LAIKA: Frame x Frame exhibition ends with an enchanted garden to give us a sneak peek into the studio’s upcoming stop-motion film: ‘Wildwood’.
‘Wildwood’ will be released in 2025.
Practical Info
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Address
BFI Southbank | Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XT
Opening Times
12 August – 1 October 2024
The exhibition is CLOSED on Mondays except for 12 and 19 August.
CLOSED all day on 20 AUGUST!
Tickets
FREE | Booking required on BFI Southbank official website
Ready for your next adventure? There is a cute little Studio Ghibli-themed bubble tea shop near Elephant & Castle station.
