“Coraline,” the masterful stop-motion debut from Oregon-based Laika , turns 15 this year. It’s currently being honored with a 3D remaster in theaters (also screening in 2D through Fathom). In addition, there’s a bevy of merch, including a new Mondo vinyl soundtrack by Bruno Coulais, a Converse collection, and a partnership with Portland’s Stumptown Coffee.
Which is why “ Coraline ” director Henry Selick was recently in London promoting the 3D remaster and appearing at the launch of the “ Laika : Frame x Frame” exhibition at BFI Southbank. He spoke to IndieWire via Zoom about ushering in the digital stop-motion revolution at Laika in 2009 and creating the iconic rebel with blue hair and yellow raincoat. “I had incredible support from Laika and Travis Knight [the studio’s president and artist-turned-director] to pursue exactly what I wanted,” Selick said.
“Not that every moment of the film was dictated by myself, but I was able to make the choices and used a lot of ideas from a multitude of people. But when we needed to build a substantial [Orchard] set, we got to build it. When I wanted to do the jumping circus as stop-motion replacement puppets, just like George Pal might’ve done, I got support.
” Selick’s adaptation of the popular Neil Gaiman novel is a cross between “The Wizard of Oz” and “Alice in Wonderland.” It concerns the 11-year-old eponymous social misfit (voiced by Dakota Fanning), who discovers an alternate reality to her dull.