Laika – the Portland-based studio
that specializes in a unique hybridization of stop-motion and
computer animation – manages to draw ever-growing mountains of
praise with every new feature they release, and not without good
reason. Though geared primarily towards children, they never coddle
their young audience, choosing stories that aren't afraid of being a
little scary, a little dark, and even a little morbid. It's also
impossible not to marvel at the studio's meticulous hand-made
process, which has even become the lynchpin of their marketing
identity.
But it begs the question: Even though
the stories they tell are great, and the techniques they employ are
great, is Laika churning out movies that are great? I'm not so sure
they are. Of the three entries in their modest portfolio to date,
2009's
Coraline is probably the closest thing to a complete
film. Their follow-up, 2012's
ParaNorman, exhibited exciting
artistic growth but flagged in the story department. And now their
latest,
The Boxtrolls (directed by Graham Annable and Anthony
Stacchi), might be their most technically evolved, but overall
weakest film yet.
