LAIKA Ent. (recently doing business as Vinton Studios) has greenlit a second feature film project in less than a week. JACK & BENS ANIMATED ADVENTURE is an original idea from LAIKA Ent.s director of story Jorgen Klubien, a veteran writer, director, storyboard artist, and designer, who joined the company earlier this year. The CG family film, a tale of survival, brotherly love and grand adventure set in the animal kingdom, will be written and directed by Klubien, who counts THE LION KING, TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC., A BUGS LIFE and TIM BURTONS A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS among his credits.
Jorgen is a major talent in animation, said chairman Phil Knight. I like his sensibility, his sweeping vision. And this story of family members overcoming obstacles while enjoying a great adventure really appealed to me. We think it will prove entertaining to a huge movie-going audience.
During his eight-year association with Pixar, Klubien developed original feature film story ideas. He wrote and illustrated the original concept for the studios upcoming feature, CARS, and was story development artist on MONSTERS, INC., TOY STORY 2 and A BUGS LIFE, for which he was also co-writer. During a 10-year run at Disney Studios, Klubien was storyboard artist, animator, illustrator, supervising animator or co-writer of such classic Disney animated fare as MULAN, POCAHONTAS, THE LION KING, RESCUERS DOWN UNDER and THE LITTLE MERMAID.
During a three-year tenure at Tim Burtons Skellington Studios, Klubien was storyboard artist on director Henry Selicks JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, and storyboard artist and character designer on TIM BURTONS NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
To be part of a brand new feature film company is immensely exciting, said Klubien. Phil Knight allows us to bring our artistic vision to the screen without too many chefs in the kitchen. Frankly, its a dream come true for me to be able to make my film within this kind of supportive, well-financed creative environment.
LAIKA Ent., which will produce animated films in the $50 to $70 million dollar range, currently has Henry Selicks short film MOONGIRL ready to embark on the film festival circuit and has announced production on a full length, CG/stop-motion animation feature film adaptation of CORALINE, based on the Hugo Award-winning, international bestselling childrens book by Neil Gaiman. Selick, who joined LAIKA as supervising director in 2004, will direct the film, which LAIKA will produce in association with former Fox Filmed Ent. chairman/ceo Bill Mechanic and his Pandemonium films. Mechanic is the producer of DARK WATER, currently in theaters, and executive producer of Terrence Malicks upcoming release, THE NEW WORLD.
Vinton Studios, a leading producer of CG, stop-motion, and cel animation for 30 years which Knight acquired in 2003, has been absorbed into LAIKA. The companys legacy of excellence includes an Academy Award winning director, 11 Prime time Emmy Awards, and more than 100 international accolades including the New York International Film & TV Festival, the Annecy Awards, the Annie Awards, and the World Animation Celebration Festival. The advertising division of Vinton Studios, a major producer of animated commercials worldwide, is in the process of expanding its directing roster and style offerings over the next few months and will move under the LAIKA umbrella this fall. A sneak peek at LAIKAs first film offering, director Henry Selicks animated short film, MOONGIRL is available at www.laika.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
