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Laika's upcoming stop-motion film Wildwood features smoother animation and lifelike puppet breathing
Key points
- Wildwood is Laika's new stop-motion film, releasing next month.
- Digital cameras and frame-grabbers allow animators to track puppet movements for smoother animation.
- Major puppets use internal 'breathers' for realistic character breathing.
- The film aims for more lifelike animation compared to previous Laika productions.
Advanced Animation Techniques
Laika's head of animation, Brad Schiff, discussed the technical advancements in their upcoming film, Wildwood. The studio utilizes digital cameras equipped with 'frame-grabbers,' which allow animators to review recently shot frames during the animation process. This capability helps animators precisely track every puppet movement, resulting in smoother animation sequences.
Lifelike Puppet Technology
The puppets in Wildwood incorporate an internal 'diaphragm' system, referred to as a 'breather.' This technology, first tested in Laika's 2019 film Missing Link, is now integrated into all major puppets for Wildwood. The breathers enable animators to make characters appear to breathe, contributing to a more human-like appearance in the final product.
Enhanced Realism in Stop-Motion
These technical innovations aim to make Wildwood's animation more lifelike than Laika's previous works. The combination of precise digital tracking for motion and the breathing mechanism for puppets contributes to a heightened sense of realism within the stop-motion medium. Early footage from the film, including a bike chase scene set in Portland, demonstrated a speed and tension comparable to live-action sequences.
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Reporting from
Laika's new stop-motion film, Wildwood, launching next month, incorporates advanced animation techniques and puppet technology. The studio uses digital cameras with frame-grabbers for smoother motion and internal 'breathers' in puppets to simulate lifelike breathing, enhancing character realism.