EXCLUSIVE: Laika has signed Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and Aladdin screenwriter John August to write an untitled stop-motion animated film to be directed by Pete Candeland.
The signing was announced during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival by Laika President and CEO Travis Knight, director of the stop-motion studio’s Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings and upcoming Wildwood.
Inspired by an original idea from Candeland, who joined Laika in 2023, the story revolves around a theatre-loving high school student who is lured into a mystifying never-ending bacchanal in search of her missing mother.
“I’m thrilled to be back in the world of stop-motion animation working with a team of incredible artisans telling stories one frame at a time,” said August. “Truly everything about stop-motion is time-consuming and difficult, but the results have a texture and authenticity that can’t be replicated. You can feel the fingerprints of everyone who touched it.”
August diverse screenwriting credits include animation features Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie, written in collaboration with Tim Burton as well as live action features Big Fish (2003), for which he received a Bafta nomination; Charlie’s Angels (2000); Titan A.E. (2000); Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
He also co-hosts the popular Scriptnotes podcast with Craig Mazin.
Candeland is known for his high concept style and strong narrative sensibilities seen in his music videos for Gorillaz, Rock Band game franchise spots and emotive BBC trailers.
His arrival at Laika was part of the studio’s bolstering of its Animation Division. In addition to Candeland, Laika also recruited the Annie Award-winning filmmaking duo of Victor Maldonado & Alfredo Torres, known collectively as Headless to develop animated features.
Laika, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is out in force at Annecy with a masterclass by Chris Butler, the Oscar-winning director of 2012 Laika hit ParaNorman as well as a Studio Focus looking at upcoming development projects and giving a sneak peek at Wildwood.
