LAIKA: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory: Two Decades of Groundbreaking Animation from Coraline to Wildwood
Author Ozzy Inguanzo, Foreword by Mark Salisbury
- Publish Date: March 10, 2026
- Format: Hardcover
- Category: Performing Arts - Film - Genres - Animated
- Publisher: Rizzoli Universe
- Trim Size: 9 x 11
- Pages: 240
- US Price: $45.00
- CDN Price: $60.00
- ISBN: 978-0-7893-4613-1
Reviews
"For a technically inclined readership, LAIKA’s digital pipeline is of particular interest. The studio combines model-based effects with additive manufacturing: heads and facial segments are 3D printed in finely graduated variants to enable lip-synced animation with minimal tolerances. Color management and texture fidelity play a central role, through high-resolution printing processes and subsequent painting. The books promise insights into part series, swap mechanisms, and material selection—from photopolymer plastics for detailed faceplates to more robust blends for load-bearing structures. This is complemented by engineering drawings showing how magnetic anchor points, threaded inserts, and internal guides precisely position the interchangeable components." — 3PRINTR.COM
"Laika, the beloved Portland, Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio, is expanding its partnership with Rizzoli, the publishing powerhouse behind some of the finest coffee-table books, for a five-project collaboration, beginning next year." — BUZZFEED MEDIA
"First up is LAIKA: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory, set for release March 10, 2026. This expansive and gorgeously designed hardcover illustrates the story behind the studio and the hundreds of artists, craftspeople and technicians who brought its films to life, detailing every aspect of their creative process. Script development, puppet-making, 3D printing technology, storyboards and early sketches — from each of their feature film projects — converge into the definitive monograph on the “LAIKA Dream Factory.” — THE ANIMATION MAGAZINE
"The first release in the partnership will be “Laika: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory,” set for release on March 10, 2026. The book will illustrate “the story behind the studio and the hundreds of artists, craftspeople and technicians who brought the films to life, detailing every aspect of their creative process.'" — VARIETY.COM
"With stop-motion animation studio Laika celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it's making plans to come to your bookshelves. The studio is collaborating with publisher Rizzoli Universe to produce a series of books about the studio, offering never-before-seen glimpses into the production of its wondrous films...The first book is a hefty tome chronicling the entire history of the studio: Laika: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory: Two Decades of Groundbreaking Animation from Coraline to Wildwood will be released on March 10, 2026. It will cover the studio's entire twenty-year history, from its first film, the eerie Coraline, to next year's Wildwood. It is written by Ozzy Inguanzo, and will tour Laika's studios and delve into their archives." — COLLIDER.COM
"“Laika: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory” will illustrate “the story behind the studio and the hundreds of artists, craftspeople, and technicians who brought its films to life, detailing every aspect of their creative process,” from script development to puppet-making to 3D printing technology, storyboards and early sketches. And, of course, you’ll get all of this for every one of Laika’s films." — THEWRAP.