Henry S.
The studio to the north has just parted company with its premiere director.
Highly regarded within the animation community, [Henry] Selick joined Laika five years ago as Knight sought to give his studio, Laika, artistic credibility. Its first film, "Coraline," was an unexpected hit and racked up worldwide ticket sales topping $120 million in the eight months since its release.
... The studio did not explain the departure other than to say that Selick's contract has expired.
The studio's tersenes today contrasts with Laika founder Phil Knight's comments earlier this year:
“We hope he’s found a home ...”
Half a lifetime ago, I knew Mr. Selick at Disney's. At the time, I found him intense, mercurial, and talented.
Since I don't think people change one hell of a lot as they get older, but only become more of what they were in the first place, I'm betting he's the same Henry I knew way back when.
Whether or not Selick and Mr, Knight said "goodbye" to each other because of creative differences, or a pay dispute, or because Henry lost an arm-wrestling match in the boss's office, I have every confidence that Mr. Selick will shortly be making another film elsewhere.
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8 comments:
It's what you get when you have a no-nothing "daddy's boy" running the studio.
Wonder whether this will affect their recent decision to go all stop-motion.
This is probably the last shoe to drop up there. Don't know if there are any more shoes left. Strange how a studio with access to so much capital can really screw it up.
It's what you get when you have a no-nothing "daddy's boy" running the studio.
Isn't he also one of their lead animators? (Assuming we're talking about Travis Knight.)
PHIL Knight is the bajillionaire owner of Laika.
Also a small shoe company called "Nike."
Wow, what's with the Laika hate from Anons? Is this positive or negative for the studio? My understanding was Selick was extremely difficult to work with and Coraline was delayed and over-budget because of it, leading to the lack of funds and cancellation of the next film in production. But Coraline was also a beautiful film and turned out to be a masterpiece (in my opinion). But in the business world, which is more important?
Only time will tell where Laika goes from here, but don't hate on it just because you don't like who runs it and have no idea why Selick left.
This is probably the last shoe to drop up there. Don't know if there are any more shoes left.
No pun intended?
Anon 10:10,
I'm the Anon who wondered about the affect this has on their all-stop-motion decision. Mine is a legit question and contains no hate. I'm a big fan of Coraline and Selick and am looking forward to Laika's next effort.
I do agree that the "daddy's boy" comment smacks a bit of jealousy tho...
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