With each project, the stop-motion animation ambitions of Laika get larger in scope, and its fifth endeavour, Missing Link, is no exception. Desiring to meet his long-lost relatives, a huge creature known as Mr. Link (Zach Galifianakis) recruits fearless Victorian explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) to guide him as he leaves his Pacific Northwest home for the fabled valley of Shangri-La.
“I remember saying at the start, I wanted this to be as if David Lean made Around The World In 80 Days starring Laurel and Hardy,” chuckles Chris Butler, who serves as writer, director and head of story at Laika.
“Traditionally, stop-motion can feel small, because in the past you were limited by the size of your sets and puppets and where you could set the camera. I…