Animation studio Laika isn’t just on the cutting edge of stop-motion animation. They’re also the only studio putting out offbeat stories that unabashedly focus and celebrate true outsiders. They make movies that are cute without being cutesy, strange without being self-conscious, and funny without being pandering. Their latest film, The Boxtrolls, is by far their best yet as they’ve created a rich, gorgeous world filled with adorable characters, remarkable detail, and a clever comment on propaganda, which is ambitious for a movie that’s ostensibly a family film. Laika may have made a name for themselves with Coraline and ParaNorman, but The Boxtrolls feels like the first movie that represents the heart and soul of this oddball studio.
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THE BOXTROLLS Review