Animation professional who worked on Laika’s ‘Wildwood’ to host two-day workshop
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IDAHO FALLS — Local teens are inviting the community, fellow art lovers and movie buffs to a two-night stop-motion animation workshop with animation professional Lars C. Larsen, who recently worked on Laika Studio’s newest movie, “Wildwoods.”
The first workshop will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, 300 South Capital Avenue, and will cost $5.
On Friday, another workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. This will be followed by a 9 p.m. screening of “Wildwood” at the Royal Theater’s Paramount Theater, 2085 Niagara Street.
The first 10 tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis for participating teens.
Based in Boise, Larsen is an animation professional who has worked in the industry since the early 2000s. Some films he worked on with Laika include “Coraline,” “The Boxtrolls,” “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Missing Link” and “Wildwood”.
His work also includes various short film projects and “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”.
Larsen said his interest in stop motion began as a kid, playing with Lego blocks and filming on a Super 8 camera. This passion followed him to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University), where he studied film.
There, he did some experimental animation and, after moving to Portland, began working more with several studios on stop-motion.
It wasn’t until 2001 that he began working on his first Laika movie, “Coraline”, which he said he was lucky to work on.
This is where his expertise in practical effects and stop motion rigging would show, and it became the bulk of his work at Laika.
An example of his work in “Coraline” is the scene where Coraline crawls through the portal to the other world, and in “Pinocchio,” the scene where the protagonist begins to sink into the sand.
Regarding the workshop, Larsen said he has been passionate about teaching others this art form. He’s hosted classes across Idaho and in Portland, teaching those interested in the art.
Thursday’s and Friday’s workshops will focus on the foundational elements of stop-motion and how to create the illusions of movement and gravity.
“When you get into learning about how it’s done, I think the appreciation becomes greater,” Larsen said. “It’s about appreciation as well as learning the art form.”
Amy Thompson, Development Director for TAM, told EastIdahoNews.com that the workshops began as an idea for the museum’s Teens @TAM leadership program.
The Teens @TAM program lets local youth plan teen-friendly events each month, organize fundraisers and serve as tour guides at the museum.
The idea was to host a stop motion movie screening this month, but a simple breakfast invitation turned it into a workshop series.
To get the workshop going, Thompson said the teens had to fundraise, and they got support from Film Garage 208, Candlewood Suites, Sand Hill Media Group, Idaho Film Society, Onyx Financial and other local supporters.
“This year’s group of teens is really self-motivated, really excited about making things happen,” Thompson said. “I’m super proud of our group this year.”
President of Teens @TAM, Vivian Thompson — daughter of Amy — said the group raised more than $800 through fundraising, which helped cover more of the workshop expenses.
Vivian said that this opportunity is a perfect example of what Teens @TAM offers, bringing artists like Larsen to connect with teens and teach them.
“It’s just going to be great to be able to collaborate and get behind-the-scenes footage, and (an opportunity) for other teens that are interested in stop motion,” Vivian said.
To register for the event, visit www.theartmuseum.org/teens-tam-events.
While space is limited, Amy said each workshop can host about 20 to 30 people.