In the great race to be the top of the animation world, as far as movies are concerned, everyone is merely fighting for second place. Disney (and by extension Pixar) have sat at the tippy top for a long long time. Not that other studios haven’t put up good fight in trying to topple them. Laika studios, for example, has heaved heavy stones it’s way recently, with the likes of Paranorman and Kubo & The Two Strings. Now, they’re back to try again with Missing Link. The first trailer released months ago was cute and this new one looks equally as good. A casual warning though, this trailer is the sort that covers beats from the entire movie, so consider minor spoilers ahead.
In case you missed it previously, here’s the official synopsis:
“Meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend.”
The mix of slapstick with hints of an emotional journey go together wonderfully. There appears to be more physical comedy here than in previous Laika offerings. Which is fine when you consider that Zach Galifianakis. Outside of the comedy, we have to mention how gorgeous this looks. Stop-motion is the bread and butter of the studio and I shudder to imagine another company trying to replicate what they are able to accomplish with each new feature. As great as something like Isle of Dogs looks, this absolutely blows it out of the park. Yes, they’re different
What do you think, dear reader? Does Missing Link look like a jolly good time to you? What’s your favorite Laika film? Do you think there’s a chance Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse knocks the crown away from Disney and walks away with an Oscar in a few weeks? Tell us down below, in the comments. Missing Link clomps its way into theater on April 12. Smack dab in the middle of what may be one of the busiest theatrical months of the year.
