Making a stop-motion animation film is time consuming, but it sure does yield beautiful results. So every time someone like Laika Studios trots out a trailer or some footage for a new project, it feels like a cheerful and beautiful surprise. Please enjoy the first trailer to Laika's latest cheerful surprise, Missing Link.
An interesting spin on the theory of the missing link between humanity and its primate ancestors, Missing Link introduces us to Mr. Link, voiced by Zach Galifianakis, a creature that is looking to connect with his family on the other side of the world. But if he's going to have any chance of succeeding, he's going to need some help.
Enter Hugh Jackman's Sir Lionel Frost, an explorer that Mr. Link reaches out to personally, in hopes that can assist him in his crossing to his ultimate destination: Shangri-La. While Mr. Link is looking for help, Sir Lionel is looking to make the discovery of a lifetime by providing proof of Mr. Link's existence. Rounding out the group is fellow adventurer Adelina Fortnight, voiced by Guardians of the Galaxy's Zoe Saldana. Together, this trio of adventurous characters look to be on the path to great revelation, and a pratfall or two.
Right from the beginning, Missing Link shows off the gorgeous visual style and charmingly funny content that the studio behind such hits as Coraline, Paranorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings has become famous for. And in every frame, the magic of stop-motion animation shines through, in the most amazing level of detail.
It's trailers like the one for Missing Link that truly help us appreciate the miracle of quality stop-motion animation. While the trailer certainly goes all in on the film's gentle, but effective, humor, there's undoubtedly going to be a strong emotional component to this journey.
Also starring the vocal talents of Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Timothy Olyphant, and Matt Lucas, Missing Link clearly has a lot of surprises waiting for its audience. But for now, the first proper look we've been given does promise one thing, and that's that Laika Studios haven't lost their touch.
Missing Link will make its way to theaters on April 12th, 2019. Should this have your interest piqued, you can feel free to take a look at the rest of the 2019 release schedule, to see what other potential wonders await you.
