VFX triumph in Missing Link at the Oscars 2020

James Pina, a senior paint artist and VFX compositor, has made a name for himself at Laika Studio, a pioneering force in stop-motion animation and technical innovation. Pina's passion for science fiction movies, particularly those directed by Christopher Nolan, mirrors the studio's commitment to pushing boundaries.

Pina's journey in visual effects began at Cal State Monterey Bay, where he worked on a stop-motion animation film called "The Sniffer." His training included learning Mocha Pro, Silhouette, Shake, and Nuke, tools that would become crucial in his career.

At Laika, Pina and his partners rely heavily on Boris FX tools, including Mocha Pro, Silhouette, and Sapphire. These tools are valued for their efficiency in completing roto, paint, and tracking tasks, making them indispensable in the intricate world of stop-motion animation.

Multipass plates, which are tremendously helpful in creating the final look of shots, are a boon for Pina and his team. They are useful for lighting, stereo, and UV paint passes, and the lack of motion blur in filmed plates, a characteristic of stop-motion animation, offers unique opportunities.

Pina learned the basics of roto, paint, and compositing while working on "The Sniffer." This knowledge served him well on projects like Missing Link, where Mocha and Silhouette were a significant help in addressing the VFX challenges. Sapphire was also used to help with the FX water textures on Nessie in Missing Link. Sara Ireland, the Compositing Supervisor, even used Sapphire for the ripple/sparkle/glow effects on the water.

Missing Link presented a diverse set of VFX challenges, including seam repair on faces, massive rig removals, and "de-chattering" to clean up inconsistencies from frame to frame on the 3D printed faces. Despite these challenges, the film went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, marking Laika's first Golden Globe win.

Pina expresses excitement about the potential of AI and machine learning in the future of VFX tools. He is proud to be part of Laika's team due to the amazing talent and craftsmanship of the people involved. Going on set at Laika is a source of creative inspiration for Pina.

Laika Studio's top projects and achievements include five critically acclaimed stop-motion animated feature films: Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), and Missing Link (2019). All five films received Academy Award nominations for Best Animated Feature. Notably, Kubo and the Two Strings won the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film and earned an Oscar nomination for Visual Effects, while Missing Link won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.

Laika is praised for its meticulous stop-motion animation and technical innovation. The studio earned a Scientific and Technical Academy Award in 2016 for its advancements in 3D printing technology, which revolutionized puppet creation for stop-motion films. The studio has also pushed boundaries with innovations like being the first to shoot a stop-motion feature (Coraline) in stereoscopic 3D.

In addition to their feature films, Laika has been involved in groundbreaking projects such as creating the first-ever stop-motion animated digital magazine cover in collaboration with Empire magazine. The studio is currently in production on Wildwood (expected 2025) and developing new projects including The Night Gardener and Piranesi.

Pina has had a positive experience working with the Mocha and Silhouette customer support teams. Mary Poplin, a member of the Mocha customer support team, once remotely fixed a license issue on Pina's computer and commented on his Diablo 3 video game shortcut. Pina finds the video training provided by Mocha and Silhouette to be helpful and useful.

Several people involved in "The Sniffer" project, including Kenny Lowe and Brice Schultz, currently work at Laika. Pina's post-university training included Pixel Corps online training and FXPHD.

As Laika continues to push the boundaries of stop-motion animation and technical innovation, James Pina remains a valuable asset, contributing his skills and passion to the studio's groundbreaking projects.