The “hidden worlds” of LAIKA at the Museum of Pop Culture will open in March

LAIKA and the Museum of Pop Culture today announced a new exhibition that will showcase the creativity, artistry, and innovation that make the studio a global leader in stop-motion animation. Visitors will be immersed in the “hidden worlds” of LAIKA — both the magical settings the characters inhabit and the behind-the-scenes wonders of producing these modern classics.

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA, the largest exhibition that LAIKA has ever mounted, will open March 17 at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, spanning more than 7,500 square feet of exhibition space with immersive displays, film artifacts, and interactives spotlighting Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), Missing Link (2019), and Wildwood (forthcoming).

“LAIKA tells original, enduring stories with meaningful themes and a commitment to filmmaking innovation,” said MoPOP’s Director of Curatorial, Collections, and Exhibits Jacob McMurray. “We can’t wait to give our guests a peek behind the curtain into the world of stop motion animation and how emerging technologies are fused with timeless techniques to create LAIKA’s state-of-the-art film masterpieces.”

“LAIKA is a multifaceted community of dreamers, makers, storytellers, scientists, engineers, and artists all committed to making movies that matter,” said LAIKA’s Chief Marketing Officer and SVP Operations David Burke. “We believe that cinema is a profoundly important and fertile landscape in which we can tell stories that will speak to global audiences, both now and for generations to come. Film is a universally shared cultural language and it’s thrilling to be partnering with MoPOP, which celebrates the power of popular culture and the individuals who create that magic.”

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 7,500 square feet of exhibition space with recreations of six LAIKA worlds including specialty lighting, original exhibition films, and immersive scenic elements like a full-size version of the tunnel leading to the Other World in Coraline.
• Artifacts and sets from LAIKA films imbued with meaning by not only the stories they tell, but through all the artists and craftspeople who have brought them into existence.
• MoPOP signature interactive elements allowing visitors to take a “puppets-eye-view” of a LAIKA set or create their own stop motion animation using themselves as the puppet.
• Content demonstrating LAIKA’s signature blend of traditional stop motion animation paired with their technological advances in digital effects and rapid-prototype 3D printing.

SEEING THE EXHIBITION

• MoPOP members have the first opportunity to see the exhibition with a Member Preview Day, Friday, March 17.
• A public opening party will be held Friday evening, March 17, with tickets for the event on-sale mid-February. Saturday, March 18, is the first full day the exhibition will be open to the public.

MoPOP

Address: 325 5th Avenue N

Seattle, WA 98109

Phone: 206-770-2700

Website: https://www.mopop.org/laika

Hours: Open 10:00am–5:00pm

Open daily except Wednesdays

Directions to MoPOP

MoPOP is located at 325 5th Avenue N at Seattle Center and is easily accessible by car, numerous bus routes, and the historic Seattle Center Monorail, built in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair. A pay-to-park lot is available on the north end of the building.

Driving Directions

FROM I-5 NORTH OR SOUTH

Take exit 167 and follow the directional signs to Seattle Center. Merge onto Mercer Street, turn left on 5th Avenue N. MoPOP will be on the right.

FROM SR-99, SOUTHBOUND

Use the left lane to take the exit toward Denny Way/Downtown. Turn right onto Harrison Street, turn left on 5th Avenue N. MoPOP will be on the right.

FROM SR-99, NORTHBOUND

Take the Republican Street exit (toll road). Turn right onto Dexter Ave N. and then right onto Harrison Street. Turn left on 5th Avenue N. MoPOP will be on the right.

FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES

Head North on Alaskan Way or Western Avenue. Turn right onto Broad Street then left on 5th Avenue N. MoPOP will be on the left.

For a detailed map please refer to Google Maps.

Parking

Ample street parking and pay lots surround MoPOP and Seattle Center. There is a pay lot next to MoPOP at 5th Avenue N and Harrison Street. This is the only Seattle Center lot where oversized vehicles, including but not limited to school buses, motor coaches and recreational vehicles, may park. Designated handicapped parking spaces are available at all Seattle Center lots.

For groups of 30 or more, the MoPOP group entrance, (located at 5th Avenue N and Harrison Street, adjacent to the vehicle turnaround at the silver end of the building) provides convenient access for dropping off and picking up passengers.

Public Transportation

BUS

MoPOP is served by many bus routes, with frequent connections to downtown Seattle and surrounding neighborhoods.

MONORAIL

The Seattle Center Monorail connects Westlake Center (located downtown at 5th and Pine), to the Seattle Center terminal adjacent to MoPOP. Visit the Seattle Monorail website for detailed information on schedules and rates.