Moongirl the book

Jared Chapman | August 31st, 2006

Start saving your pennies, kids. It was reported today in the Publishers Weekly’s Children’s Bookshelf Newsletter that next month Candlewick Press will release Henry Selick’s Moongirl as a children’s book. Included with the book will be a DVD featuring the short film (previously blogged about here) which was directed by Selick and produced by Laika. According to PW Children’s Bookshelf, this book/DVD combo marks the first time a short film has been distributed through the book industry.

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  • Jane Doh
    It's sad, but ever the film is totally soul-less.
    The CG in this film is just sub-par.

    It's too bad the general public dosen't know much of the dirt surrounding Laika and Will Vinton Studios.

    Henry Selick is just a hood ornament, for Phil "I want an Oscar!!" Knight of NIKE fame. The bad guy in the forced corporate takeover of Will Vinton Studios. (Now Laika)

    Phil tried with this film to buy it's way into animation festivals around the world.. (With some success) But the film is just.. yuck!

    After kicking out Will Vinton, Laika had the nerve to post links to Vinton's older "Claymation" films.. (Fantastic, by the way featuring TRUE genius, like the great Barry Bruce..) tauting them as "old and moldy". . Unbelievable!

    Do you guys have the guts, or integrity to post this comment?!
    -J.D.
  • Dear "Jane Doh" - you don't appear to "have the guts or integrity" to use a real identity after posting some rather slanderous comments about Laika and its current management. Since I don't work at Laika, I can't comment on the work environment there or its policies.

    Were you fired from the company? Have some more insights to share with the rest of the creative community?

    It's been awhile since I've seen the "Moongirl" short in its entirety, but I thought it was OK. I've definitely seen much worse. I'm quite interested in the children's book, though, particularly after seeing the illustration posted here.
  • Jane Doh
    With Phil & his lawyers, one has to be careful. And yes, I do work at Laika.
    Nothig more to share, other than the fact that Moongirl is a bad product, from a company with zero creative vision at it's head. The company is run in a very anti-collaborate, carrot-on-a-stick approach to work and mgmt.

    It's a sweatshop for cereal and candy commercials, that got too big, with Phil's wallet as the driving force.

    Excuse me while I look for a job with union benefits. (IATSE does not cover animation here, and now, Phil's feature dept.) A little oasis of sweatshoppery, far from hollywood unions. Good job Phil!
  • the guy at the table next to y
    She is, sadly, correct. I wish it were different, because I want to see Laika become a force for good. Their commercial work continues at a high level of quality.

    I also think the story, design and animation are ground-level, not great. The story is in the shape of a fairy tale, but it has no center or moral and, therefore, no point. The initial designs and sketches were delightful, but the expensive on-screen result, in my opinion, was chilly and unpleasant.

    Here's hoping that future feature Laika efforts have more soul.
  • Boy, talk about disgruntled workers! If the environment is so bad there, why are you still there?

    I hear Portland is a nice place to live, though.
  • the guy at the table next to y
    It's mostly great here: great people to work with, great talent, interesting work and, of course, a lovely city. We're all holding out great hopes for the future features. There seems to be great stuff on the way, judging from early designs and scripts.

    Still, you gotta call 'em as you see 'em, regardless of the film festival propaganda. And in the case of 'Moon Girl': eh.
  • I'm rooting for Laika. They had a presentation at Ottawa this year and it was very impressive.
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