Arts

LAIKA presents – MADE BY HUMANS: CREATIVES IN CONVERSATION

What does it take to make something magical? Artists from award-winning animation studio LAIKA are paired with fellow expert creatives to create a genuine dialogue about filmmaking, practical effects, the grind, and the inspiration behind making magic. Together, we explore what drives them, how they push through the hard days, and what their work reveals when held up next to each other.

Join us as we discuss craftsmanship, inspiration, and mythic wonder that bring our most iconic worlds to life, from Coraline and LAIKA’s upcoming film Wildwood to Jurassic Park, Project Hail Mary, your favorite TikTok videos and so many more.

Latest Episodes:

The Impossible Road of LAIKA's Wildwood with Travis Knight and Caleb Deschanel Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

How did the impossibly complex film Wildwood actually get made? LAIKA CEO and Director of Wildwood Travis Knight sits with Wildwood's Director of Photography Caleb Deschanel to discuss all the challenges, obstacles and blood, sweat and tears it took to make magic

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An Insider’s View on How Practical Effects Are Made with Oliver Jones and Kevin Parry Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

What makes practical effects so magical? LAIKA's Head of Character and Practical Effects Oliver Jones sits down with former LAIKA animator and now solo superstar digital creator Kevin Parry to discuss the world of practical effects and how that feels different in a team of hundreds vs going it alone.

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Why Stop Motion Animation Matters in the Digital Age with Keith McQueen and Phil Tippett Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Why make models in the digital age? LAIKA's Head of Model Shop Keith McQueen and legendary stop motion pioneer Phil Tippett explain why the human crafted still matters.

#MadeByHumans #Podcast #Animation

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The Power of Costume Design and Storytelling with Deborah Cook and Sandy Powell Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Costume design is the one cinematic element that touches story, character, history, psychology, and visuals all at once. When it’s working, you don’t notice it consciously… but you feel it immediately.

LAIKA's Deborah Cook sits down with legendary costume designer Sandy Powell to deconstruct the subtle storytelling powers of costume. From stop-motion miniatures to live-action icons, discover how the clothes we wear on screen tell the stories we feel in our hearts.

#MadeByHumans #Podcast #Animation

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Using Visual Effects in the World of Stop Motion Animation Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

With a wealth of technology tools to deliver fascinating films, less is more is often the edict when it comes to special effects in this conversation with LAIKA’s Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson and ILM veteran visual effects filmmaker Jeff Mann.

#MadeByHumans #Podcast #Animation

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Wildwood: Building a Character From Page to Puppet Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Bringing a single character to life takes a village: an actor's voice, an animator's physical performance, designers, cinematographers, and a screenwriter, all converging on one emotional truth. This episode explores that rare collaboration through Wildwood, LAIKA's upcoming adaptation of the beloved Portland-set book.

Wildwood screenwriter Chris Butler is joined by the film's stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay to revisit these characters years after first encountering them; they discuss the joys of telling a proudly local story and unpack the challenges of adapting such a beloved, sprawling book. LAIKA Art Director Cassie Lopez also takes Peyton Elizabeth and Jacob behind the scenes to see two striking sets from the upcoming film.

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Two Forms of Puppetry: From Project Hail Mary to Wildwood Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Puppetry takes wildly different forms on screen: from small stop-motion puppets animated frame by frame to massive creatures operated by multiple puppeteers and Brad Schiff and James Ortiz perfectly encapsulate this spectrum. LAIKA's Head of Animation Brad Schiff has spent his career bringing puppets to life one frame at a time, while James Ortiz built and performed Project Hail Mary's beloved Rocky. Two experts on the medium trade notes on where creativity actually happens, why rigorous preparation fuels real improvisation, and how craft becomes something unmistakably human.

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Filmmaking Magic with Special Guest Zach King: From Coraline to Viral Illusions Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

From Coraline's sets to viral TikTok illusions, two masters of practical effects swap secrets:. Brian McLean, LAIKA's Director of Rapid Prototype, has spent 20 years pushing stop motion forward with groundbreaking innovation. And Zach King, one of the world's biggest creators, brings his own signature magic touch to the table. LAIKA's pioneering use of 3D printing collides with the optical trickery behind social media's biggest illusions, in a conversation about what it really takes to inspire awe.

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LAIKA Presents: Made by Humans, Creatives in Conversation Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

What does it take to make something magical? Step inside award-winning stop motion animation studio LAIKA where artists chat with fellow expert creatives about filmmaking, practical effects, craftsmanship and the mythic wonder that brings our most iconic worlds to life. Premiering September 9 on YouTube - and wherever you get your podcasts.

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