LAIKA Studios has announced a significant expansion of its presence in the UK and Europe, building on the tremendous success of the 15th anniversary re-release of its animated feature Coraline. The re-release has so far amassed over $51 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing re-release of the past decade in the United States and setting new records worldwide.
This expansion will see LAIKA partnering with UK-based licensing firm Brandship, alongside existing collaborations in consumer products and home entertainment. Brandship will represent LAIKA’s consumer product licensing and brand partnerships across Europe, ensuring that products based on the studio’s iconic films are available to fans across both continents. This move comes as LAIKA capitalises on its growing popularity, driven by the enduring appeal of Coraline and other critically acclaimed titles.
The announcement also marks LAIKA’s first-ever direct-to-consumer partnership in Europe, as they team up with Truffle Shuffle, a well-known UK retailer specialising in pop culture merchandise and apparel. This collaboration is expected to bring exclusive LAIKA-branded products to fans throughout the region.
In the home entertainment sector, Anime Ltd./Plaion Pictures has acquired the distribution rights to LAIKA’s full catalogue for release in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and several other European countries. This deal will allow fans to access LAIKA’s beloved films on home video, including Coraline, The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings, all of which have been nominated for both BAFTA and Academy Awards.
Michael Waghalter, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Development at LAIKA, commented on the expansion: “The incredible response to Coraline’s re-release is a testament to the global love for LAIKA’s films. Fans want to connect more deeply with the characters and stories we bring to life, and we’re excited to work with Anime Ltd./Plaion Pictures and Brandship to deliver immersive products and experiences across the UK and Europe.”
Brandship’s CEO, Lisa Shapiro, expressed her excitement over the partnership, emphasising the high demand for LAIKA merchandise across Europe. “The timing couldn’t be better,” she said. “We’re thrilled to work with LAIKA and look forward to securing top-tier partners in key categories.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Partridge, Managing Director of Anime Ltd., spoke about the re-release’s success: “The love for Coraline and LAIKA’s films is undeniable. We’re excited to bring these incredible works back to fans across Europe, particularly with the resurgence of physical media.”
LAIKA’s Coraline re-release has set numerous records globally. In the US, it became the highest-grossing re-release of the past decade and the highest-grossing release in Fathom Events’ 20-year history. It also overtook the lifetime US box office earnings of other stop-motion classics such as Disney’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Aardman’s Chicken Run.
Internationally, Coraline set new records in Mexico and throughout Latin America, surpassing its original 2009 release. In the UK, Coraline’s re-release outperformed the 2023 re-release of Titanic and ET’s 20th anniversary event, making it the highest-grossing re-release in the UK in 25 years.
This expansion, along with a highly anticipated upcoming release, Wildwood, promises to further solidify LAIKA’s position as a leading force in the animation industry.
