There’s very few things we love more than stop motion (seriously) — and last year’s LAIKA Experience during San Diego Comic-Con took you inside the world of stop motion animation for LAIKA’s films, with an awesome pop-up event. This year, though, they’re taking that immersive experience and expanding upon it, to create something even bigger and better.

LAIKA, the studio that’s brought you such films as Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, and Kubo and the Two Strings, is bringing a new offsite this year to 350 5th Ave in the Gaslamp on Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 22.

This year’s space is three times the size of last year’s offsite, and for 2018, LAIKA is taking the concept of having you feel like you’re really in the films to a whole new level. Attendees will be able to step into an exhibit with a huge cache of props, puppets, and sets from LAIKA’s films. There will also be fan art, technology demonstrations, drawings for a pair of coveted Coraline Dunks from Nike, social media activations, LAIKA merchandise offered for sale (including brand new items and limited edition Coraline items), multiple giveaways, and more. “Curators” will be on hand to explain the process of LAIKA’s filmmaking, as you get a glimpse behind the curtain.

There will also be an autograph signing with LAIKA President & CEO Travis Knight and Coraline author Neil Gaiman on Saturday, July 21 at 12:30PM-2PM. To be guaranteed to get into the signing, you need to purchase the Coraline print set for $200. Otherwise, there will be a standby line.

There will also be costumed characters, including Coraline and Other Mother from Coraline, as well as Norman and Zombie Judge from ParaNorman, Boxtrolls Fish and Sparky from The Boxtrolls, Kubo, Monkey, and Beetle from Kubo and The Two Strings – and also Mr. Link from LAIKA’s latest film, Missing Link, heading to theatres April 19, 2019.

Here are the hours of operation:

Hours of Operation:

Friday, 7/13:  2-10pm

Saturday, 7/14: 2-10pm

Sunday, 7/15:  11am-5pm

Monday, 7/16:  12-5pm

Tuesday, 7/17: 12-5pm

Wednesday, 7/18: 12-5pm

Thursday, 7/19:  10am-10pm

Friday, 7/20:  10am-11pm

Saturday, 7/21: LAIKA store opens at 10am; exhibit: 2:00pm-11pm

Sunday, 7/22: 10am-6pm

You can read our review of last year’s event to get a rough idea of how cool the experience is, but we hope to see you at the new exhibit for 2018.