How a Nike co-founder turned a struggling animation studio into a stop-motion powerhouse
When Phil Knight bought Will Vinton Studios in 2002, he was rescuing a struggling business. Rebranded as Laika in 2005, the studio pivoted from commercial work to prestige stop-motion features. Today, under the leadership of Travis Knight, the Oregon-based company is expanding into live-action film and television production.
The origins of Laika trace back to the late 1990s, when Will Vinton Studios sought capital for feature-length projects. Nike co-founder Phil Knight invested in 1998, eventually acquiring the company in 2002. By 2005, the studio was rebranded as Laika, named after the Soviet space dog. Early years were marked by a dual focus on commercial content and feature films, though the studio later consolidated its efforts to prioritize stop-motion artistry exclusively.
The studio's feature film journey began with Coraline in 2009, which earned multiple award nominations, including an Academy Award nod for Best Animated Feature. Subsequent releases like ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link solidified Laika's reputation for technical excellence. Kubo and the Two Strings notably achieved a rare Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects, a feat previously only accomplished by The Nightmare Before Christmas.
In recent years, Laika has aggressively diversified its creative output. In 2021, the studio launched a Los Angeles-based subsidiary, LAIKA Live Action, to develop live-action projects. This expansion includes hiring dedicated leadership, such as Matt Levin as President of Live-Action Film & Series, and acquiring rights to various novels and thrillers. By 2026, the studio had even moved into television production, signaling a strategic shift from its stop-motion roots toward a multi-platform entertainment model.
Despite these changes, the studio maintains its commitment to its signature medium. While the company continues to develop new stop-motion features like Wildwood, the integration of live-action and TV divisions represents a significant evolution in its business model. By leveraging its brand identity and strategic acquisitions, Laika is positioning itself to bridge the gap between niche animation mastery and broader mainstream production.
Source: Laika, LLC
