10 stop-motion animation movie character puppets and sets on display...

I was really saddened by the recent news that ArcLight Hollywood and their other cinema venues would not be reopening due to the pandemic, not just because watching movies there was such a pleasant experience but also because you got to see big Hollywood stars and directors introducing their films or doing Q&As, and because they had screen-used movie costumes, props, cars and more from the big screen on display throughout the year. Today's roundup from my photo archives includes several cool exhibits of stop-motion animation movie puppets and sets that were hosted at the ArcLight theatres, plus from other museums and theme parks.

Stop-motion puppets and science lab set from Fantastic Mr. Fox

First up is a collection of character puppets and a School Chemistry Science Lab set from 2009's Oscar-nominated Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson, which was photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood in November 2009.

Be sure to take a closer look at these Fantastic Mr. Fox stop-motion puppets and set.

Claymation puppets from The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Next up is a trio of claymation pirate characters from Aardman Animation's 2012 film, The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

This exhibit was photographed at ArcLight Pasadena in April 2012, so be sure to take a closer look at these Pirates stop-motion puppets.

Stop-motion puppets and set from Isle of Dogs

Another Wes Anderson animated comedy receiving a puppet and set exhibit at ArcLight Hollywood in March 2018 was the Oscar-nominated Isle of Dogs.

Missing Link stop-motion animation puppet

This dapper Yeti is from LAIKA Studios 2019 Golden Globe-winning animated feature, Missing Link, and was on display at ArcLight Hollywood in February 2020.

You can also see more of this set and more stop-motion puppets from Missing Link that were also on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum & Galleries.

Stop-motion puppets and hotel bar set from Anomalisa 

This hotel bar set is from Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson's Oscar-nominated 2015 romantic comedy-drama, Anomalisa.

This temporary exhibit contained other stop-motion puppets and sets from Anomalisa and was photographed in ArcLight Hollywood's lobby in December 2015.

Stop-motion puppets from Corpse Bride

The next trio of skeleton stop-motion animation puppets are from Tim Burton and Mike Johnson's 2005 musical fantasy, Corpse Bride.

These ghoulish characters were part of a larger exhibit of Corpse Bride stop-motion puppets on Warner Bros. Studios Backlot Tour in June 2016.

Stop-motion puppets and kitchen set from Coraline

The next stop-motion set piece is from LAIKA Studios 2009 dark fantasy movie Coraline by Henry Selick, based on Neil Gaiman's 2002 novella.

These character puppets and more sets from Coraline were photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in April 2009.

Stop-motion puppets from ParaNorman

LAIKA Studios next film was the 2012 comedy-horror ParaNorman which found the movie's titular hero fighting zombies with his school friends.

These stop-motion puppets were photographed alongside more ParaNorman sets and puppets at Universal Studios Hollywood in February 2013.

Stop-motion puppets from The Boxtrolls

The next collection of stop-motion characters are from LAIKA Studios 2014 fantasy comedy, The Boxtrolls, loosely based on the 2005 novel Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow.

Again this exhibit, including other puppets and sets, was photographed at Universal Studios Hollywood to pre-promote the move to the theme park's visitors in April 2014.

Stop-motion puppets from Kubo and the Two Strings

And the final stop-motion animation characters are from LAIKA Studios mythical Japanese fantasy tale, Kubo and the Two Strings.

These weird and wonderful puppets from the 2016 stop-motion animated movie were on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum & Galleries in February 2017.

Hopefully you've enjoyed these movie exhibits from the past and I can't wait to see more similar displays in person in the future.

Oscar winning and nominated costumes on display at Universal Studios Hollywood...

There's always something interesting to see at the NBC Universal Experience exhibit at Universal Studios Hollywood, but I have to say the archivists have outdone themselves this time with some real treasures on display yesterday, including costumes from three of the five Oscar nominated films for Best Costume Design from the 85th Academy Awards.

Original Universal Studios movie costumes and props

There were fabulous Oscar-winning gowns from Anna Karenina worn by Keira Knightley and designed by Jacqueline Durran, the gorgeous Medieval coronation dress worn by Kristen Stewart as the titular heroine in Snow White & The Huntsman and not to forget Anne Hathway's raggedy 'Fantine' dress worn by the winner of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding role in Les Misérables.

Back to the Future DeLorean movie car on display

Another showpiece of the ever-changing exhibit which made me giddy with excitement was the original DeLorean 'hero' car used in the Back to the Future trilogy, plus fantastic costumes, props, blueprints and storyboards from the movies too.

Fast & Furious 6 movie cars on display

Speaking of cars, if you're a fan of muscle and sports cars then you should also check out these movie cars featured in Fast & Furious 6, alongside a Madame Tussauds waxwork of Vin Diesel, which can be currently found in the Upper Lot of the theme park.

Concept sketches, models and props on display

Back in the Lower Lot attraction there were also lots of behind-the-scenes concept sketches and design blueprints from famous films, plus original props and models, like these stop-motion animation puppets from ParaNorman
 and more besides.

ParaNorman stop-motion animation exhibit

Stick around in the days to come to see even more movie memorabilia from this historic treasure trove up close, including:

Oscar-winning opera gowns worn by Keira Knightley and Ruth Wilson in Anna Karenina
Paco Delgado's Oscar-nominated Fantine dress from Les Misérables worn by Anne Hathaway
Colleen Atwood Oscar-nominated coronation dress from Snow White & The Hunstman worn by Kristen Stewart
Roy Scheider's police uniform and concept sketches from Jaws
Golden Army Egg prop from Hellboy 2
Cheerleader outfit from Fast Times at Ridgemont Hiigh
Alexander Skarsgård's Navy uniform and missile prop from Battleship
Erykah Badu's Queen Mousette dress from Blues Brothers 2000
Eminem rap battle costume from 8 Mile
Merc ship miniature from The Chronicles of Riddick
Will Ferrell's costume and soccer trophy from Kicking & Screaming
Assassin weapon props from Wanted

As a little tease of things to come I'll leave you with this original prop featured in 2011's thriller Hanna, which starred Saoirse Ronan as a teenager raised to be the perfect assassin by her father Eric Bana.

Actual transponder prop from Hanna on display

This is the transponder which allows the CIA to find the rogue agent and his daughter in the wilds of Finland.

I'm excited to share all these discoveries with you so stay tuned for more Hollywoodland magic.

Stop-motion puppets, vehicles and sets from ParaNorman on display...

In addition to the Norman maquettes and stop-motion puppets from Laika's ParaNorman on display at the NBC Universal Experience attraction on February 7, 2013, there were also more characters, creatures, vehicles and sets featured in the 2012 animated horror comedy to ogle over and enjoy.

Original vehicles and stop-motion puppets featured in ParaNorman

Included in the ParaNorman exhibit to examine up close were stop-motion puppets of Norman's older sister 'Courtney Babcock', together with High School jock (and Neil's older brother) 'Mitch Downe' beside his crashed van (which evokes Scooby-Doo's iconic Mystery Machine don't you think).

50% van miniature from ParaNorman

In addition to this full-size and 50% scale model, I've seen another example of this ParaNorman van with the zombie on top of it on display at ArcLight Hollywood to promote the movie before its cinematic release.

ParaNorman movie poster

In the same way Universal Studios Hollywood had a fantastic stop-motion animation display for Coraline on past visits, they had this wonderful Hall of Records set from ParaNorman filled with zombies, school bully 'Alvin' (on the ladder) and Norman's friend 'Neil'.

Hall of Records set and stop-motion puppets exhibit from ParaNorman

It really is amazing to see the level of detail that goes into creating these elaborate sets, the miniature books and scrolls on the shelves, the tiled flooring and even the electric sockets on the walls.

If you like this, be sure to check out the Blithe Hollow Middle School set from ParaNorman also on display before the movie opened.

ParaNorman movie billboard

ParaNorman maquettes and stop-motion puppets on display...

If you liked 2012's stop-motion animated comedy horror ParaNorman, then you'll love this behind-the-scenes look at the puppets and models that helped bring animation house Laika's latest film to the big screen.

Original ParaNorman puppets and maquettes 

on display at Universal Studios Hollywood

This collection of original maquettes, puppets, props, hair tests and replacement facial expressions for the titular character 'Norman' were photographed on display within the NBC Universal Experience exhibit at Universal Studios Hollywood on February 7, 2013.

ParaNorman movie poster

In the stop-motion animated movie, Norman can speak to the dead and teams up with a ragtag team of school kids to defeat a centuries old witch's curse and hordes of zombies. During the film Norman climbs the Town Hall's Tower to read a ritual from a book to try and break the supernatural spell.

Norman puppet and Town Hall Tower set from ParaNorman

It always amazes me how much more work goes into an animated film, as everything has to be built from scratch, from the characters to the clothes they wear and world they exist within. It's also amazing that the puppets and physical objects have to be meticulously moved in tiny increments frame by frame to bring the story to life.

Norman puppet and zombie from ParaNorman

If you like this exhibit, be sure to check out these other fantastic stop-motion puppets and sets from ParaNorman on display when the movie was released.

ParaNorman movie billboard