Henry Selick | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Selick speaks on a panel duringSouth by Southwest 2009 | |
| Born | (1952-11-30)November 30, 1952 (age 73) Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Rutgers University Syracuse University California Institute of the Arts |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1975–present |
Charles Henry Selick Jr. (/ˈsɛlɪk/; born November 30, 1952) is an American filmmaker and animator. He is known for his work instop-motion animation and for directing the filmsThe Nightmare Before Christmas (1993),James and the Giant Peach (1996),Monkeybone (2001),Coraline (2009), andWendell & Wild (2022). Selick is also known for his collaborations with the late voice actor and artistJoe Ranft. ForCoraline, Selick received anAcademy Award nomination for theBest Animated Feature.
Charles Henry Selick Jr. was born on November 30, 1952 inGlen Ridge, New Jersey,[1][2] the son of Melanie (née Molan) and Charles H. Selick.[3] He was raised inRumson.[4] Selick drew a lot in his childhood. His fascination with animation came at a young age, when he sawLotte Reiniger's stop-motion filmThe Adventures of Prince Achmed and the animated creatures ofThe 7th Voyage of Sinbad byRay Harryhausen. He graduated fromRumson-Fair Haven High School in 1970.[5]
After studying science atRutgers University inNew Brunswick for a year, he switched to an art major atSyracuse University. Selick enrolled at theCalifornia Institute of the Arts (CalArts) to study animation, becoming one of the first students to undertake the new Disney character animation program. He also studied experimental animation techniques under the guidance ofJules Engel. His two student films there,Phases andTube Tales, won awards. He graduated from CalArts in 1977.[6]
Selick worked oncommercials,[when?] including working on the stop-motion animation for thePillsbury Doughboy for some of thePillsbury commercials.[7]
After his academic studies, he went to work forWalt Disney Studios as an "in-betweener" and animator trainee on such films asPete's Dragon andThe Small One.[citation needed] During his time at Disney, he met and worked around many experienced filmmakers and animators, includingTim Burton. Burton served as producer on Selick's first two films as director, the Disney-producedThe Nightmare Before Christmas andJames and the Giant Peach.[8] In 1996, he was set to direct the Disney-produced stop-motion filmToots and the Upside Down House, but was cancelled after the poor box office ofJames and the Giant Peach.[8][9]
Selick's third feature wasMonkeybone (2001), a live-action/stop-motion adaptation of an underground comic,Dark Town by Kaja Blackley, produced by20th Century Fox. The film was a commercial and critical failure. Selick later admitted his unhappiness with the final product and has since vowed never to make another live-action film again.[10] Selick, who animated the fictional sea creatures inWes Anderson'sThe Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, signed on asanimation director on Anderson'sFantastic Mr. Fox.[11] In February 2006, Selick left the project, to work onCoraline forLaika.[12] Selick, who kept in contact with Anderson, said the director would act out scenes inFantastic Mr. Fox while in Paris and send them to the animators viaiPhone.[13]
In March 2005, Selick was set to direct the CGI filmThe Wall And The Wing for Vinton Studios, based on Laura Ruby's novel of the same name.[14] Selick's first feature withLaika, LLC wasCoraline, based on the novellaCoraline by acclaimed fantasy authorNeil Gaiman, and released in 2009. It was the first-everstereoscopic 3D stop-motion animated film.[15] The film received generally positive reviews from critics.Coraline was nominated for Best Animated Feature as anAcademy Award, aBAFTA, and aGolden Globe.[citation needed]
Selick left Laika in 2009.[16]
In 2010, Selick joined withPixar andThe Walt Disney Company in a long-term contract to exclusively produce stop-motion films.[17] This not only returned Selick to his original roots, but also reunited Selick with numerous former friends and co-animators. His new studio, called Cinderbiter Productions, was self-described as "a new stop motion company whose mandate is to make great, scary films for young 'uns with a small, tight-knit crew who watch each other's backs."[18]
Selick and Cinderbiter's first film under this deal, a project calledShadeMaker, was set to be released on October 4, 2013.[19] In 2011, the film was green-lit for production and retitledThe Shadow King.[20] In August 2012, it was reported that, after spending a reported $50 million,Walt Disney Pictures canceled the project,[21] due to "a creative and scheduling standpoint, the pic wasn't where it needed to be to meet its planned release date." Disney gave Selick the option to shop the project to another studio.[20][22] Selick revealed in 2022 that the film suffered from interference from then-CCO of PixarJohn Lasseter, who he claimed came in and constantly changed elements of the script and production that ended up ballooning the budget.[23] Selick said that he had reacquired the rights forThe Shadow King from Disney and that he may revive the project.[24]
On April 28, 2012, it was announced that Disney had optioned the rights forNeil Gaiman's novelThe Graveyard Book. Later that same day, it was announced that Selick would direct the film after work was completed onShadeMaker. It was unknown if the adaptation would be live-action or stop-motion.[25] After the studio and Selick parted ways over scheduling and development, it was announced in January 2013 thatRon Howard would direct the film.[26]
In February 2013, it was reported in a press release by Selick that K5 International would be handling sales forThe Shadow King at theEuropean Film Market.[27] It was unknown when the film would actually be released. In August 2016, a rep for Selick said the film was "in turnaround again" while Selick continued work on his other two projects:A Tale Dark and Grimm andWendell and Wild.[28]
On October 16, 2013, Selick announced a live-action film adaptation ofAdam Gidwitz's children's novelA Tale Dark and Grimm.[29]
On November 3, 2015, it was reported that Selick was developingWendell & Wild, a new stop-motion feature withJordan Peele andKeegan-Michael Key based on an original story by Selick.[30] In 2018, the film was picked up byNetflix.[31] The film was released on October 28, 2022, on Netflix.[32]
In June 2017, Selick was reported to direct the pilot and subsequent episodes of aLittle Nightmares TV adaptation produced by theRusso brothers.[33]
In June 2024, it was announced that Selick was developing a stop-motion film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2013 novelThe Ocean at the End of the Lane, as well as revivingThe Shadow King as a graphic novel.[34] In August 2024, Selick impliedThe Ocean at the End of the Lane was back in limbo, saying that he hoped it would still happen, but he could not predict its future.[35]
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||
| 1975 | Tube Tales | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1977 | Phases | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1981 | Seepage | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1991 | Slow Bob in the Lower Dimensions | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2005 | Moongirl | Yes | Yes | No | Also voice actor |
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | Writer | |||
| 1993 | The Nightmare Before Christmas | Yes | No | No | |
| 1996 | James and the Giant Peach | Yes | Co-producer | No | |
| 2001 | Monkeybone | Yes | Executive | No | |
| 2009 | Coraline | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also production designer |
| 2022 | Wendell & Wild | Yes | Yes | Yes | [32] |
In 2012, theAcademy Film Archive preserved several of Selick's short films:Phases,Seepage, andTube Tales.[36]
"The relationship between Disney's company Miramax and Henry Selick also became strained, as plans for another feature calledToots and the Upside Down House were abandoned.
