Little Amal walks in San Diego!

Little Amal walked in San Diego today!

The 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child made her way through Balboa Park, from the Old Globe to the San Diego Museum of Art and then down El Prado. Groups of musicians played while Little Amal touched hands with onlookers. A crowd of hundreds surged around the human-activated puppet, phones raised to capture the moment.

Little Amal has been walking around the world. Between 7 September and 26 November 2023, Amal is journeying 9,000 miles across the United States and Mexico in one of the largest free public festivals ever created. She is walking through 40 towns and cities from Boston to San Diego and 7 cities from Tijuana to Tapachula… So far, she has visited 14 countries including Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, the UK, the United States, Poland, Ukraine, Canada and Norway.

Little Amal’s walk is intended to draw attention to the plight of refugees, particularly the displaced children who suffer. The organization Choose Love is raising funds in connection with this amazing international event. If you’d like to donate to the cause of helping refugees, visit their website by clicking here. Donations provide education, food, shelter, emergency medical care, legal assistance and much more for children like Little Amal.

In San Diego, the event was produced with the help of the La Jolla Playhouse. Many smiling Without Walls volunteers carrying colorful umbrellas were in the crowd, distributing fans like the one you see in my photographs.

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Myth, wonder and WOW in San Diego!

Wonder, surprise, and plenty of WOW was experienced by those visiting Liberty Station today. That’s because La Jolla Playhouse was in their final day of the 2022 Without Walls Festival!

Among many outdoor performances free to the public was the colorful, kinetic procession TransMythical.

Strange, never-before-seen spirits, nature gods, high priests and mythological creatures appeared from the arches at the edge of Liberty Station’s North Promenade.

As they emerged, they seemed to step tentatively into an unfamiliar world–our world.

The mysterious creatures looked about with wonder. They wandered, gathered, formed a procession.

Appearing beautifully strange–and strangely familiar–the giant puppets and masked characters interacted with the crowd in a very human way. But then–all elemental myths are composed by us human types–right?

During the performance a baby deer was born.

The mythical creatures and we humans all looked on with wonder. The fawn was greeted with happiness.

The tiny deer looked about our shared world with newly opened eyes.

These strangely wonderful myths were brought to life by the San Diego-based Animal Cracker Conspiracy!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

The Dark Crystal trolley for Comic-Con!

Another cool trolley wrap has debuted for 2019 San Diego Comic-Con! I spotted it this morning. This one might be my favorite so far!

The eye-catching graphics promote an upcoming show on Netflix. Get ready for Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

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Photos of tour inside LAIKA LIVE San Diego!

Dozens of amazing stop-motion puppets can be viewed inside LAIKA LIVE San Diego at 2018 Comic-Con!
Dozens of amazing stop-motion puppets can be viewed inside LAIKA LIVE San Diego at 2018 Comic-Con!

Wow!

If you thought last year’s Laika Experience at Comic-Con was great, you’ll be absolutely stunned by LAIKA LIVE San Diego in 2018!

Not only are there lots of detailed puppets, models and scale movie sets, but during the tour visitors can meet and talk to an actual working armaturist and an animator! Anyone interested in how Laika produces their films can ask any sort of question, and the friendly guys explain everything–from how puppets, their armatures and costumes are created and manipulated, to how scenes are conceived and filmed.

Visitors to LAIKA LIVE San Diego also get a preview of the upcoming funny and heartwarming movie Missing Link.

If you can, visit this Comic-Con offsite before Comic-Con actually begins and the lines get really, really long.

Here are some photos. Read the captions for more info. I’m no expert, so I hope I’ve described things correctly.

There’s a lot more to see than what I cover here. Many detailed displays that visitors can view during the tour explain the complicated process of making a Laika movie!

Before beginning the tour, visitors can pose with various Laika characters, like Other Mother, for a photo.
Before beginning the tour, visitors can pose with various Laika characters, like Other Mother, for a photo.

While we wait to begin the tour, we watch a video explaining various aspects of Laika's animation and how their fantastic movies are produced.
While we wait to begin the tour, we watch a video explaining various aspects of Laika’s animation and how their fantastic movies are produced.

Visitors are encouraged to vote for this LEGO model of Coraline's house by photographing a QR code. Given enough votes, LEGO will produce the kit!
Visitors are encouraged to vote for this LEGO model of Coraline’s house by photographing a QR code. Given enough votes, LEGO will produce the kit!

A board contains Laika fan art and letters.
A board contains Laika fan art and letters.

Examples of one letter and some fan art.
Examples of one letter and some fan art.

Visitors to LAIKA LIVE San Diego get character fans as free swag.
Visitors to LAIKA LIVE San Diego get character fans as free swag.

The tour has begun. First up we see a large model of Coraline's Other World House Exterior, or Pink Palace. The 1/16 scale miniature was used to film several exterior scenes.
The tour has begun. Here we see a large model of Coraline’s Other World House Exterior, or Pink Palace. The 1/16 scale miniature was used to film several exterior scenes.

A closer look, with models of Coraline characters on the porch.
A closer look, with models of Coraline characters on the porch.

A friendly LAIKA Armaturist describes how puppets are made, manipulated and repaired at his workstation, dubbed the Puppet Hospital. He answered every sort of question!
A friendly LAIKA armaturist describes how puppets are made, manipulated and repaired at his workstation, dubbed the Puppet Hospital. He answered every sort of question!

Two of the puppets, I believe from ParaNorman.
Two of the puppets, I believe from ParaNorman.

A look at the Puppet Hospital and some of the tools used to make, modify and repair Laika's many puppets.
A look at the Puppet Hospital and some of the tools used to make, modify and repair Laika’s many puppets.

Once a puppet's physical posture is slightly altered, a key tightens up the armature for another camera shot.
Once a puppet’s physical posture is slightly altered, the turn of a key tightens up the armature for another camera shot.

Next we see how this Laika Animator captures images of Kubo on a small set of his village using a camera on a running rig.
Next we see how this Laika animator captures images of Kubo on a small set of his village using a camera on a running rig.

One camera shot is observed.
One camera shot is analyzed.

Software allows many frames to be merged and edited into a completed film.
Software allows many frames to be merged and edited into a completed film.

Some puppets have many faces that can be attached, each with a slightly different expression.
Some puppets have many faces that can be attached, each with a slightly different expression.

The tour continues to a large set that is being used to film Laika's upcoming funny movie Missing Link. The detail of the Pacific Northwest forest is extraordinary.
The tour continues to a large set that is being used to film Laika’s upcoming funny movie Missing Link. The detail of the Pacific Northwest forest is extraordinary.

The friendly LAIKA tour guide poses for a fun photo!
The friendly LAIKA tour guide poses for a fun photo!

Near the end of the tour, there is a life-size replica of Coraline's Other World Living Room.
Near the end of the tour, there is a life-size replica of Coraline’s Other World Living Room.

A fantastic model and puppets used in the filming of The Boxtrolls.
A fantastic set and puppets used in the filming of The Boxtrolls.

More cool sights during an amazing tour of LAIKA LIVE San Diego at 2018 Comic-Con!
More cool sights during an amazing tour of LAIKA LIVE San Diego at 2018 Comic-Con!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

A look inside the Laika Experience at Comic-Con!

Models of characters in the stop motion animated film ParaNorman displayed inside the Laika Experience San Diego for Comic-Con.
Models of characters in the stop motion animated film ParaNorman displayed inside the Laika Experience San Diego for 2017 Comic-Con.

The Laika Experience San Diego opened this afternoon! This very cool exhibit created in the Gaslamp by Laika Entertainment runs through the end of Comic-Con. It’s free to the public and well worth checking out! You can find it at 520 Fifth Avenue.

Here are a few photos I took of the many highly detailed models, props, sets and puppets used by Laika in making their four films: Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, and Kubo and the Two Strings.

Laika still uses the stop motion method to create their awesome animation. I learned they only use CGI sparingly, for things that are difficult to animate, like fire and water. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and the kids in our small group had a blast. There are lots of amazing models from each of their four movies, and a video and informative displays that explain the stop motion animation process.

Kubo greets passersby in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. A free exhibit by Laika Entertainment demonstrates their animation process and includes puppets, sets and props.
Kubo greets passersby in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. A free exhibit by Laika Entertainment demonstrates their stop motion animation and includes puppets, sets and props.

This cool artwork, made of LED lights, is from Laika's acclaimed first movie Coraline.
This cool artwork, made of LED lights, is from Laika’s acclaimed first movie Coraline.

Detailed model of Beldam from the movie Coraline.
Detailed model of Beldam from the movie Coraline.

Awesome model of the crooked house from ParaNorman!
Awesome model of the crooked house from ParaNorman!

Cool models of characters from ParaNorman.
Cool models of characters from ParaNorman.

From a hallway locker scene in ParaNorman!
From that hallway locker scene in ParaNorman!

Archibald Snatcher in his giant robot in the movie The Boxtrolls. Amazing detail!
Archibald Snatcher in his giant robot in the movie The Boxtrolls. Amazing detail!

A miniature set from Kubo and the Two Strings.
A miniature set from Kubo and the Two Strings.

The model of The Moon Beast from Kubo and the Two Strings was made using 3-D printing.
This model of the Moon Beast from Kubo and the Two Strings was made using 3-D printing then pieced together.

Norman is out on a San Diego sidewalk! You can meet him during Comic-Con and see a very cool exhibit created by Laika!
Norman is out on a San Diego sidewalk! You can meet him during Comic-Con and see a very cool free exhibit created by the stop motion animation wizards at Laika!

Shoe and Fish of the Boxtrolls wave hello!
Shoe and Fish of the Boxtrolls wave hello!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

9-foot-tall talking tree coming to Balboa Park!

A fairy puppet and smiling puppeteer pose for my camera in San Diego's wonder-filled Balboa Park.
A fairy puppet and smiling puppeteer pose for my camera in San Diego’s wonder-filled Balboa Park.

I made a magical discovery today during my walk through wonder-filled Balboa Park!

This nice lady was passing by the House of Hospitality with a large fairy puppet, testing it for reactions from kids! I learned her daughter, Julie Otto, creator of Julie’s Puppet Creations, is going to have experimental, larger-than-life puppets featured at the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater!

The production is called Whispers of the Forest, and it will be showing at the theater for a two week span, beginning the week before Earth Day. Fun marionettes will be featured, in addition to a 9-foot-tall talking tree, and it sounded to me as if it’s going to be great!

San Diego's Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park has showtimes at 11, 1 and 2:30, Wednesday through Sunday.
San Diego’s Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park has showtimes at 11, 1 and 2:30, Wednesday through Sunday.

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is a place of magic and fun for kids and warm-hearted adults alike!
The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is a place of magic and fun for kids and warmhearted adults alike!

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