Henry Selick

Selick was born on November 30, 1952 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, the son of Melanie (née Molan) and Charles H. Selick.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LKIrAQAAMAAJ&q=Henry+Selick+1952 |title=Current Biography Yearbook - Google Books |via=Google Books |access-date=August 9, 2013 |last1=Block |first1=Maxine |last2=Rothe |first2=Anna Herthe |last3=Candee |first3=Marjorie Dent |year=2009 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629172536/https://books.google.com/books?id=LKIrAQAAMAAJ&q=Henry+Selick+1952 |url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437804324 | work=Asbury Park Press | title=CHARLES H. SELICK, 80, of RUMSON | date=May 4, 2006 | access-date=July 6, 2017 | archive-date=September 14, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914141732/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/doc/437804324.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May%204,%202006&author=&pub=Asbury%20Park%20Press&edition=&startpage=&desc=CHARLES%20H.%20SELICK,%2080,%20of%20RUMSON | url-status=live }} He was raised in Rumson.Beckerman, Jim. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110511205845/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22505218.html "A FUZZY NIGHTMARE, BROUGHT TO SCREEN"], The Record (Bergen County), April 7, 1996. Accessed December 13, 2007. "We were literally rolling a 20-foot peach, says Selick, a Rumson native..." Selick did little but draw from ages 3 to 12. His fascination with animation came at a young age, when he saw Lotte Reiniger's stop-motion film The Adventures of Prince Achmed and the animated creatures of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad by Ray Harryhausen. He graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School in 1970.Staff. [http://themonmouthjournal.com/filmmakers-students-present-their-work-at-annual-film-festival-p490-73.htm "Filmmakers, students present their work at annual film festival"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616114634/https://themonmouthjournal.com/filmmakers-students-present-their-work-at-annual-film-festival-p490-73.htm |date=June 16, 2023 }}, The Monmouth Journal, June 19, 2019. Accessed October 4, 2019. "In February, the Film Club went to a local theater complex to view Coraline, a major feature film created by another RFH graduate. Henry Selick, RFH Class of 1970, adapted the children's story for the screen and directed the stop-action animation film that some theaters showed in 3-D."

After studying science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and art at Syracuse University and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, Selick eventually enrolled at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) to study animation. He studied at the Program in Experimental Animation at California Institute of the Arts under the guidance of Jules Engel. His two student films there, Phases and Tube Tales, were nominated for Student Academy Awards.{{cite web | url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/henry-selick/3432/ | work=Tribute.ca | title=Henry Selick biography | access-date=September 17, 2018 | archive-date=September 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915225744/https://www.tribute.ca/people/henry-selick/3432/ | url-status=live }}

Selick worked on commercials, including working on the stop-motion animation for the Pillsbury Doughboy for some of the Pillsbury Company commercials.{{cite magazine|magazine=Sight and Sound|date=September 2024|title=In conversation |last=Dudok de Wit |first=Alex |author-link=Alex Dudok de Wit |pages=14-15}}

After his academic studies, he went to work for Walt Disney Studios as an "in-betweener" and animator trainee on such films as Pete's Dragon and The Small One. During his time at Disney, he met and worked around the likes of Rick Heinrichs, Jorgen Klubien, Brad Bird, John Musker, Dan Haskett, Sue and Bill Kroyer, Ed Gombert, Andy Gaskill, and Tim Burton. Burton served as producer on Selick's first two films as director, the Disney-produced The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. Years later, Selick claimed he learned a lot to improve his drawing, animation, and storytelling skills from Disney legend Eric Larson.

Selick's third feature was Monkeybone, a live-action/stop-motion adaptation of an underground comic, Dark Town by Kaja Blackley, produced by 20th Century Fox. The film was a flop both commercially and critically. Selick later admitted his unhappiness with the final product and has since vowed to never make another live-action film again.{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/monkeybone-movie-box-office-reaction-henry-selick-response/ | title=Coraline Director Reflects on Brendan Fraser's Monkeybone Bombing | website=Screen Rant | date=November 7, 2022 }} Selick, who animated the fictional sea creatures in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, signed on as animation director on Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox.{{cite news | title = The Darjeeling Limited: Who needs a film set in LA when you have a speeding train in India? | work = The Telegraph | date = November 17, 2007 | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/11/17/bfwes.xml | access-date = March 19, 2022 | location = London | first = David | last = Gritten | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071118023302/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2007%2F11%2F17%2Fbfwes.xml | archive-date = November 18, 2007 | url-status = dead }} In February 2006, Selick left the project, to work on Coraline for Laika.{{cite news|url = http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=22929|title = Selick no longer at work on The Fantastic Mr. Fox|work = Ain't It Cool News|date = February 15, 2006|access-date = March 19, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060507212635/http://aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=22929|archive-date = May 7, 2006|url-status = live}} Selick, who kept in contact with Anderson, said the director would act out scenes in Fantastic Mr. Fox while in Paris and send them to the animators via iPhone.{{cite news|author=Steve Prokopy|title=Capone Talks with CORALINE Director and Wizard Master Henry Selick!!!|work=Ain't It Cool News|date=February 2, 2009|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39977|access-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205134901/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39977|archive-date=February 5, 2009|url-status=live}}

Selick's first feature with Laika, LLC was Coraline, based on the novella Coraline by acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman, and released in 2009. It was the first ever stereoscopic 3D stop-motion animated film.Dunlop, Renee. February 12, 2009 [http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=4924 Coraline; One Step at a Time for the Puppet of a Thousand Faces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110164142/http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/coraline |date=January 10, 2012 }} The film received generally positive reviews from critics. Coraline was nominated for Best Animated Feature as an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe.

Selick left Laika in 2009.{{cite web | last=Kapko | first=Matt | title=Breaking News: Henry Selick Leaves Laika | url=http://www.awn.com/news/business/breaking-news-henry-selick-leaves-laika | publisher=Animation World Network | date=October 6, 2009 | access-date=November 12, 2009 | archive-date=October 12, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012161051/http://www.awn.com/news/business/breaking-news-henry-selick-leaves-laika | url-status=live }} In 2010, Selick joined with Pixar and The Walt Disney Company in a long-term contract to exclusively produce stop-motion films.{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Joe |url=http://www.frontrowreviews.co.uk/reviews/henry-selick-to-join-disneypixar/4686 |title=Henry Selick To Join Disney/Pixar |publisher=Front Row Reviews |access-date=August 9, 2013 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112035247/http://www.frontrowreviews.co.uk/reviews/henry-selick-to-join-disneypixar/4686 |url-status=live }} 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."{{cite web|last=Amidi |first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi |url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/henry-selicks-new-studio-cinderbiter-hiring-head-of-story.html |title=Henry Selick's New Studio Cinderbiter Hiring Head of Story |publisher=Cartoon Brew |date=December 20, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405100838/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/henry-selicks-new-studio-cinderbiter-hiring-head-of-story.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 }}

Selick and Cinderbiter's first film under this deal, a project called ShadeMaker, was set to be released on October 4, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/marvel-pixar-disney-2014-release-dates/108082/ |title=Disney Setting Marvel and Pixar Mystery Films for 2014; New Henry Selick Film on October 4, 2013 | Collider | Page 108082 |publisher=Collider |access-date=August 9, 2013 |archive-date=June 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605025323/http://collider.com/marvel-pixar-disney-2014-release-dates/108082/ |url-status=live }} In 2011, the film was green-lit for production and retitled The Shadow King.{{cite news|last=staff|title=Henry Selick revives 'Shadow King': Josh Penn produces stop-motion project|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/henry-selick-revives-shadow-king-1118065661/M|access-date=March 8, 2013|newspaper=Variety|date=February 4, 2013|archive-date=July 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722125123/https://variety.com/2013/film/news/henry-selick-revives-shadow-king-1118065661/M|url-status=live}} In August 2012, it was reported that, after spending a reported $50 million, Walt Disney Pictures canceled the project,{{cite news|last=Fritz|first=Ben|title=Disney takes $50 million write-down on canceled animation project|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2012-sep-13-la-et-ct-disney-50-million-write-down-20120913-story.html|access-date=March 8, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 13, 2012|archive-date=April 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417081730/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/13/entertainment/la-et-ct-disney-50-million-write-down-20120913|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|last=Graser|first=Marc|title=Disney pulls plug on Selick stop-motion pic|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/disney-pulls-plug-on-selick-stop-motion-pic-1118057845/|work=Variety|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-date=August 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817010959/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118057845|url-status=live}} Selick revealed in 2022 that the film suffered from interference from then-CCO of Pixar John Lasseter, who he claimed came in and constantly changed elements of the script and production that ended up ballooning the budget.{{cite web|title=The 'plagues' of Wendell & Wild: fires, ice storms, rioters, and COVID-19|url=https://ew.com/movies/wendell-wild-puppet-rescue-henry-selick-interview/|access-date=October 4, 2022|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004134833/https://ew.com/movies/wendell-wild-puppet-rescue-henry-selick-interview/|url-status=live}} Selick said that he had reacquired the rights for The Shadow King from Disney and that he may revive the project.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Madalyn |date=2022-11-07 |title='The Shadow King': Henry Selick Reveals He Got the Rights Back to Scrapped Disney Project |url=https://collider.com/the-shadow-king-henry-selick-rights/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Collider |language=en |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310184758/https://collider.com/the-shadow-king-henry-selick-rights/ |url-status=live }}

On April 28, 2012, it was announced that Disney had optioned the rights for Neil Gaiman's novel The Graveyard Book. Later that same day, it was announced that Selick would direct the film after work was completed on ShadeMaker. It was unknown if the adaptation would be live-action or stop motion.{{cite web|title=Disney Acquires Neil Gaiman's 'The Graveyard Book' Adaptation [Updated]|date=April 27, 2012|url=https://screenrant.com/neil-gaiman-graveyard-book-movie-disney-sandy-167763/|access-date=August 9, 2013|publisher=Screenrant.com|archive-date=November 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112042003/http://screenrant.com/neil-gaiman-graveyard-book-movie-disney-sandy-167763/|url-status=live}} After the studio and Selick parted ways over scheduling and development, it was announced in January 2013 that Ron Howard would direct the film.{{cite web|date=January 22, 2013|title=Ron Howard in Talks to Direct Disney's 'Graveyard Book' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ron-howard-talks-direct-disneys-414344|access-date=January 22, 2013|work=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=October 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026032403/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ron-howard-talks-direct-disneys-414344|url-status=live}}

In February 2013, it was reported in a press release by Selick that K5 International would be handling sales for The Shadow King at the European Film Market.{{cite news |publisher=Collider |url=https://collider.com/henry-selick-the-shadow-king/ |title=Henry Selick's THE SHADOW KING Finally Moves Forward; Plot Synopsis Revealed |first=Matt |last=Goldberg |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-date=February 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208164458/http://collider.com/henry-selick-the-shadow-king/ |url-status=live }} 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 and Wendell and Wild.{{cite news|last=Rome|first=Emily|title='Kubo' studio Laika moves forward while 'Coraline' fans wait for the next project from Henry Selick|url=http://uproxx.com/hitfix/kubo-studio-laika-moves-forward-while-coraline-fans-wait-for-the-next-project-from-henry-selick/|access-date=February 19, 2017|date=August 25, 2016|archive-date=February 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219192715/http://uproxx.com/hitfix/kubo-studio-laika-moves-forward-while-coraline-fans-wait-for-the-next-project-from-henry-selick/|url-status=live}}

On October 16, 2013, Selick announced a live-action film adaptation of Adam Gidwitz's children's novel A Tale Dark and Grimm.{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/henry-selick-gives-up-animation-for-a-tale-dark-and-grimm-89831.html|title=Henry Selick Gives Up Animation For "A Tale Dark and Grimm"|date=October 16, 2013|access-date=October 21, 2013|archive-date=October 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100517/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/henry-selick-gives-up-animation-for-a-tale-dark-and-grimm-89831.html|url-status=live}} As of 2023, no further updates on the project have been given.

On November 3, 2015, it was reported that Selick was developing Wendell & Wild, a new stop-motion feature with Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key based on an original story by Selick.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/henry-selick-key-and-peele-developing-animated-feature-1201632089/|title=Henry Selick, Key & Peele Developing Animated Feature 'Wendell and Wild' (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Terry|last=Flores|date=November 3, 2015|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924071356/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/henry-selick-key-and-peele-developing-animated-feature-1201632089/|url-status=live}} In 2018, the film was picked up by Netflix.{{cite web |url=http://deadline.com/2018/03/jordan-peele-keegan-michael-key-netflix-wendell-and-wild-henry-selick-stop-motion-animated-film-1202337832/ |title=Netflix Wins Stop-Motion Animated 'Wendell And Wild': Henry Selick, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key Aboard |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=March 14, 2018 |access-date=May 23, 2021 |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314235708/http://deadline.com/2018/03/jordan-peele-keegan-michael-key-netflix-wendell-and-wild-henry-selick-stop-motion-animated-film-1202337832/ |url-status=live }} The film was released on October 28, 2022, on Netflix.

In June 2017, Selick was reported to direct the pilot and subsequent episodes of a Little Nightmares TV adaptation produced by the Russo brothers.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/russo-brothers-adapting-video-game-little-nightmares-tv-1012736|title=The Russo Brothers Adapting Video Game 'Little Nightmares' for TV (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 12, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108012437/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/russo-brothers-adapting-video-game-little-nightmares-tv-1012736|url-status=live}}

In June 2024, it was announced that Selick was developing a stop-motion film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2013 novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane, as well as reviving The Shadow King as a graphic novel.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/henry-selick-neil-gaiman-pixar-coraline-annecy-1236033866|title= Henry Selick Developing ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ With Neil Gaiman, Will Revive ‘The Shadow King’ as Graphic Novel|last=Croll|first=Ben|website=Variety|date=June 11, 2024|access-date=July 11, 2024}} In August 2024, Selick implied The Ocean at the End of the Lane was back in limbo, saying in an interview while promoting the theatrical re-release of Coraline, "I would hope that it might still come together, but I have no predictions."{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-movies/coraline-and-the-nightmare-before-christmas-director-henry-selick-on-the-movies-major-anniversaries-but-says-they-wont-get-sequels-interview-exclusive/ |title=Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick says it's "incredibly rewarding" seeing them celebrate major anniversaries, but they probably won't get sequels anytime soon |first=Megan |last=Garside |website=GamesRadar+ |date=14 August 2024}} In January 2025, it was reported that the film was still in development, despite Gaiman facing multiple accusations of sexual assault.{{Cite web |url= https://www.cartoonbrew.com/law/numerous-women-accuse-coraline-author-neil-gaiman-of-sexual-assault-245015.html/ |title=Numerous Women Accuse Coraline Author Neil Gaiman of Sexual Assault |first=Megan |last=Garside |website=Cartoon Brew|date=14 January 2025}}

• Pete's Dragon (1977) (inbetweener)
• The Small One (1978) (animator)
• The Watcher in the Woods (1980) (designer of the alien)
• Twice Upon a Time (1983) (sequence director)
• Return to Oz (1985) (storyboard artist)
• Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986) (visual adaptation)
• MTV ID's: "Gravity", "Masks '87", "Dollhouse M", "Bath for Dad", "Haircut M", "Xerox Bug" (1987–1990)
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (inbetweener)
• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) (animator)

In 2012, the Academy Film Archive preserved several of Selick's short films: Phases, Seepage, and Tube Tales.{{cite web|title=Preserved Projects|url=https://www.oscars.org/academy-film-archive/preserved-projects?title=&filmmaker=selick&category=All&collection=All|website=Academy Film Archive|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001183942/https://www.oscars.org/academy-film-archive/preserved-projects?title=&filmmaker=selick&category=All&collection=All|url-status=live}}

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{{Henry Selick}}

{{Winsor McCay Award 2010s}}

{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}

{{Laika (company)}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Selick, Henry}}

Category:1952 births

Category:20th-century American artists

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:20th-century American screenwriters

Category:21st-century American artists

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American screenwriters

Category:American animated film directors

Category:American animated film producers

Category:American film producers

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American storyboard artists

Category:Animation screenwriters

Category:Animators from New Jersey

Category:California Institute of the Arts alumni

Category:CAS Filmmaker Award honorees

Category:Film directors from New Jersey

Category:Living people

Category:People from Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Category:People from Rumson, New Jersey

Category:Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni

Category:American stop motion animators

Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios people

Category:Writers from Essex County, New Jersey

Category:Writers from Monmouth County, New Jersey