Kent Melton is a legend in the world of animation, yet his name may not be as familiar as some of the characters he’s brought to life. From iconic Disney classics to Oscar-nominated stop-motion films, Kent’s artistic vision and technical expertise have left an indelible mark on the industry. But his impact extends far beyond his on-screen creations. While bringing these beloved characters to life, he was also making a lasting difference in the lives of those around him.
In this documentary, you’ll meet the man behind these unforgettable creations and discover a big-hearted, humble soul who lived and spread a philosophy of embracing mistakes, dreaming big and never giving up. In a world full of people who say “you can’t”, he was always there to say “You know what, you can do that. Nothing is impossible.”
To bring this project to life, we need your support. By supporting this Kickstarter campaign, you’ll not only help us share Kent Melton’s incredible story with the world but also ensure that his legacy continues to inspire future generations of artists and animators.
Click the link in bio or below to check out our project page.
/projects/mariaandreotti/untitled-kent-melton-documentary
#kentmeltondocumentary
Can't stop, won't stop making puppets!
I've been quietly building a replacement-animation puppet head for the upcoming Kent Melton documentary. This animation is a breakdown of the head assembly and all the little parts that make it work.
Kent was already a legend by the time we began working together on ParaNorman, though he never let on. He wasn't the sort to mention that he had quietly shaped half the animated films I grew up loving.
For over a decade at LAIKA, Kent would sculpt the hero sculpts of our characters in clay and I would attempt to recreate his maquettes and reverse engineer them into digital puppet heads. Two artists from different eras - me fumbling with all the technology in the world, trying to understand the undeniable genius of a man working with sticks and mud.
Whether Kent knew it or not, he became my teacher. I followed behind him studying every fingerprint, tool mark, and happy accident, trying to preserve the truth of what he made.
Getting to contribute to something honoring him means a lot to me.
More info over at @kentmeltondocumentary
Music by Kent Melton
Timelapse of our set construction by @littlescenery 🙌
Kent’s studio walls officially went up this weekend! Railings are in, windows are open, floor is stained, props are dressed and much more to come✨
Thank you @bixpix_entertainment for the space🫶
#kentmelton #documentary #stopmotion #animation #bts
Amazing progress on the Kent puppet head by @tyjohnson83 who collaborated with Kent on various Laika films😍 We have been working for months to figure out the head mechanics, mouth movement, expressions and much more, to help Kent get ready for his interviews.✨
#stopmotion #animation #handmade #miniature #puppet
Another really fun prop for @kentmeltondocumentary ! After I illustrated the fabric pattern from the original chair I got it printed on chiffon and backed it with maroon cotton to pop the red a bit more. The seat is removable so a different seat with rig access can replace it. Best part is all the upholstery was done with hot glue 🔥
Latest build for the @kentmeltondocumentary ! Pin Hole Camera made from wood, styrene, and brass. It's glued in place now but the joint at the bottom functions which is probably only important to me 😅
So excited to share some behind the scenes progress of the Kent stop motion puppet🤍 Two puppets have been built and are ready for costume, thanks to our wonderful fabricator Barney Marquez. We are in the process of testing how the mouth will move and what the beard will look like. We are collaborating with the amazing @michael_defeo and @tyjohnson83 in Portland to make these tests work in 3D and print a small set of replacement faces so Kent can have different expressions. He is looking so amazing and we cannot wait to see him come to life!✨
#kentmelton #kentmeltondocumentary #bts #puppet #stopmotion
I had been saving this build on the @kentmeltondocumentary because I knew there was a lot of detail I wanted to take the time to get right. The Meltone was inspired by a cigar box guitar and it's such a beautiful combination of sculpture, craftsmanship, and functionality. The mini was handmade from veneer, styrene, propoxy, and leather
A beautiful update on our stop-motion prop builds by @littlescenery 😍 These are various pieces from Kent’s home studio and library, two separate sets we have in progress. The lamp really works!!💡Everything is 100% handmade and scaled to Kent’s original self-portrait maquette sculpture, which we are using to build the puppets (more on that soon!)✨
#kentmeltondocumentary #stopmotion #animation #miniature #handmade
Some beautiful progress on Kent’s interview nook! @littlescenery has been working on the first set pieces, the curiosities cabinet and infinity bookshelf, and they could not be more perfect😍 We just have a handful of books to make…🫠
Swipe for reference of what the room will ultimately look like and stay tuned for more updates✨
#kentmelton #kentmeltondocumentary #documentary #film #sculpture #stopmotion #stopmotionanimation #animation #miniature #miniatures #puppet #set #build #handmade #bts
We were deeply honored to be welcomed into Henry Selick’s stunning, puppet-filled home to interview him for the documentary. Known for his brilliant work on The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach (ultimate favorites among most of our followers) it was difficult not to ask hundreds of questions and spend hours admiring the beautiful work surrounding us. We kept Kent in mind the entire time and focused on their collaboration on Coraline, from the evolution of Mother to Other Mother, to how Kent’s real Scottie dogs inspired his sculpts for the film. I can’t wait to share these stories with you all. Stay tuned for some BTS photos of the treasures we encountered in his living room✨
#kentmelton #kentmeltondocumentary #sculptor #sculpture #handmade #art #artist #animation #stopmotion #stopmotionanimation #film #cartoon #documentary #disney #laika #coraline #henryselick #director #nightmarebeforechristmas #jamesandthegiantpeach #puppets #interview #bts
