We’ve had some chef’s kiss moments with the puppets brought to life by local animation wizards ShadowMachine. From Tiny Chef’s “sho sho” charm to Pinocchio’s wide-eyed wonder, these scene-stealers have stopped travelers in their tracks.
They’re packing up now for their next adventure, but we’ll miss them dearly… or as Tiny Chef would say, “deawwy.” 💚
The PDX Art Program is already working on the next exhibition. We promise it’ll bring some smiles to your travel day.
You’ve seen the incredible puppets catching eyes in the Concourse Connector, but here’s a fun fact: it takes 24 individually crafted faces to create just one second of film! 🎞️ Georgina, Director of Character Fabrication at Portland’s own ShadowMachine (@shadowmachine_official ), gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how they brought Guillermo del Toro’s @pinocchiomovie to life.
From Pinocchio’s expressive features to Geppetto’s intricate design, every detail highlights the artistry of stop-motion animation. Next time you’re at PDX, take a closer look at the North and South display cases—they’re here through Summer 2025 and absolutely worth slowing down for.
such a delight to catch up with some old faces from home, visiting us at ShadowMachine this evening 💖 go watch Memoir of a Snail - either out now or coming soon to a theatre near you (Aus/US folks) 🐌
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#memoirofasnail#maryandmax#supportstopmo#stopmotionanimation#stopmo#aussiefilmmaking#filmmakers#shadowmachine#supportfilmmakersandgotothecinema#screeningnow#claymation#reunion#aussies
#TBT to when our incredible ShadowMachine team members @tarabillinger and @janimations took home the Emmy award in Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation! 🏆✨ Proud studio 😊🚀🎬
Happily helping Tiny Chef’s flowers flourish! 🌻🌷🪻🧑🌾🪕
It takes a lot of time and love —and friends!— to make Cheffy’s yard as beautiful as the dishes he and Olly and their fabulous friends cook up inside his studio stump home on @thetinychefshow 💚
Super duper shoutout to his main garden-tender @laurasavageringland , to landscapers @caitlinpashalek , @samcobb78 , @matthallartpdx , and @insideout_umbrella , and to team-leader @sam___levy !!
Our crew cooked up some serious fun at our Tiny Chef-themed costume contest! From mini aprons to chef hats, it was a recipe for success! Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes delights from our kitchen to yours!
We are thrilled to announce that ShadowMachine has been honored with a special day dedicated to us!
This incredible recognition wouldn't have been possible without the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our outstanding employees and collaborators. You are the heart and soul of our company, and we are endlessly grateful for everything you do.
We also want to take a moment to remember and honor a pivotal member of our team, Mark Gustafson. He was an extraordinary director who significantly contributed to the stop-motion community. His legacy and impact on our company and the industry will never be forgotten.
Thank you to the City Council of Portland for its unwavering support and recognition of our efforts. Your encouragement has been instrumental in our journey, and we are proud to be part of such a supportive community.
With this recognition, we look forward to achieving many more milestones together! 👏 ✨ 🎬
📸 credit: @gavinbrownmedia
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mark Gustafson. He was a revered Academy Award-winning director, a world-class creative, and a beloved part of the animation community in Portland, Oregon, over the past four decades. His contribution to the world of stop-motion animation is legendary. He died suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday morning. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jennifer, his family and loved ones. Mark’s passing comes as a great shock to the animation community and is a great loss to the entertainment industry at large. He was one of a kind and he will be missed.
Gustafson, 63, won an Oscar last year for co-directing “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.” He began his career at Will Vinton’s Portland animation studio, where he worked on such projects as “Claymation Christmas Celebration,” “Mr. Resistor,” “The PJs,” and “Meet the Raisins!,” featuring the animated California Raisins. He was also the animation director for Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” which was nominated for an Oscar in the best animated feature category in 2010. In addition to his Oscar win for “Pinocchio,” Mark is the recipient of a Cannes Bronze Lion, three Emmy Awards, and numerous Annie Awards.
