UConn Alum Shares Insights on Stop-Motion Film Creation

Maggie Flanagan discussed her experience at Laika Studios during a presentation at the Ballard Institute.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Puppetry

Gouache-painted illustration of a delicate mechanical puppet skeleton and metal workshop tools on a wooden table, depicting stop-motion animation craft. — University of Connecticut alumna Maggie Flanagan recently presented on her career as a puppet maintenance technician for Laika Studios. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe human-made crafts like stop-motion animation will see a renaissance in your area?

UConn graduate Maggie Flanagan recently detailed the labor-intensive production of the stop-motion film Wildwood at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry. The presentation offered a rare look into the technical demands of large-scale stop-motion animation.

Why it matters

The event highlighted the intersection of academic training and professional practice in the specialized field of puppetry arts. Flanagan shared how her pivot in skillsets eventually secured her a position at Laika Studios.

Wildwood required 1,000 employees to create 236 puppets and 140,000 faces across 2,804 shots. The project spanned 16 years of development, with nine of those years dedicated to active production.

The players

Maggie Flanagan

She is a 2020 MFA graduate of the University of Connecticut and a former puppet maintenance generalist for Laika Studios.

Laika Studios

This is an Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio known for producing feature-length films using specialized physical puppet models.

Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry

Based in Storrs, Connecticut, this institution is dedicated to the study and preservation of puppet arts.

The details

Flanagan, a 2020 MFA graduate of the University of Connecticut, served as a puppet maintenance generalist for the studio. She worked in the Puppet Hospital, where duties included cleaning fabric, stitching, swapping rigs, and detailed silicone work.

Maggie Flanagan earned her MFA in puppetry arts from the University of Connecticut in 2020.
Student Ellie Campbell viewed the film Wildwood on October 26, 2026.
Maggie Flanagan delivered her presentation at the Ballard Institute on October 28, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The discussion on stop-motion animation underscores a broader industry interest in human-made artistry versus digital alternatives. Flanagan suggests that the field is poised for a renaissance driven by growing audience demand for physical, handcrafted mediums.

This talk provided local students and enthusiasts with professional insights into the specialized craft of puppet maintenance. Attendees gained a clearer understanding of the labor and logistics required to bring physical characters to life in feature films.

The takeaway

Stop-motion animation remains a deeply collaborative field that relies on years of meticulous physical labor. Those interested in pursuing professional animation should consider bridging artistic training with technical maintenance skills.