Installation of ANOMALISA Sets and Puppets on View at Moving Image Starting Today

The remarkable new movie Anomalisa, written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Kaufman and Duke Johnson, is a modern-day story about love and alienation that was beautifully and meticulously crafted using stop-motion animation.

In conjunction with the film's release, Museum of the Moving Image will present The World of Anomalisa, an installation of two sets and puppets used in the film. From today, December 18, 2015 through March 27, 2016, the installation will be on view as part of Behind the Screen, the Museum's core exhibition, which explores how movies are made, marketed, and shown.

A Golden Globe nominee for Best Animated Film, Anomalisa tells the story of Michael Stone, husband, father, and respected self-help author, who checks into a Cleveland hotel on a business trip and discovers a possible escape from the tedium of his life in the form of an unassuming Akron baked goods sales rep, Lisa, who may or may not be the love of his life. This unique story from the minds of Charlie Kaufman (Synecdoche, New York) and Duke Johnson (Community), was brought to life in animated form by Starburns Industries and producer Rosa Tran working in tandem with the directors, and with production designers John Joyce and Huy Vu, and head of puppet fabrication Caroline Kastelic.

The installation will feature puppets of Michael Stone (voiced by David Thewlis) and Lisa Hesselman (Jennifer Jason Leigh), each measuring about a foot high. They will be presented on the set of Michael's room at the Fregoli Hotel where much of the intimate action takes place. A second set measuring more than twelve feet long, of a nighttime Cleveland street where Michael enters a "toy" store to buy his young son a gift, will also be on view. These objects will be accompanied by video of related scenes from the film.

"Barely a foot high, these remarkably expressive puppets carry the emotional weight of this provocative movie," said Chief Curator David Schwartz. "Anomalisa is a great artistic accomplishment, a film that uses incredible craftsmanship at the service of a very touching story about love and identity."

In conjunction with the installation, Reverse Shot, the Museum's online publication, will post a video interview with Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson as they explore the Museum's core exhibition Behind the Screen.

A Paramount Pictures release, Anomalisa opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on December 30, nationwide in January. For theaters, visit: Facebook.com/Anomalisa and @Anomalisamovie on Twitter.

Museum of the Moving Image (movingimage.us) advances the understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media. In its stunning facilities -- acclaimed for both its accessibility and bold design -- the Museum presents exhibitions; screenings of significant works; discussion programs featuring actors, directors, craftspeople, and business leaders; and education programs which serve more than 50,000 students each year. The Museum also houses a significant collection of moving-image artifacts.

Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10:30 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Holiday hours: The Museum will be open 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mon., December 29; and Tues., December 30. The Museum will be closed on Thurs., November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wed., December 24; and Thurs., December 25.
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The Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and located on the campus of Kaufman Astoria Studios. Its operations are made possible in part by public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Natural Heritage Trust (administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation). The Museum also receives generous support from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. For more information, visit movingimage.us.