ParaNorman Finally Reveals Mitch’s Missing Boyfriend After 13 Years

by


13 years after captivating audiences with its unique blend of humor, horror, and heart, I’m thrilled to share that ParaNorman is back in a big way! This time around, it’s celebrating Pride Month by finally introducing Mitch’s long-requested missing boyfriend. Directed by the dynamic duo Sam Fell and Chris Butler, ParaNorman was LAIKA Studios’ second major feature film project and a testament to their exceptional stop-motion animation skills.

Back in 2012, it was more than just an animated movie; it was a sensation that left fans spellbound with its eerie yet whimsical narrative. What made it truly special, though, was its groundbreaking representation of LGBT themes, making it a landmark film in the community.

Back when the movie “ParaNorman” graced our screens, there was a fascinating twist: Mitch, the older jock brother (voiced by Casey Affleck), turned out to have a boyfriend even as sweet Neil’s (Tucker Albrizzi) sister, Courtney (Anna Kendrick), tried her best to win his heart. Now, 13 years later, Chris Butler, the writer and director of “ParaNorman”, along with LAIKA Principal Character Designer Thibault Leclercq and LAIKA Development Art Director Iuri Lioi, have revisited this intriguing world. And guess what? They’ve finally unveiled Mitch’s boyfriend’s design! Take a look at the fascinating process in the video above, and feast your eyes on the final design below.

Who Is Mitch’s Boyfriend In ParaNorman?

In honor of Pride Month this year, Chris Butler (writer and director of ParaNorman), Thibault Leclercq (LAIKA’s Principal Character Designer) and Iuri Lioi (LAIKA Development Art Director) have collaborated to unveil Mitch’s boyfriend. Although the character wasn’t fully realized during the initial film production, they decided to bring him to life now in response to the many fans who have been asking to see this relationship depicted since then.

In the animated film “ParaNorman,” Mitch stood out as a significant character due to multiple reasons. Firstly, he was among the initial openly gay characters in animated movies at that point in time. This aspect mirrored one of the movie’s key themes – not to judge a person based on their appearance or stereotypes. Despite appearing like a typical jock, Mitch had a deeper layer to his character.

When creating Mitch’s boyfriend, Luca, the design team intentionally focused on pairing someone whose characteristics would complement Mitch’s visual features and personality. This is explained in a video where they mention that they aimed to create a match for Mitch’s exaggerated look and persona.

What’s Next for LAIKA?

The unveiling of Mitch’s boyfriend as a character in ParaNorman has been well-received by fans, given that the film didn’t produce any spinoffs or sequels, which is consistent with LAIKA’s approach. Instead, this studio tends to focus on diverse and unique stories and projects, each one distinct from the others. For instance, their works following ParaNorman were unlike it, much like how ParaNorman differed from Coraline, which was released earlier. Interestingly, they are currently working on their next major project, set for release next year.

The upcoming movie titled “Wildwood,” an adaptation of the book by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, is currently being developed for a release in 2026. Known for his work on “ParaNorman,” Chris Butler wrote the script, while Travis Knight (director of “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “Bumblebee”) will be at the helm. Despite appearing to vanish from Laika’s release schedule, it has been confirmed that this new film will grace theaters next year; however, a specific release date is yet to be announced. The impressive ensemble cast includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, and others.

Read More

2025-06-08 20:09