For many decades, animator Will Vinton was flying high in the clay animation world and on his way to be the next Walt Disney. After an Oscar-winning animated film and nationwide recognizable advertising campaigns, his animated studio became one of the most sought-after company to work with. However, his ambitions came to a screeching halt due to missteps in business making decisions as documented by director Marq Evans in Claydream that’ll force help to be a note in animation history.

Here’s the official synopsis for Claydream:

A modern day Walt Disney, Will Vinton picked up a ball of clay and saw a world of potential. Known as the “Father of Claymation,” Vinton revolutionized the animation business during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. But after 30 years of being the unheralded king of clay, Will Vinton’s carefully sculpted American dream came crumbling down at the hands of an outside investor, Nike’s Phil Knight.

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LRM Online’s Gig Patta talked with director Marq Evans on the legacy of Will Vinton, his rise and downfall, his accomplishments, Phil Knight, and how it all led to LAIKA Studios today.

Marq Evans is a documentary filmmaker. His first documentary The Glamour & The Squalor was about the story of Marco Collins, one of the last great rock radio DJs and musical tastemaster that changed our culture. In 2016, he followed with with a television docuseries Cow by Bear: Meet the Bear about an Alaskan brown bear that lives in a human world and accidentally creates one of the country’s most popular restaurants.

Claydream made it premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival 2021.

Watch the exclusive interview with Marq Evans below. Let us know what you think.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive, XYZ Films