I just saw the new stop-motion animated movie from Laika Studios, and it is absolutely stunning. It's breathtakingly beautiful, and the fact that it's achieved through stop motion puppets and physical sets is a wonder. And that's all in service to an emotional and thrilling story.

Here's a video of how the movie was made, and the meticulous attention to detail from hundreds of artists is jaw-dropping. It is a quantum leap forward in the capabilities of stop-motion and its ability to create astonishing moments of both small human emotion and grand, epic magnitude.

As of this writing, Rotten Tomatoes tallies it at 100% positive reviews, and a 98% verified audience rating, so it's a technical marvel and an absolute crowd-pleaser.…