I can already hear the anti-gay idiots getting the knickers in a twist about this trailer, which suggests that families aren’t always mother, father and kids in a traditional nuclear family setting. That’s especially true as it comes from Laika, which last year presented the first openly gay animated character in ParaNorman.

The Boxtrolls certainly looks like it’s going to be a fun if unusual movie – although we wouldn’t expect anything else from Laika. It’s all about how families comes in many different forms, straight, gay, extended and, err, troll.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘The new 3D animated feature from Laika Studios tells the tale of the Boxtrolls, monsters who live underneath the charming streets of Cheesebridge, who crawl out of the sewers at night to steal what the townspeople hold most dear: their children and their cheeses. At least, that’s the legend the townspeople have always believed. In truth, the Boxtrolls are a community of lovable oddballs who are raising as one of their own an abandoned and orphaned human boy named Eggs. When the Boxtrolls are targeted by a villainous exterminator who is bent on eradicating them, Eggs must venture aboveground to save them, where he teams with an adventurous young girl to save not only the Boxtrolls but the soul of Cheesebridge.’

We’ve got a bit of a wait to see the movie, as it’s not set for release until September 26th, 2014. [Read more…]