LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LAIKA, the animation studio behind the Academy Award®-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings, The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman, and Coraline, and California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the global restaurant brand serving fresh and creative California cuisine around the world, are teaming up for the first time on the studio’s newest film Missing Link, opening nationwide on April 12 with Annapurna Pictures and through United Artists Releasing, with special CPKids meal offers for moviegoers and a nationwide fundraiser benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In the spirit of encouraging adventure and supporting the kids that seek it, CPK locations nationwide are hosting an all-day fundraiser on Tuesday, April 9 to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America. For more than a century, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has assured that success is within reach of every young person who enters their doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. To participate in the fundraiser, guests can mention the fundraiser to their server to have 20 percent of their participating purchase donated to the organization.*
In addition, to celebrate the launch of Missing Link in theaters April 12, CPK will offer moviegoers a delicious opportunity to explore the CPKids menu, for free. **Families who visit CPK between April 12-28, 2019 can receive a free kids’ meal for kids 10 years old and under when they show their Missing Link ticket stub.
Bursting with humor, heart, and a profound message of acceptance and finding one’s place, Missing Link is written and directed by Oscar® nominee Chris Butler (ParaNorman). LAIKA’s head of production and Oscar® nominee Arianne Sutner (ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings) is producing with Travis Knight, who earned an Academy Award® nomination and BAFTA win for his directorial debut on Kubo and the Two Strings. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Zach Galifianakis.
Additionally, the estimable voice cast boasts a roster of internationally renowned and award-winning actors from all corners of the world. Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility), Stephen Fry (The Hobbit), Timothy Olyphant (Justified), Matt Lucas (Alice In Wonderland), David Walliams (Little Britain), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones) and Ching Valdes-Aran (Nurse Jackie) bring their extraordinary talents to this globe-trotting spectacle.
This April 12, meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend at the heart of Missing Link, the globe-trotting family adventure from LAIKA. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.
*Fundraiser valid only on 4/9/2019 at participating locations; not valid at university, hotel or airport locations. Tax, gratuity, gift card and retail sales are excluded from the donation. Not valid for third-party delivery.
**One Free CPKids Meal (with a minimum $15 spend on food and non-alcoholic purchases) with proof of “Missing Link” movie ticket purchase. Offer valid 4/12/2019 – 4/28/2019. For kids 10 years old or younger. Limit two offers per table. Not valid with any other offer. Dine in only. Excludes tax, gratuity, gift cards, and retail purchases. One time use only. Offer expires 4/28/2019.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at on Facebook and Twitter.
About California Pizza Kitchen
In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to innovative California-style pizza. With a passion for combining fresh, seasonal ingredients with flavor inspirations from around the world, today CPK is a global brand serving creative California cuisine in more than 250 restaurants in 13 countries and U.S. territories. From signature, hand-tossed pizzas and high-quality main plates to inventive better-for-you options, Lunch Duos, premium wines and hand-crafted beverages, CPK adds its imaginative twist to create a memorable dining experience. For more information, visit cpk.com. Connect with CPK on Twitter at @calpizzakitchen (#NEWCPK), Instagram at @californiapizzakitchen, and Facebook at facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen. Download the new CPK Rewards™ app for iOS and Android to earn rewards for dining creatively, pay by mobile, order online and more.
ABOUT LAIKA: Fueled by the vision of its President & CEO Travis Knight, the feature film animation studio LAIKA was founded in 2005 and is located just outside Portland, Oregon. Missing Link, LAIKA’s next film, boasts a roster of international stars including Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, Timothy Olyphant, David Walliams, Stephen Fry, and Matt Lucas and will be released on April 12, 2019. LAIKA was awarded a Scientific and Engineering Oscar® plaque in 2016 for its innovation in 3D printing. All of LAIKA’s previous four films -- Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), The Boxtrolls (2014), ParaNorman (2012), and Coraline (2009) -- were nominated for the Academy Award® for Outstanding Animated Feature. Kubo and the Two Strings also won the BAFTA® Award for Best Animated Film and received an additional Oscar® nomination for Visual Effects, among numerous other awards. @LAIKAStudios
ABOUT UNITED ARTISTS RELEASING: United Artists Releasing, a joint venture between Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) and Annapurna Pictures (Annapurna), is a U.S. theatrical releasing company. Built upon the legacy of the iconic United Artists motion picture studio, the joint venture provides a home where filmmakers are supported by thoughtful approaches to marketing, publicity and distribution. United Artists Releasing offers content creators an alternative distribution option outside of the studio system and supports Annapurna and MGM’s film slates as well as the films of third-party filmmakers. For more information, visit www.unitedartistsreleasing.com
