This past weekend, I got to attend a screening of Laika Studios’ new family film, Missing Link. I also got to attend the press junket the following morning and had a chance to chat with Director Chris Butler, Actress Zoe Saldana and Actor Zack Galafinakis.

I’ll leave it for all of you to decide if it was Mister Link’s eating of the cookies on screen or Zack Galifinakis’ recording of the eating of cookies that inspired this brownie mix cookie recipe. This Mister Link Brownie Mix Cookies and interview post is in partnership with United Artists Releasing.

Don’t forget to download the Missing Link Activity Book! 

 

Now, you may not see Mister Link as a hairy avocado with legs, but do you know that’s what folks first described him as when Chris Butler showed his original sketches of the most endearing Sasquatch ever? Those original sketches became the beginning of a wonderful story about finding yourself and your family and the journey along the way. 

Butler’s big message for the audience is about friendship and family and how friends can be family- but also  that your identity is formed by yourself, and it’s not put upon you by others. {Which is illustrated through an 8 foot tall hairy avocado that I dare you not to fall in love with!}

 

 

My favorite thing about the interview with Butler, aside from his accent, because I do love a good accent, was how quick he was to not just say but show his emotion and excitement about the journey from his “hairy avocado” puppet sketches to sitting at a table with Zoe Saldana and Zack Galafinakis, talking to a room full of bloggers about it all. These movies are his babies, and he can poke fun at things, and even admit he hears some of the voices in his head as he’s writing the stories and scripts, but even when he’s poking some fun at himself, you know that he’s just so excited that he just created this thing and from his imagination, that this whole story evolved and he found people to match his vision and make it come to life. That’s a really special thing, and probably what makes him inspire those around him to do that extra thing to make the project just a tiny bit more magical. 

Not only is Mister Link reminiscent of a hair avocado with legs, he’s also a puppet.  Actually, the characters are all puppets in this film, which is amazing and just really cool. The detail on them is amazing. That makes the magic of this film and other films Laika Studios have created even more special, because with the scenery and the puppets and animation, plus the  voicing of the actors and actresses, these films take a really long time to complete.

Zoe Saldana shared with us how (paraphrased) “hard it is to do a project and know you won’t see the result for several years, but how very worth it it is in the end because these films are such a labor of love and you know that the cast and crew are dedicated to making it wonderful”. Like any mama I know, she “snuck” away from kid duties to come and chat with us. 

 

 

Zoe shared with us how she and Chris Butler spoke of how much of her Grandma’s accent she wanted in Adelina’s  character, and how much of her Mom’s accent…and in the end, they kind of decided over time to pull things back and make it more of her mom’s accent, but I think a little of her Grandma slipped in.  It must have been fun to include her own family in her current work. 

Zack Galafinakis shared a lot of his wit with us, simply by joining us in the room. But really, he was quick to point out the talents of the animators who brought his narrative and dialogue AS Mister Link to life. I say he doesn’t give himself enough credit. His love of Mister Link, and what he took from playing an 8 foot tall sasquatch? Well, he wishes he was taller… but on a more serious note,what he…

“really liked about Mr. Link, I miss it, is innocence. I miss it, and having kids you get to see it, you know. And I’m like, “Oh my god, what happened to me?” It’s the innocence and purity of Mister Link that really drew him in, that wide eyed view of the world once Link leaves the forest with Lionel, and they embark on their many adventures.”

 

Credit : Laika Studios / Annapurna Pictures

 

Zack told us his favorite part of the movie was the credits, and I admit I hadn’t really thought of it before he said that, but once he did, I’ve been thinking a lot about that. Stay for them, friends. You can watch and see how Laika Studios works their magic and see the layers that go into these magical stories we all enjoy watching on screen. 

 

Credit : Laika Studios / Annapurna Pictures

 

Before the junket ended, we even got to meet one of the animators of the film from Laika Studios, Dan Pascal. That was pretty amazing. He may have one of the most fun jobs EVER.

 

Watch the trailer now, and get your tickets to see the film in theaters on April 12! Then, make a batch of these 3 ingredient brownie mix cookies and enjoy cookies as much as Mr. Link did before the trio of friends went to meet his distant cousins! I know we’re going as a family, I am looking forward to introducing these charming characters to my kids and husband.

 

MISSING LINK – In Theaters April 12

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#MissingLink hits theaters everywhere April 12. Get your tickets now! bit.ly/MissingLinkTix

Mister Link Brownie Mix Cookies: Missing Link Movie Cookies

Ingredients

1 box brownie mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl combine your brownie mix, melted butter and egg and mix well. 

3. Form the dough into golf ball sized balls and place onto your baking pan.

4. Bake for 10 minutes and use a spatula to place on a cooling rack immediately.

Download the Missing Link Activity book free now by clicking the image above or for Missing Link movie fun!

 

Brownie Mix Cookies

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Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg