Laika Studios, the stop-motion animation company behind the charming Coraline and this year’s promising ParaNorman, have decided on their next project.  Per Variety, the studio will next adapt Philip Reeve’s book Goblins, with Mark Gustafson onboard to direct.  Gustafson previously served as animation director on Fantastic Mr. Fox and was recently hired to direct Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion take on Pinocchio.  The story of Goblins centers on a clever young goblin who lives among his slightly less-mannered bretheren.  “Only he understands that an ancient evil is rising that will bring all manner of monsters and mythical creatures into an epic magical conflict.”I really enjoyed Coraline and ParaNorman is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, so the fantastical world of Goblins sounds like a perfect fit for Laika.  The studio’s CEO Travis Knight noted that the material will make “a strange, stirring, and altogether beautiful film.”  Count me in.  Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the book.Here’s a synopsis for Goblins:

This is a wild world of magical creatures and heroic adventure from the extraordinary imagination of Philip Reeve. The squabbling goblins who live in the great towers of Clovenstone spend their time fighting and looting. Only clever young Skarper understands that dark magic created by a vanquished sorcerer is rising again. From the lands of men come fortune-seekers - and trolls, giants, cloud-midens, boglins, swamp monsters, tree-warriors and bloodthirsty goblins are swept into a fabulous magical conflict to thrill all fantasy fans. [Amazon]

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