Jon Brion Scoring New Animated Film 'ParaNorman'

BY Alex HudsonPublished Jul 6, 2011

Jon Brion has more indie cred than most successful Hollywood composers. After all, he's previously worked with Of Montreal, Spoon, Elliott Smith and members of Radiohead. Now, Brion has unveiled his latest project: scoring the animated comedy thriller ParaNorman.

The film is being helmed by LAIKA and Focus Features, the same team behind 2009's Coraline. ParaNorman is about a 13-year-old boy named Norman who has to save his small town when it comes under siege from zombies. He is the only person who can speak with the dead, and he also encounters ghosts, witches, and a centuries-old curse. This will be the second-ever stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D.

LAIKA boss Travis Knight said in a press release, "Jon Brion is so prodigiously gifted it's almost unseemly. His virtuoso compositions are at once moody and imaginative, clever and subtle. Jon's inventive, genre-defying musical storytelling will provide the perfect accompaniment to ParaNorman's groundbreaking visuals and emotionally resonant narrative."

Brion added, "I've been waiting for the right animation project for some time now. This production and the people at LAIKA and Focus have an inspiring amount of heart. One can't help being swept up in the passion."

ParaNorman was written by Chris Butler, who is directing the film along with Sam Fell. Voice stars include Leslie Mann, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick and John Goodman. It's due to arrive in a little over a year, on August 17, 2012.

Brion also took part in that new Buddy Holly tribute album. He covered "Every Day," along with Fiona Apple. Listen below.

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