Laika's 'Wildwood' Premieres as a 130-Minute Stop-Motion Fantasy Epic

Key points

• The film, which took 16 years to develop and began production in 2021, is Laika’s sixth feature and its most visually ambitious work.
• It is adapted from the 2011 novel by Colin Meloy, featuring illustrations by Carson Ellis, and was written for screen by Chris Butler.
• The story centers on Prue, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who must navigate a parallel world of talking animals and political factions to save her baby brother, Mac.
• The voice cast includes Carey Mulligan as the Dowager Governess, Mahershala Ali as a bandit leader, and Angela Bassett as a bird leader, alongside Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina.
• Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, known for live-action films, worked on the project for the first time, enhancing the stop-motion visuals with a live-action feel.
• The film carries a PG-13 rating due to intense emotional scenes and violence, including a disturbing opening sequence involving a child android.

Background

Laika has maintained a perfect track record of earning Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations for its first four films: 'Coraline,' 'ParaNorman,' 'Missing Link,' and 'Kubo and the Two Strings.' 'Wildwood' is the studio’s first major release since 'Kubo' in 2016, representing a significant expansion in scale and budget compared to their previous works.

How outlets are covering it

Critics generally praised the visual craftsmanship and the ambitious scope of the film, with Variety calling it a 'richly textured, transportive fairytale epic' and Deadline describing it as a 'visual knockout.' However, opinions diverged on the narrative structure. The Guardian noted that while the film is 'old-fashioned' and engaging, it lacks the scary punch of 'Coraline' and the motive for the antagonist’s actions is unclear. Variety acknowledged that the story is 'somewhat more generic' and relies heavily on familiar tropes from authors like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, though it praised the dialogue and character relationships. Deadline emphasized the emotional depth and the 'battle royale' finale, while The Guardian highlighted the 'Hitchcockian' menace of the crow abduction scene.

Why it matters

As Laika’s most ambitious project, 'Wildwood' tests the limits of stop-motion animation in a market dominated by digital CGI. Its success could influence the future of independent animation studios and potentially secure a fifth consecutive Oscar nomination for the studio. The film also highlights the enduring appeal of handcrafted animation in a digital age, with a tagline in the film itself reading 'Enjoy handmade art before it’s gone forever.'

What to watch

The film is scheduled to open at AFI Fest in Hollywood later this month for its North American premiere. It is set for a wide theatrical release on October 23, 2026, in the US and UK, and October 22 in Australia. The film will likely be a contender for the Best Animated Feature Oscar category in early 2027.