Laika’s ‘Wildwood’ Trailer: A Stunning Stop-Motion Masterpiece Set for October Release

In an industry dominated by computer-generated animation and AI-generated content, Laika Studios continues to stand out with its painstakingly crafted stop-motion films. Renowned for its adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, the studio has earned Academy Award nominations for every feature film it has released to date. Each project, from ParaNorman to The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings, reflects the studio’s deep commitment to its craft as a labor of love.

Laika has now unveiled a teaser for its highly anticipated sixth feature, Wildwood. If the clip is any indication, this stop-motion animated film may be the studio’s most ambitious work yet. Scheduled for release on October 23, Wildwood marks Laika’s first stop-motion project since The Missing Link in 2018.

From Book to Screen: The Story of Wildwood

Wildwood is based on the 2011 children’s fantasy novel of the same name by Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, illustrated by his wife, Carson Ellis. The film reimagines the book as a modern-day fairy tale, following Prue, a headstrong seventh-grader whose baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows and taken into the Impossible Wilderness—a magical forest just outside Portland, Oregon.

With the help of a classmate, Prue embarks on a perilous journey through a world filled with magical creatures, dangerous bandits, and talking animals to rescue her brother. The story’s eerie parallels to The Labyrinth are likely intentional, adding to its allure for fans of fantasy adventures.

A Visual Feast: The Artistry Behind Wildwood

The animation in Wildwood is nothing short of spectacular. The film effortlessly captures the moody light and lush colors of the Pacific Northwest, immersing viewers in its woodland fantasy realm. Every magical creature and central character is meticulously crafted, a testament to Laika’s dedication to detail—a point the studio proudly emphasizes in its promotional materials.

The teaser trailer includes the tagline, “From the same hands that brought you Coraline,” and features a behind-the-scenes short that highlights the extraordinary effort behind one of the film’s giant eagles, known as the General. The process involved crafting 9,000 handmade feathers, showcasing the painstaking artistry that defines Laika’s work. Even a brief glimpse of a pair of bloody knuckles in the trailer demonstrates the film’s stunning attention to detail.

Crew and Cast: A Dream Team Behind Wildwood

Wildwood is directed by Travis Knight, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Butler, his collaborator on Masters of the Universe and Kubo and the Two Strings. The film boasts an all-star voice cast, including:

• Carey Mulligan
• Peyton Elizabeth Lee
• Jacob Tremblay
• Richard E. Grant
• Awkwafina
• Amandla Stenberg
• Tom Waits
• Charlie Day
• Blythe Danner
• Arthur Knight
• Angela Bassett
• Mahershala Ali

The film is set to premiere in theaters on October 23 through Fathom Entertainment.