LAIKA's Wildwood: Your First Look at Their Epic New Stop-Motion Journey

Get ready to step into a magical new world, because Laika Studios just dropped a captivating first look at their highly anticipated stop-motion film, Wildwood. It's shaping up to be their most ambitious project yet, bringing a beloved book to life with their signature breathtaking artistry.

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on LAIKA's Wildwood

• LAIKA Studios, known for classics like Coraline and ParaNorman, is set to release their sixth stop-motion feature, Wildwood, sometime in 2026.
• The film is based on Colin Meloy's novel and directed by Travis Knight, featuring an all-star voice cast including Angela Bassett, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Mahershala Ali, Carey Mulligan, and many more.
• A recent "first look" teaser highlighted the incredible craftsmanship, particularly for Angela Bassett's character, The General, a fierce golden eagle made with 9,000 hand-placed feathers!

What Is LAIKA's Highly Anticipated New Movie Wildwood About?

If you're a fan of magical realism and epic adventures, you're in for a treat! Wildwood plunges us into a mysterious forest just outside the familiar city limits of Portland, Oregon – a place you're "not supposed to go" and "not even supposed to know it exists."

The story kicks off when Prue McKeel, an ordinary girl, finds her baby brother, Mac, snatched away by a murder of crows and carried deep into the forest's enchanted depths. Determined to get him back, Prue, alongside her classmate Curtis, ventures into this hidden wonderland. What they discover is far beyond any fairytale she could imagine: talking animals, sneaky bandits, and powerful, sometimes dark, figures lurking in the woods.

It's an adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists, with illustrations by his equally talented wife, Carson Ellis. Given that both LAIKA and The Decemberists hail from Portland, this film is shaping up to be a true local legend come to life!

Meet the Incredible Voice Cast Bringing Wildwood to Life

LAIKA always pulls together a fantastic ensemble, and Wildwood is no exception. The cast is absolutely stacked with incredible talent, promising to imbue these stop-motion characters with unforgettable voices and personalities:

• Peyton Elizabeth Lee leads the adventure as Prue McKeel.
• Jacob Tremblay joins her as the hapless classmate, Curtis.
• Angela Bassett commands the skies as The General, a powerful golden eagle warrior.
• The stellar lineup also includes:
  • Carey Mulligan
  • Mahershala Ali
  • Awkwafina
  • Jake Johnson
  • Charlie Day
  • Amandla Stenberg
  • Jemaine Clement
  • Tom Waits
  • Richard E. Grant

That's a dream team of voices ready to transport us into LAIKA's latest animated world!

A Fascinating Glimpse Into the Meticulous Craft of Stop-Motion Animation

What makes LAIKA films so special is the sheer dedication and artistry behind every frame. The recent first look featurette gave us a jaw-dropping peek behind the curtain, particularly highlighting the creation of Angela Bassett's character, The General.

This majestic golden eagle isn't just a character; she's a masterpiece of engineering and art. Animators reportedly designed two specialized puppets for her: one for breathtaking flight sequences and another for more nuanced, fine-tuned performance. And get this – they painstakingly placed 9,000 individual feathers on the General to achieve that stunning, realistic avian movement! It's this kind of intense technical preparation and attention to detail that sets LAIKA apart.

"Known throughout Wildwood as The General. She embodies power & unshakeable grace. Behind the scenes, the brilliant artists at LAIKA Studios are hand-crafting a character that soars beyond the screen through breathtaking stop-motion animation."

— LAIKA Studios preview for Wildwood

Why Wildwood is Touted as LAIKA's Most Ambitious Cinematic Journey Yet

LAIKA is no stranger to ambitious projects. We're talking about the studio that brought us the intricate worlds of Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings. Yet, they're calling Wildwood their "most ambitious cinematic journey yet" and even "the hardest thing we have ever done."

The numbers back up that claim: the film boasts an astounding 136 unique locations, 54 hero characters, and a whopping 231 practical puppets. Imagine the thousands of hours, the meticulous movements, and the sheer volume of artistic decisions that go into bringing such a complex world to life, frame by painstaking frame. Director Travis Knight, who also serves as LAIKA's President & CEO, noted that the project's incredible ambition is why it's been in the works for such a long time – the studio acquired the rights way back in 2011, with an official announcement in 2021.

With six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel also lending his eye to the visuals, we can expect nothing short of stunning cinematography that pushes the boundaries of stop-motion.

When Can We Expect to Journey Into the Magical World of Wildwood?

We know you're eager to mark your calendars, but a specific release date for Wildwood is still under wraps. What we do know is that LAIKA plans for it to hit theaters sometime in 2026. Some reports even hint at an "early 2026" arrival, but we'll have to keep our eyes peeled for an official announcement from the studio.

This film will be LAIKA's first feature since 2019's Missing Link, and with all the talk about its ambition and scope, it's definitely one of the key animated titles to keep on your radar for the coming years.

Frequently Asked Questions About LAIKA's Wildwood

When is LAIKA's Wildwood coming out? LAIKA's Wildwood is currently slated for release sometime in 2026. A specific date has not yet been announced, but some sources suggest "early 2026." Who is directing Wildwood? Wildwood is directed by Travis Knight, who is also the President & CEO of LAIKA Studios. He previously directed Kubo and the Two Strings and the live-action film Bumblebee. What is the film Wildwood based on? The film is based on the novel of the same name by Colin Meloy, lead singer/songwriter for The Decemberists. The book was illustrated by Carson Ellis. Will Wildwood be in theaters or streaming? While no official distribution platform has been confirmed, most LAIKA films receive a theatrical release first. The context implies a theatrical release ("coming soon to theaters"). Sources

• Various news articles and press releases from LAIKA Studios.
• Entertainment news outlets like ScreenRant, ComingSoon.net, and FirstShowing.net.