LAIKA Studios releases Wildwood, an ambitious stop-motion epic

LAIKA Studios has released Wildwood, a massive stop-motion fantasy adventure directed by Travis Knight. Based on the novel by Colin Meloy, the film follows a teenager named Prue McKeel who enters the Impassable Wilderness to rescue her infant brother from a murder of crows.

The production is noted for its immense scale and technical complexity, involving 16 years of development, over 1,000 artists, 132 to 136 physical sets, and more than 230 hand-controlled puppets. The film marks a significant departure for the studio with its PG-13 rating, featuring more mature themes, fantasy violence, and intense imagery compared to previous works like Coraline.

Critics have praised the film as a visual masterpiece and a triumph of handcrafted artistry, particularly in an era of generative AI. While some reviews suggest the technical spectacle occasionally outpaces the narrative, the film has received high acclaim, including a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes following its presentation at the London Film Festival.