"Wildwood" (2026): LAIKA's Impeccable Latest Adventure

I will tear apart this forest to take back what it took from me.

“Wildwood” is a 2026 LAIKA stop-motion film based on the novel by Colin Meloy. Prue McKeel’s baby brother is stolen by the exiled Dowager Governess Alexandra, a powerful figure driven by grief. Determined to save her brother, Prue stops at nothing, experiencing several obstacles while traveling through forests outside of Portland.

“Wildwood” was a cinematic experience that I haven’t felt in so long. Animation is back with a film that soars to levels never seen before in cinema. “Wildwood” is an epic adventure that spent 16 years in the making. It’s a story about conquering bravery in times of uncertainty. 

The story follows Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a tenacious young girl who stops at nothing in her rescue mission. One aspect I love about Prue, aside from her courage, is how she owns up to her faults. Honesty is hard, but we can’t hide from fear.

Prue’s adventure is not the only one. Her classmate, Curtis (Jacob Tremblay), tags along with her only to get kidnapped. Curtis is very accident-prone, but his courage grows immensely. Prue and Curtis have separate stories, but I felt like they should have been siblings to make a stronger dynamic. 

Alexandra (Carey Mulligan) is a ruthless woman. She stops at nothing to have the world at her power. Underneath her anger is grief and resentment. In her voice acting, Mulligan truly delivers genuine emotions, capturing her character’s complicated story. 

Several actors lend their voices to the characters. More voice credits include Mahershala Ali, Richard E. Grant, Marc Evan Jackson, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, and Amanda Stenberg. As an interesting fact, because Tremblay recorded his voice so long ago, he didn’t recognise his own voice when the film premiered. 

“Wildwood” was a 16-year journey. Travis Knight’s direction deserves tremendous recognition. He has been involved with several LAIKA films. Travis, who was always a fantasy nerd, was drawn to Colin’s original story. He waited because he said he didn’t feel the film was ready yet, with its advanced elements. 

However, the real showstopper is the animation. Stop motion is a whole different world. It has made several incredible achievements in the last three decades. I haven’t seen the original book the film is based on, but after looking up images of the pages, Knight and the whole animation team established a stunning world. 

The sets, from mansions to forests and underground worlds, are beautifully handcrafted. Even the clothes, hair, and tiniest accessories are amazing. I could talk forever about the characters’ emotions and body language, but that would likely turn into a novel. 

This is what I love about researching behind-the-scenes of movies. The making of movies is a story in itself. LAIKA used 200 puppets, over 130 practical sets, and approximately 142,000 replaceable faces. Animators created 1.4 seconds of film per day. That’s commitment! It’s also an example that you don’t need AI to enhance originality. 

Bravery is an immense theme in “Wildwood.” You can be scared and brave at the same time. Remain true to yourself, don’t do it alone, and conquer your demons. 

“Wildwood” is rated PG-13. It is PG-13. It is violent, bloody, and includes some swearing. It’s not appropriate for younger audiences who may find it scary. The war and battle scenes could have been trimmed. They took away from the film. 

I wish I could go back and see this movie in theaters for the first time. It’s a breathtaking work of art. “Wildwood” is a cinematic masterpiece that can only be experienced in the theater while it’s still there.