LAIKA Shows Why 'Wildwood' Took 16 Years to Make

With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes debut, LAIKA's new animated fantasy epic, Wildwood, is being praised as one of the year's best movies and as one of the most ambitious fantasy epics ever produced. As the studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link, LAIKA are pioneers in stop-motion animation, one of the most difficult and time-consuming mediums. Considering that Wildwood is the longest stop-motion film ever made, features one of the medium's most elaborate action set pieces, and, according to director Travis Knight, took 16 years to make, it is little wonder the film is being called a technical marvel.

Wildwood is one of those films that makes audiences ask, "How in the world did they make that?" Collider can reveal a special behind-the-scenes look at one of the most ambitious fantasy epics to date. In the Collider Access set visit debuting exclusively on our Behind the Scenes channel tomorrow, LAIKA's Head of Animation, Brad Schiff, and other key experts at the studio will share some of the most advanced stop-motion figures ever created. From the colossal model used for The General (Angela Bassett) to an inside look at one of the film's smallest characters, Septima (Awkwafina), the featurette is a must-watch for fans of LAIKA, stop-motion, and animation. Another Collider Access deep dive into the making of Wildwood will debut after the film's wide release on October 23.

What Is 'Wildwood' About?

Based on the first novel in a fantasy trilogy of the same name, Wildwood follows the adventure of a young woman named Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), who lives in Portland with her parents and her baby brother Mac (Arthur Knight). Prue is drawn into a world of magic and mayhem when she sees her brother abducted by a murder of mysterious crows, leading her and her sort-of friend Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) to give chase. The two heroes enter a hidden magical kingdom full of coyote soldiers, noble bandits, and more, and their journey eventually crosses paths with a grieving queen (Carey Mulligan) who will stop at nothing to reverse her grim fate.

Wildwood opens in theaters on October 23, 2026. Tune in to Collider tomorrow for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film's production.