LAIKA Launches Interactive ‘Wildwood’ Portal Experience Ahead of October Theatrical Release

LAIKA is bringing the world of its upcoming stop-motion feature Wildwood to life through an immersive, traveling installation titled “The Forest Is Calling.” The experience, which debuts outside the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego during San Diego Comic-Con on July 23, offers fans an interactive look at the film’s setting before its wide theatrical release on October 23.

The Forest Is Calling: An Immersive Journey

The installation serves as an experiential bridge between the real world and the “Impassable Wilderness,” the enchanted forest setting of the film. According to LAIKA Chief Marketing & Operations Officer David Burke, the studio designed the activation to move beyond passive viewing. The experience allows fans to determine which faction of the forest’s denizens they belong to, receive a digital photo, and collect a physical keepsake.

The environment features high-fidelity craftsmanship, including:

• The Wildwood Sigil, acting as the gateway to the experience.
• Prue McKeel’s bicycle, positioned at the edge of the forest.
• Baby Mac’s wagon, referencing the film’s inciting incident.
• Hidden artifacts and Easter eggs sourced directly from the production.

The installation was co-designed by Wildwood art director Matt Maldonado and the Portland-based agency KAMP Grizzly. Every element, from the textured flora to the ambient soundscapes, was built using practical fabrication to mirror the handcrafted aesthetic of LAIKA’s stop-motion animation.

Production and Theatrical Strategy

Wildwood is directed by Travis Knight, who also serves as CEO of LAIKA, with a screenplay by Chris Butler. The film is based on the novel by Colin Meloy. The production represents a significant logistical undertaking for the studio, involving hundreds of artists and storytellers.

The film’s voice cast features Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue and Jacob Tremblay as Curtis, alongside Carey Mulligan, Richard E. Grant, Awkwafina, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Blythe Danner, Arthur Knight, Maya Erskine, Jake Johnson, Tantoo Cardinal, Rob Delaney, Jemaine Clement, Marc Evan Jackson, Len Cariou, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Angela Bassett, and Mahershala Ali.

Fathom Entertainment is managing the wide theatrical release in the United States. While the activation begins in San Diego, LAIKA has confirmed that the tour will visit multiple cities across North America in the months leading up to the October 23 premiere.

Plot and Background

The story follows Prue McKeel, a teenager who enters the Impassable Wilderness—a forest hidden just outside Portland, Oregon—to rescue her brother after he is abducted by a murder of crows. Alongside her classmate Curtis Mehlberg, Prue encounters talking animals, bandits, and political factions within the woods. As the forest’s balance is threatened, the protagonists must navigate the competing ambitions of the forest’s residents.

Viewing Information

Fans interested in attending the experience or purchasing tickets for the film can monitor updates through the official LAIKA channels. Tickets for the theatrical release will be available later this summer via Fathom Entertainment and local theater box offices. Interested viewers can sign up for notifications to be alerted when seat reservations open.