Wildwood arrives in theaters after stop-motion development at Laika
Stop-motion studio Laika releases its fantasy adventure film Wildwood in theaters on Friday, bringing Colin Meloy’s 2011 novel to the screen, Reuters reported. The project follows teenager Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, as she enters a restricted Portland forest after magical crows kidnap her younger brother. Director Travis Knight led the production, which draws on the wooded landscapes of Forest Park in Portland, Oregon.
Cast and characters in the Portland fantasy
The voice cast features Jacob Tremblay as Prue’s friend Curtis, Jake Johnson as Mr. McKeel, and Carey Mulligan as the antagonist Alexandra. Johnson described the studio’s output as rare and unique during production interviews. Laika previously released the 2009 stop-motion film Coraline, which remains the company’s highest-grossing project and a seasonal favorite.
Internal mechanisms create realistic puppet motion
Production on the film required 231 puppets, 54 central hero characters, and 136 distinct locations. Animation supervisor Brad Schiff stated that the puppet department engineered internal mechanisms to create subtle muscle movements and breathing effects. These internal controls allow animators to manipulate the figures from both outside and inside the puppet frames to achieve realistic motion during large-scale scenes.
What book is the film based on?
What book is the film based on?
The film adapts the 2011 fantasy novel Wildwood written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis.
Who voices the main character Prue McKeel?
Actor Peyton Elizabeth Lee provides the voice for protagonist Prue McKeel in the Laika production.
How many puppets were built for the production?
The stop-motion production utilized a total of 231 puppets, including 54 central hero characters.