In a newly published review, a critic argues that Laika Studios’ sixth animated feature, Wildwood, is a 5-star movie that proves animation is not just for children. Directed by Travis Knight, the stop-motion adaptation of Colin Meloy’s novel took 16 years to complete and relies on hundreds of handcrafted puppets to build a dark, mature fantasy world set in Portland, Oregon.
Travis Knight Directs a 16-Year Stop-Motion Epic
Production on Wildwood officially began in 2021 after a 16-year gestation period at the Oregon animation house, as reported by Deadline. The film celebrated its world premiere at the London Film Festival before being slated to open AFI Fest for its North American premiere in Hollywood. Chief Executive Officer and director Travis Knight chose to adapt the book in his hometown of Portland, utilizing stop-motion animation on a scale rarely seen in contemporary cinema.
The story centers on a teenage girl named Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who promises her parents she will watch her baby brother, Mac. During an outing at a park, a murder of crows swoops down and kidnaps the toddler, carrying him into the Impassible Woods—a forbidden forest that permits no outsiders. When Prue sets out to rescue her brother, she is joined by her awkward classmate Curtis Mehlberg, voiced by Jacob Tremblay.
Managing Warring Factions and Complex Villains
Once inside the forest, Prue and Curtis become separated and enter a hidden society populated by talking animals, bandits, and dangerous magic. Curtis encounters the primary villain, the Dowager Governess Alexandra, voiced by Carey Mulligan. Alexandra is a grieving mother driven to madness by the death of her son, using an army of uniformed coyotes to pursue her dark ambitions.
Mastering Stop-Motion Artisanship Without Artificial Intelligence
Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel worked on his first animated feature for the project, employing camera movements that make the stop-motion process resemble live action. According to Roberts, the film utilizes several hundred puppets while entirely avoiding artificial intelligence. Knight emphasizes that the painstaking hand-crafted nature of the work leaves human fingerprints, contrasting the artistic labor with automated technology.
Production and casting details for Wildwood
When did production on Wildwood officially start?
Production on the stop-motion feature began in 2021 after 16 years of development at Laika Studios in Portland, Oregon.
Which actors voice the main characters in the film?
Peyton Elizabeth Lee voices the protagonist Prue McKeel, Jacob Tremblay voices her classmate Curtis Mehlberg, and Carey Mulligan voices the villainous Dowager Governess Alexandra.
Which film festival hosted the world premiere of the movie?
The film held its world premiere at the London Film Festival before heading to AFI Fest for its North American premiere.
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