Story perspectives

Laika Sets “Wildwood” Stop-Motion Release for Oct. 23, 2026

8/20/2026

Summary

Laika Releases Wildwood

Laika will release the film “Wildwood” on Oct. 23, 2026, via Fathom Entertainment.
Travis Knight, Laika’s CEO, directs and produces the adaptation of the 2011 novel by Colin Meloy.
Chris Butler wrote the screenplay, with Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay voicing the protagonists and Carey Mulligan appearing.
The full trailer premiered on Aug. 19, 2026, showcasing a production with 136 locations, 231 puppets and 54 hero characters, its largest world yet.

Summary

Laika Generates Buzz

The Wildwood teaser trailer has already earned 90 million online views, indicating strong pre-release interest.
Director Travis Knight described making a stop-motion film as “a quiet act of rebellion” amid CGI dominance.
Laika’s marketing stresses the unprecedented stop-motion scale and pitches Wildwood as a leading awards contender after prior Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe win.

History

Historical Context

In 1993 Disney released Henry Selick’s stop-motion musical *The Nightmare Before Christmas* through Touchstone, premiering at the New York Film Festival on October 9 and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects—the first animated film so honored. Its critical and commercial impact showed handcrafted animation could rival emerging CGI, a lesson Travis Knight of Laika cites while unveiling the 2026 stop-motion feature *Wildwood*.

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Laika Releases Wildwood

Laika will release the film “Wildwood” on Oct. 23, 2026, via Fathom Entertainment.
Travis Knight, Laika’s CEO, directs and produces the adaptation of the 2011 novel by Colin Meloy.
Chris Butler wrote the screenplay, with Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay voicing the protagonists and Carey Mulligan appearing.
The full trailer premiered on Aug. 19, 2026, showcasing a production with 136 locations, 231 puppets and 54 hero characters, its largest world yet.

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