Full Breakdown
Laika Unveils Full Trailer for Stop-Motion Fantasy “Wildwood”
8/20/2026, 12:18:02 AM
Core Event: Trailer Release and Upcoming Release
Laika Studios released the first full trailer for *Wildwood*, its sixth feature and first stop-motion film since *Missing Link* (2019). The studio announced that the movie will open in U.S. theaters on October 23 (scheduled) via specialty distributor Fathom Entertainment. The trailer showcases a sprawling, hand-crafted world set just beyond Portland, Oregon, and introduces the central rescue quest of teenager Prue McKeel.
Background & Context
*Wildwood* adapts the 2011 middle-grade novel of the same name by Colin Meloy, frontman of the indie rock band The Decemberists, and illustrated by his wife Carson Ellis. The project reunites Laika co-founder and CEO Travis Knight—director of *Kubo and the Two Strings* (2016)—with longtime collaborator Chris Butler, who wrote the screenplays for *ParaNorman* and *Missing Link*. After a six-year production period, the film marks Laika’s return to large-scale stop-motion storytelling, a technique that earned the studio five consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Animated Feature from 2009 to 2019.
Data & Statistics
- 136 distinct locations were built for the feature, many large enough for crew members to walk through (David Burke, chief marketing and operations officer).
- The production employed 231 practical puppets and 54 hero characters, each engineered and costumed as bespoke works of art.
- The eagle “General” alone required 3,794 individually hand-animated feathers out of more than 16,500 total feathers created for the character.
- Constructing a miniature of Portland’s Pittock Mansion took 45–50 artists over 11 weeks.
These figures illustrate the unprecedented scale of Laika’s stop-motion effort.
Official Statements & Responses
David Burke explained that the film’s size demanded a “walk-through” set design, emphasizing the studio’s commitment to physical craftsmanship over digital shortcuts. Both statements underscore Laika’s strategic decision to prioritize technical readiness before committing to a feature of this magnitude.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I promised I’d take care of him,” — Peyton Elizabeth Lee's Prue
- “Wildwood is the biggest world LAIKA has ever built, and the most personal.” — Travis Knight, from director
What’s Next
The scheduled theatrical debut on October 23 will be Laika’s first wide release in seven years. Fathom Entertainment will handle U.S. distribution, while FilmNation Entertainment manages international sales. No additional release dates or promotional events have been announced beyond the upcoming opening weekend.
