Laika's Wildwood: A 20-Year Journey to the Big Screen

A Cinematic Labor of Love

Caleb Deschanel, a renowned cinematographer known for his work on films like The Passion of the Christ and Titanic, has taken on a new challenge: the stop-motion film Wildwood.

Transitioning to this artistic style has been a learning curve. Deschanel admits, “I thought I knew what to expect, but it turned out to be far more intricate than I imagined.”

A Vision Years in the Making

Wildwood has been in the works for quite some time. Laika's CEO and director, Travis Knight, purchased the rights to the book by Colin Meloy, the frontman of The Decemberists, back in 2011. However, it wasn’t until a decade later that action would finally begin.

Reflecting on the film's development, Knight shared, “I've dedicated 16 years to this project in various capacities. The driving force behind my commitment is the film's personal meaning to me — it’s fundamentally about love, loss, and the challenges love presents.”

A Vast World of Imagination

The narrative focuses on Prue, a young girl who braves the mystical wilderness bordering Portland to rescue her baby brother. Inside this fantastical realm, she encounters a world filled with magic, talking animals, and conflict reminiscent of Narnia.

To bring this story to life, Laika employed nearly 50 animators and over 200 puppets, completing ambitious sequences that include a lengthy 12-minute battle and a thrilling chase through urban Portland, where Prue's brother is snatched by a remarkable flock of crows.

Innovative Techniques and Advancements

According to Brad Schiff, head of animation, Laika blends traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques on every project. Innovation is key; with each film, they push the boundaries of what’s possible, building on previous successes.

For example, the character design in Missing Link introduced a diaphragm mechanism for puppets, enhancing the illusion of breathing. It’s a technique that has since been adopted across Laika’s portfolio.

Costume designer Deb Cook highlighted the significant growth in technical capabilities over the years, pointing to the vast array of resources at her fingertips for Wildwood, which showcases diverse costumes—from contemporary styles in city scenes to vibrant, fantastical outfits in the forest.

New materials played a crucial role, too. The team developed a lighter and more resilient silicone, moving away from traditional foam latex, which tends to shrink and degrade over time. This shift has opened up new possibilities for character design.

Attention to Detail

As the scale of Wildwood grew, so did the need for organization. Cook noted improvements in the studio's puppet tracking system to manage the many elements involved in production, ensuring that misplaced items became a thing of the past.

Despite the grandiose action scenes, Knight emphasized that the film features poignant moments that rely on character depth. “We wanted to create intimate scenes that capture emotional nuances, focusing on the performances of the puppets,” he explained. He cited moments where characters confront deep grief without embellishment as some of the most fulfilling parts of the film.

A Fulfillment of Dreams

The making of Wildwood is a testament to Laika’s 20 years of dedication to innovation in stop-motion animation. Knight's long-held vision for the film could only come to fruition thanks to lessons learned from previous titles, such as ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings.

For Knight, collaborating with both seasoned professionals and fresh talent, some of whom grew up inspired by Coraline, has been profoundly moving. He noted, “It felt incredibly gratifying to realize this creative journey and witness the excitement of these young animators.”

Wildwood is now showing in theaters, ready to enchant audiences with its blend of heartfelt storytelling and stunning animation.