07/08/2024

First images for Wildwood - new Laika feature film

Made with the classic stop-motion animation technique, the new feature film from the American studios is Wildwood, a film that is shown with the first image.

"Beyond Portland’s city limits lies Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she – along with her hapless classmate Curtis – is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.

Wildwood is based on the best-selling book written by The Decemberists lead singer Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis. The announcement was made by Travis Knight, President and CEO of the award-winning Portland (Oregon) based animation studios LAIKA (Kubo and the Two Strings, Paranorman), announcing that the film will be directed by himself.

Knight described the film as the studio's most difficult and ambitious project. "The most difficult thing we've ever done. A big part of why it took us so long to make this movie is that it's incredibly ambitious". There were numerous challenges in realizing certain scenes such as battles, aerial sequences and characters such as the giant eagle that accompanies the protagonist. "There are all these elements that are really difficult to do in stop-motion [...] It's a miracle of craftsmanship and engineering.".

While we wait for the release date, here's the first image of the protagonist and a video in which Coraline introduces Prue, as well as a little behind the scenes:

[ Fra - source Laika/CartoonCreek ]

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