Portland, Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio Laika has unveiled a captivating new trailer for its upcoming film Wildwood, marking what appears to be a return to the studio’s atmospheric roots. The footage reveals an eerie, enchanting story that draws unmistakable parallels to both Coraline, the studio’s groundbreaking 2009 debut, and Jim Henson’s beloved 1986 fantasy musical Labyrinth. With its haunting visuals and fairy tale sensibilities, Wildwood seems poised to continue Laika’s tradition of crafting dark, emotionally resonant animated features that appeal to audiences of all ages.

The studio launched its feature film journey with Henry Selick’s highly acclaimed adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s dark fairy tale Coraline, which told the story of a young girl who discovers a parallel world where a twisted doppelganger of her mother attempts to keep her trapped forever. That film established Laika’s signature aesthetic: meticulously crafted stop-motion animation combined with genuinely unsettling storytelling that doesn’t shy away from darker themes. The critical and commercial success of Coraline set the stage for what would become one of animation’s most distinctive studios.

Laika’s Legacy of Groundbreaking Animation

Since its founding, Laika has carved out a unique niche in the animation landscape, consistently producing films that blend technical innovation with mature storytelling. Following Coraline, the studio released ParaNorman in 2012, The Boxtrolls in 2014, Kubo and the Two Strings in 2016, and Missing Link in 2019. Each film showcased the studio’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of stop-motion animation while exploring themes of identity, family, and belonging. Kubo and the Two Strings, in particular, earned widespread acclaim for its stunning visuals and emotional depth, receiving two Academy Award nominations.

What sets Laika apart from other animation studios is its dedication to the painstaking art of stop-motion animation. Each frame requires animators to physically manipulate puppets and sets by tiny increments, a process that can take years to complete a single feature film. The studio has also pioneered the use of 3D printing technology to create thousands of interchangeable facial expressions for their characters, allowing for unprecedented emotional nuance in stop-motion filmmaking. This combination of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology has made Laika’s films instantly recognizable.

Wildwood’s Fairy Tale Promises and Labyrinth Echoes

The new Wildwood trailer suggests the studio is returning to the type of story that made Coraline such a memorable experience. Like that earlier film, Wildwood appears to center on a young protagonist venturing into a dangerous otherworldly realm. The comparisons to Jim Henson’s Labyrinth are equally apt, as both films feature young heroes navigating treacherous fantasy landscapes populated by strange creatures and governed by mysterious forces. Labyrinth, which starred David Bowie as the Goblin King and a young Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, has remained a cult classic for nearly four decades, beloved for its imaginative puppetry and darkly whimsical tone.

Wildwood is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Colin Meloy, frontman of the indie folk band The Decemberists, with illustrations by his wife Carson Ellis. The book, first published in 2011, follows a young girl named Prue who must venture into a forbidden wilderness to rescue her baby brother from a murder of crows. The Impassable Wilderness, as it’s called in the book, is a magical realm filled with talking animals, bandits, and ancient mysteries. The source material’s blend of adventure, danger, and wonder seems perfectly suited to Laika’s sensibilities.

What Audiences Can Expect

For fans of thoughtful, visually stunning animation, Wildwood represents an exciting development. The trailer hints at the kind of immersive world-building and emotional stakes that have become Laika hallmarks. In an era dominated by computer-generated animation, the studio’s commitment to stop-motion craftsmanship feels both nostalgic and revolutionary. Each puppet, each set piece, each carefully lit frame represents countless hours of human artistry, lending Laika’s films a tactile quality that digital animation cannot fully replicate.

The film arrives at an interesting moment for animation, as audiences increasingly recognize the medium’s potential for sophisticated storytelling beyond children’s entertainment. Laika has always understood this, creating films that parents and children can experience together while taking away different meanings. With Wildwood, the studio appears ready to once again demonstrate why stop-motion animation remains a vital and irreplaceable art form in contemporary cinema.