Product Info

Studio

LAIKA Studios

Director

Travis Knight

Genre

Adventure, Animation, Fantasy

Rated

PG-13

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Oct 23, 2026

Film Length

2hr 12min

Purchase From

Home » Wildwood (Review)

Wildwood is a dark fantasy, stop-motion animated film that whisks you away with its beauty, which upstages the story but ultimately delivers a wonderful viewing experience.

Big Sister to the Rescue

Based on the 2011 fantasy novel by Colin Meloy, Wildwood follows a 13-year-old girl named Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack, Brian), who ventures into a deep, mysterious forest to rescue her kidnapped brother Mac from a flock of crows. It’s no ordinary forest, as no one can enter it yet, but Prue was able to bypass it with no issues.

With her friend Curtis, voiced by (Room, Luca), is a fellow classmate to Prue who enjoys fantasy and has low self-esteem. They come across unique sights no one would expect, such as coyotes dressed in military red coats and who can speak the human tongue. Along their way they come across other animals and birds that live with humans and speak their language. It certainly adds that fantasy vibe to the story.

Both Prue and Curtis split up to divert the attention of the enemies in the forest while searching for Mac. The film focuses more on Prue and her journey to find her brother but does return to catch up with Curtis and how he survives in enemy hands. Alexandria, a powerful figure unable to move on from her son’s death years ago, is introduced, and Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go, Drive) delivers a strong performance.

There are some interesting moments in the story overall but much of it does feel familiar. The film has dark fantasy tones, with scenes like Curtis and Prue having to make tough decisions to live and see their comrades die in front of them. While watching, the film’s tone resembles that of dark fantasy films from the ‘80s and ’90s, such as Labyrinth, Willow, and the Dark Crystal. The introduction of a new dark fantasy-themed film presented in animated form in today’s modern world was both unexpected and welcoming.

Some scenes featuring Prue and Curtis struggling multiple times tend to be too much at times. Additionally, we’re introduced to many characters that at first you’ll grow attached to, but as more is added, it tends to feel too much. Tightening the scenes in these scenarios to get the film under two hours would benefit the story’s pacing.

Smooth Like Butter

Laika Studios, known for its stop-motion animation that worked on Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, brings a new entry to their portfolio that continues to showcase why handcrafted figures and other real physical objects can be the best medicine for real-like visuals. The film, while mostly using stop-motion, also utilizes practical effects and CGI to help clean up for a smooth and rich visual presentation. From exploring the local downtown to deep within the forest, each shot and scene are created remarkably well.

The vines that animate do showcase more stop-motion frame rate than the character figures in a few shots but provide that more realistic feel. Watching the animated figures move during the big battle at the end of the film is impressive. It’s astonishing that Laika executed this scene. However, the true breakthrough lies in the remarkable expressiveness of these characters. These characters feel real and full of emotion, thanks to their expressive eyes, eyebrows, mouth movements, and the strong performances of the voice actors.

Wildwood stands out as one of the best visual and cinematographic films of the year. The visuals alone make me want to rewatch the film and watch the craft work these filmmakers and team put together. Bravo!

Along with the splendid animation, the film’s score adds additional depth of emotion during strong scene moments. Musical scores help deliver strong and powerful emotions in moments where we see Prue watching a flock of crows take her brother away to the final battle. There are minor amount of vocal scores but its symphonic scores does enough to improve its storytelling.

The Final Vine

Wildwood is a visually purrtastic dark fantasy adventure that showcases LAIKA’s breathtaking stop-motion animation and expressive characters, making it one of the year’s best animated films. While the visuals outshine a story with a few stumbles, this handcrafted journey is a wonderful experience worth seeing.

An early screening was provided by the publisher for this review. Wildwood arrives in theaters on October 23, 2026. Fans can visit the film’s official website for more information.