Staggering in scale, precisely because it was created in miniature, Wildwood is a showcase for Laika animation studios (Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings) to flex its stop-motion muscle in unprecedented ways. An adaptation of the young-adult fantasy novel by Colin Meloy, this features a two-hour-plus running time, multiple battle scenes, vast locations, and an extensive cast of characters—not only humans, but talking coyotes, birds, and more. The story centers on a headstrong teen named Prue (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) whose baby brother is kidnapped by crows under her watch. Pursuing them into a forbidden forest, she finds herself in a place equally reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and Princess Mononoke. Led by director Travis Knight, the animators maintain their craft’s attention to detail, then splash it over a grand canvas. If the narrative beats of the climactic battle are familiar (and a bit militarist), seeing them executed via stop-motion is astonishing. Equally impressive are the facial expressions, enabling Prue to convey the subtle difference between teen snark and exasperation. There is a trade-off to the scale, however, when it comes to the narrative. Like the novel, this adaptation sprawls, weaving bits from every YA fantasy you’ve ever read without coalescing them into something that bears its own unique mark. The main distinction is the tale’s darkness, drawn from Meloy’s novel (as well as his lyrics as frontman for The Decemberists, who contributed two songs here). Keep in mind that Wildwood is appropriately rated PG-13 before bringing along littler kids.
(11/3/2026)
