{"id":1941591,"date":"2026-05-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1941591"},"modified":"2026-05-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T21:00:00","slug":"glimpse-the-fantastical-animated-world-of-wildwood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1941591","title":{"rendered":"Glimpse the Fantastical Animated World of \u2018Wildwood\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/wildwood.gif\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a gif from the teaser trailer of 'Wildwood' featuring a door opening, with animal characters inside and a young woman walking in\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images \u00a9 LAIKA Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Glimpse the Fantastical Animated World of \u2018Wildwood\u2019<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-18T09:26:54-05:00\">May 18, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-animation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/animation\/\" rel=\"tag\">Animation<\/a><a class=\"category-film\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/film\/\" rel=\"tag\">Film<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F05%2Fwildwood-laika-studios-animation-feature-film%2F&amp;title=Glimpse%20the%20Fantastical%20Animated%20World%20of%20%26%238216%3BWildwood%27\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"474134\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On a day pretty much like any other, a girl named Prue is out in a park with her baby brother when the unthinkable happens: he\u2019s swept off by crows and taken into a mysterious forest known as the Impassable Wilderness. Joined by her classmate Curtis, Prue ventures into the magical, sylvan realm where animals have developed a complex society of their own. The search for Prue\u2019s missing sibling plots the course for an epic adventure that is the heart of the young adult novel <em>Wildwood<\/em>. Soon, the story lights up the big screen.<\/p>\n<p>The forthcoming feature-length film is based on an original story by Colin Meloy\u2014the lead singer of The Decemberists, for the fans out there\u2014and illustrated by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carsonellis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carson Ellis<\/a>, who also happens to be his wife. (Ellis has also designed phenomenal posters, album covers, and merch for the band over the years.)<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><em>Wildwood<\/em> is directed by Travis Knight and is in the hands of Portland-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laika.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LAIKA Studios<\/a>, which is behind box office favorites like <em>The Boxtrolls <\/em>and <em>Coraline.<\/em> At the forefront of feature film animation, LAIKA emphasizes both human-made elements and cutting-edge technology, incorporating meticulously hand-built puppets and sets along with computer-generated graphics.<\/p>\n<p>Through intensive study, LAIKA\u2019s artists captured the movements, behavior, and physical appearance of birds for the film\u2019s so-called Avian Principality, of which a character named Owl Rex is the crown prince.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPerformance starts with observation,\u201d says the narrator of a behind-the-scenes featurette, which you can see below. An ensemble of voice actors includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, and many others.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=POneS8h1jyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trailer<\/a> is out now, and the film is slated for release everywhere on October 23. You might also enjoy peeking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2016\/08\/kubo-behind-the-scenes\/\">behind the scenes<\/a> of the making of LAIKA\u2019s <em>Kubo and the Two Strings.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/wildwood-1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474134\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"824\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/wildwood-1.jpeg\" alt=\"a still from a trailer for the animated film 'Wildwood' featuring a young woman holding her baby brother up to a water fountain in a city\" class=\"wp-image-474138\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/wildwood-3.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474134\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/wildwood-3.jpeg\" alt=\"a still from a trailer for the animated film 'Wildwood' featuring a young woman flying on the back of a giant eagle\" class=\"wp-image-474136\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/05\/arghavan-khosravi-what-remains-sculptures\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All images \u00a9 LAIKA Studios Glimpse the Fantastical Animated World of \u2018Wildwood\u2019 May 18, 2026 AnimationFilm Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark On a day pretty much like any other, a girl named Prue is out in a park with her baby brother when the unthinkable happens: he\u2019s swept off by crows and taken into a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1941591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1941591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1941591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1941591\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1941591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1941591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1941591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}