"Wildwood" is a Soaring Testament to the Power of Human Creativity

For the past two decades, one studio has remained the undisputed king of stop-motion animation and that is Portland Oregon's Laika Studios. Founded by the sons of Nike co-founder, William Knight, Phil and Travis Knight decided to use their family's virtually unlimited wealth to create a studio specializing in storytelling's most expensive medium. Their triumphant studio debut, Coraline set the bar impossibly high, but believe it or not, Laika Studios has outdone themselves. Their latest feature, Wildwood, has not only dazzled audiences worldwide but also served as a much-needed reminder of the power of human creativity.

Wildwood is the sixth stop-motion feature from Laika Studios. Directed by studio founder, Travis Knight, the film follows 13 year old, Prue and her classmate, Curtis, who begin a fantastical adventure into Portland's "impassable wilderness" after her baby brother is kidnapped. Prue soon learns that her brother's life is not only at risk, but a moving piece in an impending war that will soon bring the entire forest to its knees. The film features vocal performances from Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Richard E. Grant, Angela Bassett, Charlie Day, Tom Waits, and believe it or not, even more A-list stars.

For millions of young people, working at Laika Studios is a dream and Wildwood is a great example of why. This film is filled to the brim with gorgeous visuals, compelling storytelling, and overall unparalleled creativity. For those who don't know, stop-motion animation consists of one image per frame, when aligned they give the illusion of movement. This makes stop-motion the most expensive and time-consuming form of filmmaking, there is a reason new ones don't come out very often. This medium happens to be Laika's speciality and the work they were able to showcase in Wildwood is nothing short of breathtaking. There were about a dozen moment in the theater where I couldn't help but think "how the hell did they do that?" With Laika's signature style and the legendary work of both cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and composer Dario Marianelli, Wildwood is an all-around feast for the senses.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that Wildwood is a movie strictly for children just because it's animated. With plenty of adult humor, themes, and even some brief language, this is the definition of a family movie. There's something for everyone in Wildwood regardless of your age. I found myself being equally shocked and impressed by how many risks this film takes in terms of violence and mature themes like grief and revenge. Not since Pixar's The Incredibles have we gotten a family film like this that refuses to censor itself. Yes, children will watch this but Travis Knight and company understand that children aren't idiots, they will understand this film in their own way now and only grow to appreciate it more as they get older.

Wildwood is one of the most ambitious films of the modern age. Clocking in at 132 minutes, it is the longest stop-motion movie ever made. In a pleasant surprise, the film more than justifies its long runtime, and I actually think cutting any of the scenes for the sake of brevity would do the story a disservice. It has a similar scale to Lord of the Rings but manages to tie everything up nicely in the span of two hours rather than nine. For those who like the Oregon aesthetic of Life is Strange, the imaginative wonder of Spirited Away, and the larger-than-life stakes of Lord of the Rings, Wildwood is the perfect movie for you.

In the world's current climate where everyone is talking about the potential of AI to replace humans in creative industries, Wildwood is the best possible proof that nothing beats unbridled human expression. Whether you're a parent or just a fan of handmade animation, there is no better film for you to see in theaters this weekend!