Rumor has it that Laika spent 16 years developing and animating Wildwood. That hard work and attention to detail is seen on every single frame of this film. Stop motion animation takes more than setting up an algorithm to make leaves move and cast realistic shadows. It takes patience to move everything just enough but not too much in a single frame, and the next frame, and the next. How they managed this film is beyond me, but I’m ever so glad they did.
The story follows a girl who takes her baby brother out to play against her parent’s wishes. The baby is kidnapped, because of course he is, and by a murder of crows no less. The girl and her friend follow but are led into a magical forest protected by vines. Within, a world of politics, talking animals, magic, and a grieving mother trying to bring back her dead son with the blood of another child. All through this, one girl’s quest to save her only brother.
The “real world” the girl lives in is Portland, Oregon, a place I can personally attest to being kooky in the best of ways. The movie so perfectly modeled this through animation that it made me want to visit the city again. A simple bike ride through the city makes it a playground for a girl and her brother, setting up her sweet relationship with him and her tenacious love for a bit of adventure.
The forest itself is alive with moving grass and leaves in the wind. A forest turning its greens into oranges and yellows. A place in transition for there is a war brewing between the grieving mother and the residents of the forest she is about to destroy. The characters who live there, from majestic talking birds to a big haired Bandit King, are as vibrant as their surroundings – though for some it’s their personalities that make them stand out.
The climax is an actual war with a real battle. People die on both sides. Fire. Bloody swords. Cannons. The remarkable scope of it is unheard of for a stop motion animated movie. It puts battles from Game of Thrones to shame. If you have younger kids you wouldn’t let watch Star Wars or Endgame because of this type of violence, maybe wait a couple years before showing them this. But, if your older kids are willing, take them to the biggest screen possible to see this. Themes of how to deal with grief, learning to be brave, and the hard lessons of growing up are great here.
5 out of 5 stars. Perfect movie.
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Rumor has it that Laika spent 16 years developing and animating Wildwood. That hard work and attention to detail is seen on every single frame of this film. Stop motion animation takes more than setting up an algorithm to make leaves move and cast realistic shadows. It takes patience to move everything just enough but not too much in a single frame, and the next frame, and the next. How they managed this film is beyond me, but I’m ever so glad they did.
The story follows a girl who takes her baby brother out to play against her parent’s wishes. The baby is kidnapped, because of course he is, and by a murder of crows no less. The girl and her friend follow but are led into a magical forest protected by vines. Within, a world of politics, talking animals, magic, and a grieving mother trying to bring back her dead son with the blood of another child. All through this, one girl’s quest to save her only brother.
The “real world” the girl lives in is Portland, Oregon, a place I can personally attest to being kooky in the best of ways. The movie so perfectly modeled this through animation that it made me want to visit the city again. A simple bike ride through the city makes it a playground for a girl and her brother, setting up her sweet relationship with him and her tenacious love for a bit of adventure.
The forest itself is alive with moving grass and leaves in the wind. A forest turning its greens into oranges and yellows. A place in transition for there is a war brewing between the grieving mother and the residents of the forest she is about to destroy. The characters who live there, from majestic talking birds to a big haired Bandit King, are as vibrant as their surroundings – though for some it’s their personalities that make them stand out.
The climax is an actual war with a real battle. People die on both sides. Fire. Bloody swords. Cannons. The remarkable scope of it is unheard of for a stop motion animated movie. It puts battles from Game of Thrones to shame. If you have younger kids you wouldn’t let watch Star Wars or Endgame because of this type of violence, maybe wait a couple years before showing them this. But, if your older kids are willing, take them to the biggest screen possible to see this. Themes of how to deal with grief, learning to be brave, and the hard lessons of growing up are great here.
5 out of 5 stars. Perfect movie.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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