The stars of LAIKA’s fantasy adventure reflect on five years of filmmaking, seeing their characters come to life and the possibility of exploring Wildwood again.
There is something truly magical about stop-motion animation. Every movement, expression, and environment represents countless hours of dedication from artists who bring extraordinary worlds to life one frame at a time. Few studios have embraced that craftsmanship quite like LAIKA STUDIOS, and its latest adventure, WILDWOOD, takes audiences deeper into the imagination than ever before.
The road to bringing WILDWOOD to the big screen has been nearly two decades in the making. Knight first discovered Colin Meloy’s story before the novel was published, eventually spending 16 years developing the project as LAIKA refined the technology and techniques needed to bring its massive fantasy world to life. What initially seemed impossible to accomplish through stop-motion animation eventually became the studio’s most ambitious production to date.
Directed by Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) and written by Chris Butler, the ambitious fantasy adventure follows two unlikely heroes who journey into a mysterious forest filled with talking animals, dangerous creatures, and secrets that could change their lives forever.
Leading the adventure are Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel and Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg, two young performers whose voices help bring this visually stunning world to life.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lee and Tremblay for Nerdtropolis about their experiences working on the film, the emotional impact of finally seeing their performances after years of production, and whether they would return for another journey into the Impassable Wilderness.
Their excitement for LAIKA’s extraordinary achievement was clear, and when the conversation turned to a potential sequel, both stars seemed more than willing to return.
Five Years Later, WILDWOOD Finally Comes to Life
Unlike traditional live-action productions, stop-motion animation requires an incredible amount of time and patience. Actors can record their performances years before audiences finally see the finished film.
For Lee and Tremblay, Wildwood presented a particularly unique opportunity. Both recorded their dialogue approximately five years before the film’s release, allowing them to revisit their characters from an entirely different perspective.
I asked the actors whether they still recognized their performances after all those years or if watching the completed film gave them a greater sense of accomplishment.
Lee reflected on how stepping away from the production for so long allowed her to appreciate the experience without the usual self-criticism that often comes with watching your own work.
“We recorded it about five years ago, and then there was a long period of time where we really got to step away from the project while the animators and the other filmmakers were hard at work,” Lee explained.
Returning to the story years later gave her the opportunity to experience the finished film almost like an audience member.
“Now, getting to revisit the characters, revisit the story, it allows you to come back to it with fresh eyes and a little bit of perspective.”
The actress also expressed tremendous pride in being part of a production that required so many talented artists to dedicate years of their lives to bringing the story to the screen.
“To be a part of such a beautiful film that had so many incredibly talented people working on it for so many years, as well as being a part of the legacy of LAIKA Studios as a whole, it’s definitely humbling and very exciting.”
Her comments highlight something special about stop-motion filmmaking. While audiences experience the finished adventure in just over two hours, the creative journey behind those images can span several years.
The sheer scale of WILDWOOD makes that dedication even more impressive. According to LAIKA’s production notes, the film required approximately 230 practical puppets across 132 sets, with nearly 142,030 3D-printed replacement faces created to capture the characters’ expressions. The studio also operated more than 70 stages simultaneously during production, with animators working on different moments of the film at the same time. Every second of finished animation represents an extraordinary amount of precision, patience, and craftsmanship.
Jacob Tremblay Finally Sees Curtis as His Own Character
For Tremblay, watching Wildwood offered something he rarely experiences when revisiting his performances: the ability to completely separate himself from the character.
Voice acting can be particularly challenging for performers who struggle with hearing their own voices played back on screen.
However, the passage of time created an unexpected benefit for the actor.
“This was the first time where I was able to really disconnect from my performance,” Tremblay revealed.
“Typically for animation, it makes you cringe a bit to hear your own voice back.”
Because so much time had passed since the original recording sessions, Tremblay explained that he sounded noticeably different from the person he is today.
“Because I recorded this so long ago, it was such a different time in my life, my voice was so different, I was really able to just view Curtis as Curtis.”
The experience allowed him to enjoy his character without constantly analyzing the choices he made in the recording booth.
For an actor who began his career at such a young age, the opportunity to revisit a performance from several years earlier adds another fascinating layer to the filmmaking process.
Rather than simply watching himself perform, Tremblay could experience Curtis as a fully realized animated character.
Bringing those performances to life required an extraordinary collaboration between the actors and LAIKA’s animation teams. Using the original voice recordings as a foundation, animators developed physical performances that were carefully matched with digitally designed facial expressions and 3D-printed replacement faces. The goal was to create characters capable of expressing subtle emotions through the smallest movements, allowing audiences to connect with Prue and Curtis as believable individuals rather than simply animated puppets.
Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay Are Ready for WILDWOOD 2
With Wildwood bringing another ambitious stop-motion adventure to theaters, I couldn’t resist asking the question that many fans will likely have after experiencing its imaginative world.
Would Lee and Tremblay return for another adventure?
After all, the film draws inspiration from the literary world created by Colin Meloy, with illustrations by Carson Ellis, leaving plenty of possibilities for further exploration.
When I asked whether both actors would be ready to return, Lee enthusiastically confirmed they were both interested in another adventure.
“Oh, we’re ready. I mean, I don’t know if the filmmakers are ready. They just finished this movie about three weeks ago. But as soon as they’re ready to go, we will be there.”
The playful response also acknowledged the enormous amount of work required to complete the first film.
Unlike traditional animated productions, LAIKA’s handcrafted approach demands years of careful planning, physical construction, and painstaking frame-by-frame animation.
The production also challenged LAIKA to create some of the largest and most complicated sequences in the studio’s history, including enormous battles and elaborate aerial scenes involving talking animals. To bring the forest’s creatures to life, artists developed new puppet engineering techniques that allowed for more natural movement, while costume designers crafted miniature wardrobes for more than 200 puppets. The attention to detail extended from the smallest facial expression to the sprawling environments that make Wildwood feel like a living, breathing world.
A potential sequel would undoubtedly require another major commitment from the studio.
Still, hearing the stars express their willingness to return is an encouraging sign for anyone hoping to revisit the magical forest.
No sequel has been officially confirmed, but Lee and Tremblay certainly appear interested in continuing their characters’ journeys.
As I pointed out during our conversation, audiences simply don’t get enough stop-motion adventures, especially ones that embrace the scale and imagination of a world like Wildwood.
The Books They Would Love to See Become Stop-Motion Movies
Considering the enormous creativity involved in adapting Wildwood, I asked both stars to name a book they grew up with that they would love to see receive the stop-motion treatment.
Tremblay suggested an especially recognizable fantasy franchise.
“I think Harry Potter would work really well in a stop-motion format.”
Naturally, the suggestion sparked some playful banter about the already-existing live-action adaptations.
However, imagining the Wizarding World through LAIKA’s handcrafted approach is certainly an interesting possibility.
Lee offered a different fantasy adventure.
“There’s a book called Six Crimson Cranes. It’s a really beautiful book, and I think it would make an amazing stop-motion.”
Written by Elizabeth Lim, Six Crimson Cranes features a richly imagined fantasy world that could lend itself beautifully to the artistry of stop-motion animation.
While each suggestion was different, they all shared something in common: imaginative worlds and memorable characters that could benefit from the extraordinary creativity of handcrafted animation.
WILDWOOD Brings Another Ambitious Adventure to LAIKA’s Legacy
At the heart of Wildwood is a story about courage, family, and discovering strength in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
For Knight, the adventure also carries a deeply personal connection. Set in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, WILDWOOD allowed the filmmaker to reimagine familiar surroundings through the lens of fantasy. Production designer Nelson Lowry and his team drew inspiration from real Oregon locations, including Forest Park, Mount Hood, and the historic St. Johns neighborhood, blending recognizable landmarks with the extraordinary landscapes of the Impassable Wilderness. The result is a fantasy world rooted in a very real place.
When Prue McKeel’s baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, she ventures into the mysterious Impassable Wilderness, an enchanted forest hidden beyond Portland, Oregon.
Accompanied by her loyal but often overwhelmed classmate Curtis, Prue encounters a dangerous world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures whose competing ambitions threaten the forest’s delicate balance.
What begins as a desperate rescue mission soon becomes something much larger, forcing Prue to confront impossible choices and discover what she is truly capable of.
The film features an impressive ensemble voice cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Maya Erskine, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Tom Waits, Richard E. Grant, Amandla Stenberg, Tantoo Cardinal, Len Cariou, and Marc Evan Jackson.
Produced by Knight and Sam Wilson, the 132-minute adventure carries a PG-13 rating and explores mature themes alongside its sweeping fantasy storytelling.
For me, one of the most exciting aspects of Wildwood is seeing LAIKA continue to push the boundaries of what stop-motion animation can accomplish.
There is an unmistakable level of craftsmanship behind these productions that makes them feel different from conventional animated features.
Whether audiences eventually get another adventure remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: both stars are ready whenever LAIKA decides to reopen the doors to Wildwood.
WILDWOOD is now playing in theaters.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
