Art is dying. We are living in a time where consumerism and profits tend to outweigh the value we put into handcrafting unique works of beauty and human ingenuity; hence the rise of AI, and massive layoffs across the industry. It’s because of this that studios need to be reminded about the awe and wonder that comes with the strength of true artistry. Thus, what cinema needs now more than ever, are films like Wildwood, and studios like Laika, who are and have always been passionately committed to the value of creativity and absolute human craftsmanship.

After several years of teasing it, and recent weeks showcasing inspiring behind the scenes production clips on social media, this morning Laika Studios dropped the first true trailer for its latest project Wildwood; its first film in 7 years. And though just a teaser, what we are treated to proves without a shadow of a doubt that the project, which has been a work in progress with filmmaker Travis Knight for 16 years, has stunningly been worth the long wait. Take a look for yourselves here:

Ever since Coraline, every film Laika has produced has not only kept the art of stop-motion animation alive (alongside champions of the medium like Aardman, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, and Guillermo Del Toro) in a landscape dominated by computer animation, but has continued to push the limits of it to the point where it undeniably rivals the quality of what is being produced by CG, and far surpasses the quality of anything produced by AI. There’s a reason Kubo and the Two Strings was the first stop-motion film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects since The Nightmare Before Christmas.

However what Laika does goes beyond just technology and aesthetics. They utilize both to actually tell emotionally driven and challenging stories with complex, compelling characters. In essence, for them, it’s not just about pushing technology forward, but proving absolutely why the industry needs to start recognizing animation as a legitimate form of excellence in cinematic storytelling. Laika, along with its aforementioned peers, shatter the stigma that comes with the narrative that animation is only for kids. Their films never feel childish, and always contain a sophistication and maturity that is easily the equivalent of Oscar-nominated films like Marty Supreme or Sentimental Value.

Kubo was about living, dying, and carrying on the memories of those we’ve lost. ParaNorman was about the traumatic effects of bullying and how those who are hurt could be made to hurt others. Even Missing Link was about the pressures of fitting in and the negativity that comes with elitism and privilege.

Like Pixar, Laika had always used its gifts and unique style to present mature themes, often explored in prestige films, to both adults and children without ever talking down to children. And like films like Avatar or Dune it has always used technology and craftsmanship to immerse and transport its audiences to strange, new, and unfamiliar terrain, with a combination of astonishing visuals and incredible world-building.

Which brings us to Wildwood. Prior to Wildwood, the studio had a track record of releasing films about 2-3 years apart from one another. However due to a multitude of complications, from the COVID pandemic of 2020 to the WGA and SAG strikes of 2023, several factors have delayed progress on the new film. The least of which is director Travis Knight’s involvement in bringing Eternia to life with this summer’s Masters of the Universe. And yet, despite those challenges, the product we’re seeing in just this teaser trailer alone already feels like something epic and breathtaking, and also heartbreakingly emotional.

From just the frames we see, we can track the emotional journey that exists between the film’s protagonist Prue McKeel (played by Andi Mack star Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and the film’s antagonist Alexandra (Academy Award-nominee Carey Mulligan). The subtle flecks of emotion, from the tears rolling down characters’ eyes, to the anguish they feel at loss, the astonishment they feel as they’re immersed into a new world, and even the bruises and wounds on Prue’s hands as she’s biking in the rain; all brilliant and indicative about the rich and complex emotional journey we’re about to take with them. The result feels far more advanced and emotionally nuanced than we’ve seen in previous efforts.

The trailer itself looks incredibly dark too. While we have no context about many of the scenes we’re treated to, there’s a particularly memorable shot of a character standing on the ledge of his home on a rainy night that feels particularly mature. And it’s treated in a way that’s so cinematic. The cinematography too feels a lot more innovative than the average stop-motion feature, showing that Knight’s experience with live action has carried over to the animated medium in a way we’ve never really seen before.

Animation studios have arguably been pushing for the industry to see them and realize the cinematic legitimacy of the stories told in animated form since the dawn of Disney. And while many have done tremendously innovative things for the medium, Laika feels like a studio that’s consistently finding ways to set themselves apart from the majority of Hollywood’s animation studios with mature content and boundary shattering craftsmanship and innovation. The artists there, and Knight himself, imbue each frame of their films with an unparalleled sophistication narratively and technically proving once and for all that animation is not just a kid’s medium. With Wildwood finally coming to theaters on October 23rd of this year, we simply cannot wait to see what the studio has in store for the future of animation and cinema!