Critics Hail Laika’s Stop-Motion Epic ‘Wildwood’ Ahead of Release
Laika’s stop-motion feature Wildwood premiered at the London Film Festival to strong critical notices. Directed by Travis Knight, the film is seen as a leading Oscar contender for animated feature before its October 23 theatrical debut.
Wildwood, directed by Travis Knight, had its world premiere at the London Film Festival and earned enthusiastic reviews. Gold Derby’s predictions list it at 89.7% for Best Animated Feature, ahead of its planned cinema opening on October 23.
Laika’s Oscar history adds
all five earlier features, beginning with Coraline and continuing through Missing Link, received animated-feature nominations, yet the studio has not won. Its most recent defeat came in 2020, when Missing Link lost to Toy Story 4. CONTEXT: If Wildwood meets its strong early notices and awards projections, it may raise Laika’s profile and intensify the animated-feature Oscar conversation. Moviegoers could be more inclined to seek it out in theaters, while rival animation studios may face added competition. The film’s reception may also encourage exhibitors to give prestige animation more visibility during the fall release period.