Laika Finally Shares First ‘Wildwood’ Teaser, And It Was Worth The Wait

It’s been a long time coming, but over the weekend, Laika pulled back the curtain on its next stop-motion epic with a teaser video revealing a breathtaking first look at Wildwood.

In the three-minute video, the studio introduces audiences to The General, a majestic golden eagle brought to life with the meticulous artistry that has become Laika’s stock-in-trade. According to the clip, artists hand-crafted more than 9,000 feathers to cover two specialized puppets, one for flight and the other for intricate performance work. Voiced by Honorary Academy Award recipient Angela Bassett, The General rules the skies over a fantasy wilderness with a fierce and fearless presence.

Wildwood is directed by Laika president and CEO Travis Knight, whose previous work includes Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee, and who is leading the upcoming theatrical reboot of the He-Man franchise. The film adapts Colin Meloy’s bestselling fantasy novel, illustrated by Carson Ellis. Chris Butler penned the adaptation, continuing his longtime partnership with the studio.

Wildwood, like the book its adapted from, follows Prue, an ordinary girl from Portland, Oregon, whose life changes when her baby brother is snatched away by a murder of crows. Her desperate search leads her into the mysterious forest of Wildwood, where magic runs deep and not everything that flies is a friend.

Joining Bassett, the film’s remaining voice cast promises plenty of star power. Peyton Elizabeth Lee leads the ensemble, joined by Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.

With this first look, Laika confirms what we’ve long suspected, that Wildwood is one of the key animation titles to track in 2026.