LAIKA has released the official teaser trailer for its upcoming stop-motion animated feature "Wildwood," starring Jacob Tremblay and Carey Mulligan.

The film marks a significant return for the studio, serving as its first stop-motion feature since 2019 [2]. This project signals a return to the tactile, handcrafted animation style that established the studio's global reputation.

The teaser debuted at Cannes and has since been released online [1, 5]. The story is set in the "Impassable Wilderness," an enchanted realm located just beyond Portland, Oregon [4, 5]. The narrative follows two protagonists as they enter this hidden world.

According to a LAIKA press release, “Prue McKeel and her best friend Curtis are drawn into a hidden,” world [1]. Travis Knight, who has led several of the studio's most prominent works, directed the production [3].

The studio has confirmed the film's arrival in cinemas later this year. A LAIKA press release said, “The stop‑motion animated film will be released in theaters on October 23, 2026” [1]. Other reports confirm the feature hits theaters on Oct. 23 [3].

Wildwood aims to blend the studio's signature visual effects with a fantasy adventure aimed at a wide audience [2, 5]. By utilizing stop-motion, LAIKA continues to distinguish its output from the computer-generated imagery that dominates the current animation landscape.

““Prue McKeel and her best friend Curtis are drawn into a hidden,””

The release of Wildwood represents a strategic pivot back to traditional stop-motion for LAIKA after a multi-year gap in feature production. By anchoring the story in a fantastical version of the Pacific Northwest, the studio is leveraging its regional identity to market a high-budget fantasy adventure during the competitive autumn movie window.