Don't Miss Out on Wildwood

I love Laika movies. We watched Coraline every day for years (it was our child’s favorite movie, and I loved the book as well). Then The Boxtrolls took over the obsession. ParaNorman is a Halloween treat every year and Kubo and the Two Strings we watch in November. So when Laika announced they were releasing a new movie, Wildwood, I knew I had to see it.

Don’t Cross the River or Enter the Forbidden Forest

Wildwood is based on Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis’s novel. It’s set in the forbidden forest just across the river from Portland, Oregon. There is a cute scene where Prue rides her bike past iconic landmarks of the area, including recognizable sights like Powell’s Books and Voodoo Doughnut. Anyone who’s been stuck in I-5 traffic would recognize the bridge spanning the city.

Prue is a teenager tasked by her parents to watch her beloved one-year-old brother while they go out. This setup, along with the dark, gated area of the forbidden forest, gives strong Labyrinth vibes. But unlike Labyrinth, Prue looks forward to taking care of her brother and even disobeys her parents to take him out to the school playground. So when he’s stolen by a murder of crows, she is devastated and determined to rescue him.

She is joined on her quest by Curtis, an awkward, nerdy boy who talks too much. His part of the story gives Narnia vibes as he meets the antagonist, Alexandra, the Dowager Governess, and immediately joins up with her.

The story is complex and has a lot of humor and heart. What I enjoyed the most about the story was that it surprised me. I made some assumptions at the beginning about Prue and her connection to the Wildwood as well as how she would rescue her brother. It did not turn out how I expected.

It’s a Fairy Tale, But Be Warned

It’s a fairy tale in the tradition of fairy tales. These were stories to teach something or warn of something or protect children from dangers. And most were bloody and violent in their original iterations. For instance, did you know that Cinderella’s stepsisters cut off bits of their feet to fit in the slipper when the prince came calling? That is not in the modern animated version of the story most people are familiar with.

This may be an animated (stop-motion animation) film, but it’s not for little children. There were some extremely violent sections, including a massive ground battle between three armies (four if you separate the crows from the other antagonists). But there isn’t any gore in Wildwood, and while it might give young children nightmares, it’s as violent in the fashion of fairy tales.

The Animation Is Amazing

It took 16 years to make Wildwood, and that time and dedication to the craft shows. The scene of the battle between the crows and the Avian Principality is a glorious visual display. The black crows come sweeping in to harry the opposing armies, then the Avian Principality arrives in multi-colored glory, swooping across the shadow of crows like dancing flower petals in the air.

And when I consider that this was done with stop-motion animation, I am dumbfounded. No wonder it took so long.

If you love fantasy, forests, or fairy tales you must see Wildwood. You won’t regret it.

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