GoKawiilLaika previews Wildwood, showing off smoother stop-motion animation techniques
At TIFF, Laika crew members detailed technical advances behind their upcoming stop-motion film Wildwood, due in theaters next month. The studio credited digital frame-grabbers that let animators review recently shot frames for smoother movement, plus improved internal puppet mechanisms called breathers that simulate lifelike breathing in nearly all major characters.
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These incremental technical upgrades show how stop-motion animation keeps closing the gap with CGI in fluidity and realism without abandoning its handmade craft. Laika's continued investment in puppet engineering and camera workflow could set a new benchmark for the genre and influence how other studios approach practical animation.
- Laika used digital frame-grabbers to eliminate unwanted stuttery animation in Wildwood.
- Nearly all major puppets now include a breathing mechanism called a breather, first tested in Missing Link.
- Wildwood is set for theatrical release next month after debuting footage at TIFF.
Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles Book I by Colin Meloy — Laika's stunning new stop-motion film is adapted from Colin Meloy's Wildwood novel, illustrated by Carson Ellis. Reading it before the movie hits theaters is the perfect way to meet Prue and the Impassable Wilderness, and Ellis's artwork pairs beautifully with the film's handcrafted look.
See Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles Book I by Colin Meloy on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Andrew Webster, 2026-09-12
Published there as: “Laika’s stop-motion fantasy Wildwood looks so smooth”
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