GoKawiilLaika's Travis Knight criticizes generative AI ahead of Wildwood release
Travis Knight, director of Laika's new stop-motion film Wildwood and the studio's CEO, said generative AI is 'antithetical to everything that we are at this studio' in an interview ahead of the film's October 23rd premiere. Wildwood took five years to make, using over 230 puppets and 1,000 artists, and introduces new techniques like diaphragms for simulated breathing and improved limb musculature.
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Knight's comments add a prominent voice to a growing list of filmmakers publicly rejecting generative AI, framing craftsmanship and human labor as core to Laika's identity rather than an obstacle to efficiency. His distinction between AI and other technologies like computers or 3D printers suggests the debate in filmmaking is less about rejecting tools broadly and more about where human artistry fits into the production process.
- Laika's Wildwood used 230+ puppets and over 1,000 artists across five years of production.
- CEO Travis Knight publicly criticized generative AI as incompatible with the studio's artistic values.
- The film introduces new puppet technology, including diaphragms for simulated breathing and improved musculature.
Coraline Laika Collector's Edition Blu-ray — If you're intrigued by Laika's painstaking stop-motion artistry discussed in this piece, revisiting Coraline is a perfect way to appreciate the studio's craft up close. The collector's edition typically includes behind-the-scenes features showing the puppet and set work that makes Laika's films so distinctive. It's a great companion for anyone excited about Wildwood's handmade approach to animation.
See Coraline Laika Collector's Edition Blu-ray 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, 2026-10-22
Published there as: “Wildwood’s director says AI is ‘antithetical to everything that we are at this studio’”
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