‘Wildwood’ Proves Laika Isn’t Ready to Let AI Replace the Magic of Stop-Motion, CEO Confirms
As artificial intelligence becomes a bigger part of Hollywood, Laika is making it clear that it has no plans to give up the thing that makes its movies so different. The animation studio behind ‘Coraline,’ ‘ParaNorman,’ and ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ is still putting human hands at the center of its work, even as AI tools become more common across the entertainment industry.
That message is especially important as Laika gets ready to release ‘Wildwood,’ its biggest and most ambitious stop-motion movie yet. The film is directed by Laika CEO Travis Knight, who has spent years defending the value of handmade animation and explaining why he believes audiences can feel the difference.
Knight’s comments have gained even more attention after the first teaser for ‘Wildwood’ became a surprise online hit. The trailer reportedly passed 90 million views on YouTube, far more than many people expected for a stop-motion movie. Knight said the reaction caught him off guard, with people in the industry reaching out to tell him how strongly the footage affected them.
One fan comment probably captured the moment better than anything else: “AI is the future. Laika: Hold my meticulously handcrafted stop motion beer.”
The joke gets at the larger point behind Laika’s approach. While other studios are looking at AI as a way to speed up animation and lower production costs, Laika continues to spend huge amounts of time building puppets, sets, props, and individual frames by hand. The process is slow, but Knight believes that is exactly why it works.
During an earlier interview, Knight explained his view in simple terms, saying “the act of creating things by hand imbues them with a humanity you can’t get any other way.” For him, the handmade process is not just an old-fashioned way of making movies. It is part of the emotional connection audiences have with Laika’s films.
That does not mean Knight is completely against technology. In fact, Laika has always used digital tools when they make sense. The studio combines practical animation with visual effects and other modern techniques. Knight has described the company’s approach as a mix of “art, craft, and technology.” The key difference is that technology is being used to support the artists rather than replace them.
That idea is at the heart of ‘Wildwood.’ Based on the fantasy books by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, the movie runs for around 140 minutes and features a voice cast that includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, and Mahershala Ali. The story is being brought to life through puppets, miniatures, practical sets, stop-motion animation, and carefully chosen digital effects.
The film is also arriving at an interesting time for the animation business. AI programs are becoming more advanced and are already being tested for everything from visual effects to production work. That has created excitement in some parts of Hollywood, but it has also raised concerns about what happens to artists and other creative workers if studios begin relying too heavily on automation.
Knight has argued that AI should not be used as a replacement for the people who give movies their personality. At the same time, he has left the door open to using new technology when it can help filmmakers without taking away the human side of the work.
That balance could become one of Laika’s biggest selling points. The studio has built its reputation on making movies that look and feel unlike standard computer animation. The tiny imperfections, physical textures, detailed sets, and visible sense of craftsmanship are part of the appeal.
‘Wildwood’ will put that approach to the test when it opens in U.S. theaters on October 23, after an earlier release in the UK. The movie’s performance could show just how much audiences still value the handmade touch at a time when AI is changing the way movies are made.
For now, the response to the trailer gives Laika plenty of reason to be confident. The studio may be working with technology, but it clearly believes the most important tool is still the human hand. And if ‘Wildwood’ connects with audiences, Laika could end up proving that taking the slower route is still worth it.
What do you think makes ‘Wildwood’ stand out most?
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