Wildwood is easily one of the most beautiful animated stop motion films I have ever seen.
Before we even get into the story, I’d like to share why and how it took so long to bring this film to life. In case you haven’t heard the story, 16 years from conception to completion, with 6-7 years spent in active production. More than 1,000 creatives, including artists and technicians, contributed to the film, alongside the studio’s largest animation team ever, which consisted of 40 stop motion animators. Wildwood is the longest stop motion film ever made, featuring over 100 unique practical sets and locations.
Honestly, that alone makes Wildwood spectacular and that is to be celebrated.
In an world feeling increasingly dominated by AI and technology, Wildwood is a reminder of why we need to protect and celebrate human artistry. This film is what true craftsmanship looks like, and we need more films like it.
Based on the novel, Wildwood follows Prue, a teenager whose seemingly ordinary day takes a horrific turn when her baby brother, Mac, is abducted by a murder of crows after she disobeys her parents’ instructions not to take him outside. Alongside her classmate Curtis, Prue ventures into the mysterious and forbidden wilderness known as Wildwood, and encounters talking animals, bandits, enchanted trees, and a grieving queen named Alexandra.
What sounds like a simple story unfolds unfolds into a dark fantasy adventure filled with surprising emotional depth and complexity for an animation film.
I’ve seen some criticism suggesting that the film feels too similar to The Lord of the Rings, but perhaps I’m the rare film critic who can appreciate that franchise without being particularly enamored with it. For me however, Wildwood felt fresh, imaginative, and genuinely transporting.
Beneath its breathtaking animation is a story about grief, loss, love, and the frightening reality that, under the right circumstances, you or I could become the villain. It’s a film that isn’t afraid to explore the darker sides of human emotion, and at times, it’s surprisingly bleak, horrific, and violent. Despite its appearance and appeal, I would not recommend this film for young children.
However, this film has so much here’s so much heart.
By the end, I was crying my eyes out (uncontrollably). The film balances its darkness with moments of warmth, hope, and emotional release, delivering a conclusion that genuinely moved me.
My biggest criticism is the pacing. There are stretches where the story lingers longer than necessary, and I found myself wishing certain sequences would move along. It’s the one thing keeping me from giving Wildwood a perfect five stars, a rating I seriously considered. (I might change it).
But even during those slower moments, it’s impossible not to marvel at what you’re watching. Every frame represents the painstaking work of artists who spent years creating something extraordinary by hand.
Wildwood is a visually magnificent fantasy epic that reminds us why animation is an art form worth fighting for. It’s incredibly ambitious, emotionally resonant, occasionally saddening, and ultimately deeply rewarding.
I urge you to see this film and in the theater. It’s an experience worth having, and one I won’t soon forget.
