LAIKA: A Studio That Values Art Over Algorithms
Too often in today’s film industry, studios rush to release one-off projects and sequels that are designed to generate maximum profit with minimal effort. Too often, audiences are bombarded with films lacking heart, creativity, or effort, with the primary goal being to make as much money in as little time as possible. It’s easy to see why, for many executives, investing in art doesn’t offer the quick, low-effort returns that profit-driven projects do. LAIKA, the stop motion studio responsible for Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings, is pushing back against that industry model with its latest project, WILDWOOD, and showing that creative projects driven by passion can be a reward all on their own.
Fifteen Years in the Making: The Ambition Behind Wildwood
WILDWOOD, despite releasing its first trailer on October 26th, actually began its development in 2011. With nearly 15 years of work, WILDWOOD has become one of LAIKA’s longest-standing projects to date. Travis Knight, LAIKA’s President and CEO, as well as the director of WILDWOOD, called the project “incredibly ambitious.” LAIKA, known for their artistry in stop-motion animation and ability to bring dense fantasy worlds to life in a way most studios would envy, has developed new stop-motion controls and techniques for some of their puppets. Notably, for The General, played by Angela Bassett, a large eagle acting as a guardian over the forest where the film takes place, which features over 9000 individual feathers installed by hand across two puppets- a feat impossible without dedicated creatives who wanted to tell their story in their chosen medium.
A commitment like this, with a product any studio would want, demands a lot of time from everyone involved. Since the puppets are stop motion, an animator can only produce about three to four seconds of footage per week, which explains why LAIKA is releasing WILDWOOD nearly six years after their last film, Missing Link, starring Hugh Jackman and Zoe Saldaña. In a for-profit studio, this would never be the norm, but for LAIKA, patience is key.
LAIKA’s Human Touch in a Machine-Driven Industry
Unlike the current trend among many Hollywood studios that initiate new projects every year, LAIKA depends on seasoned creatives who have devoted their lives to carefully investing in and crafting art. In contrast, other studios are increasingly relying on AI-assisted or AI-generated projects to save costs and speed up production.
Still, AI is just another tool, another piece of technology, and LAIKA engages with its own technology in a way that’s wholly different. While LAIKA isn’t interested in replacing their artists and puppeteers with AI, if that was even possible for the type of film they’re trying to make, LAIKA’s goal is more to extend its artistic reach rather than overwrite it, and that can only be attained with a human at the helm.
The Price LAIKA’s of Passion Projects
However, stop-motion animation remains expensive. LAIKA’s movies typically cost between $60 million and $100 million and take years to complete. Despite this, most have grossed under $120 million worldwide, with Missing Link just surpassing $26 million. Where other studios might abandon passion projects after poor performance, LAIKA uses its unique position as an independent studio to continue championing art, which resonates with audiences for years after the films leave theaters. Films like ParaNorman often rewatched during the fall, and movies like Kubo and the Two Strings become family staples. It also helps that Travis’s father is the co-founder of Nike, and the projects survive on legacy, with films like Coraline turning into cult classics and re-released in theaters in 2024, grossing over $50 million at the box office.
Why Wildwood Matters Now
In an industry where AI promises efficiency but has yet to match the artistry achieved consistently by studios like LAIKA through patience, WILDWOOD stands as a rejection of sacrificing artistry for profit. As audiences tire of repetitive franchises, Wildwood could serve as a reminder that timeless work requires time. LAIKA’s gamble is that authenticity will outlast the algorithm, and given Coraline’s legacy and lasting success, they might be correct.