Nestled in the heart of Hillsboro, Oregon, not too far from the hub that is Portland, is a studio that’s been making magic since 2005. LAIKA recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. That’s 20 years of innovation and transforming the art of stop motion. And even after so much time, the mission has stayed the same: “tell bold, original stories that stand the test of time.” Looking back at LAIKA’s films, the stories do, in fact, speak for themselves. Take “Coraline,” LAIKA’s first ever feature film, which remains a classic to this day. It was the first stop-motion movie to be photographed in stereoscopic 3D, lending the film a uniquely immersive atmosphere. Since “Coraline,” each LAIKA film has brought a new spin to the genre.
With 2025 nearing an end and 2026 quickly approaching, LAIKA isn’t planning on stopping. In fact, there’s even bigger and better projects in store in the new year. From first-time collaborations to even more ambitious films, the next 20 years will take the studio beyond what it could have imagined at the outset.
LAIKA Partners With Rizzoli Universe
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, LAIKA launched a number of exciting events. “Paranorman” saw a re-release in theaters and exhibitions popped up in various locations, taking visitors into the worlds of their favorite films. But maybe the most exciting news is a collaboration with Rizzoli Universe. Rizzoli Universe is an imprint of Rizzoli International Publications that focuses on beautifully crafted art books. This partnership will culminate in a total of five published books that take readers behind-the-scenes of the studio’s work.
The first publication will release on March 10 of next year. Titled “LAIKA: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory,” this book will detail the process of creating LAIKA’s unique films from start to finish. It will pull from various films to illustrate just how the magic happens. It will also feature interviews with creatives from across all different departments. Not only will these books stand as works of art themselves, they will be a chance to spotlight the hard work that goes on behind the camera and the nuts and bolts that make up the shiny final product.
“Wildwood” is Set to be the Most Ambitious Project Yet
One of the Rizzoli Universe/LAIKA publications will be focused on the art of “Wildwood,” LAIKA’s latest project, set to release in 2026. If past films seemed massive in scale, LAIKA pins “Wildwood” as its “most ambitious yet.” This film is based on the novel by the same name, written by Colin Meloy. This is somewhat of a homecoming for LAIKA. The story is set in the studio’s hometown of Portland, Oregon. A young girl named Prue and her classmate set out on a journey to save Prue’s little brother. The journey takes her through the deep forest that lies just outside the city. Along the way, she encounters all kinds of otherworldly obstacles.
On October 26, the first look teaser for “Wildwood” dropped. The teaser offers our first glimpses at scenes from the film, all of which look as visually stunning as past films. We also learn more about a pivotal character in the story: The General. The General is a golden eagle that takes on a protector role for all of the forest dwellers and becomes a guiding force for Prue. Angela Basset voices her, bringing all the more power to the role. In exclusive behind the scenes clips, it’s revealed that two puppets were used for The General, to capture both flying and more detailed actions. The models feature a whopping 9,000 individual feathers. It’s easy to see why LAIKA says “Wildwood” will push the limits even further than before.
The Studio Plans to Venture Into Live Action
If ground-breaking stop-motion animation wasn’t enough, LAIKA aims to break its mold once again. While the studio has built a legacy through its animated filmography, live action is next on the agenda. There are already a few different projects lined up by LAIKA Live Action. This studio, based in Los Angeles, has a few different projects lined up. For book fans, Taylor Jenkins Reid has her novel, Atmosphere, in development and John Brownlow’s Seventeen is another.
The most current news relates to an adaptation of the novel Audition by Katie Kitamura. The book follows a middle-aged woman in the acting field and centers heavily on the theme of performance, both on and off stage. The film adaptation will be headlined by big names Lucy Liu and Charles Melton. This movie also happens to be in partnership with Higher Ground Productions, founded by former president Barack Obama. LAIKA may be new to the live action game but with the creatives backing this project, it has just the foundation it needs to be successful.
