Is 'Wildwood' Truly the Animation Masterpiece of the Decade?

The cinematic landscape is currently buzzing with an extraordinary achievement: LAIKA's new animated feature, Wildwood, has debuted with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This near-universal critical acclaim, based on an initial wave of reviews, positions the film not just as a highly anticipated release, but potentially as the defining animated masterpiece of the decade. But can any film truly sustain such a lofty designation, or is this early triumph a testament to something more profound than mere hype?

Wildwood marks the return of LAIKA, the acclaimed studio behind Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, to the stop-motion realm for its sixth stop-motion feature. Directed by Travis Knight and penned by Chris Butler, the film plunges audiences into a dark fantasy adventure, based on the illustrated children's book of the same name by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. The narrative centers on Prue McKeel, a 12-year-old girl whose younger brother, Mac, is snatched by a flock of crows led by a mysterious woman named Alexandra, forcing Prue and her schoolmate Curtis Mehlberg into the mystical and perilous Wildwood to rescue him. There, they uncover a hidden civilization of talking animals and strange creatures, controlled by a dangerous ruler. This premise alone, coupled with LAIKA's reputation for intricate storytelling and unparalleled craftsmanship, set expectations high.

Its early critical reception has not only met these expectations but, for many, has surpassed them, crowning it the highest-rated animated film of the decade according to Threads. With a US theatrical release slated for October 23, 2026, and special screenings already underway — including a special presentation at the Animation Is Film (AIF) festival on October 19, and as part of the International Selection of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) 2026 — the stage is set for Wildwood to captivate audiences and critics alike.

LAIKA's Artisan Magic: A New Benchmark for Stop-Motion

It is clear that the primary driver behind Wildwood's stellar reception is its breathtaking stop-motion animation. Critics have universally lauded the film as an impressive work of craftsmanship and visual artistry.