Portland inspires the magical world of LAIKA’s new ‘Wildwood’ movie, arriving October 2026

Portland is about to become the setting of a new stop-motion adventure that transforms some of the city’s most familiar places into a hidden fantasy world.

LAIKA’s new stop-motion movie, “Wildwood,” arrives in theaters nationwide on Oct. 23, bringing viewers into a fantastical version of Portland filled with talking animals, warring kingdoms, mysterious forests, and a murder of crows.

The movie is based on the book by Portland-based husband-and-wife duo Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis.

It also comes from the Hillsboro-based studio behind “Coraline,” “ParaNorman” and “Kubo and the Two Strings.” But unlike LAIKA’s previous films, “Wildwood” is set in the studio’s own backyard.

What is ‘Wildwood’ about?

“Wildwood” begins in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood before heading across the Willamette River and deep into an enchanted version of Forest Park.

The story follows Prue McKeel, a headstrong teenager whose baby brother is carried away by a murder of crows.

The crows take him into the Impassable Wilderness, an enchanted forest just beyond Portland where outsiders are warned not to go.

Determined to bring her brother home, Prue follows them into the woods. Her classmate Curtis Mehlberg joins the rescue mission, and the two soon discover a hidden world filled with talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures fighting for control of the forest.

What begins as a search for Prue’s brother becomes part of a much larger struggle over the future of Wildwood.

Peyton Elizabeth Lee voices Prue, while Jacob Tremblay voices Curtis.

The cast also includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Richard E. Grant, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Maya Erskine, Jake Johnson, and Jemaine Clement.

How is ‘Wildwood’ connected to Portland?

Nearly every part of “Wildwood” has a Portland connection.

The movie is based on the 2011 novel of the same name written by Colin Meloy, frontman of Portland indie rock band The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.

Meloy and Ellis found inspiration during walks through Forest Park and imagined what might be hiding beyond its familiar trails.

They began with a map of the park and transformed recognizable Portland places into pieces of a fantasy world. Pittock Mansion became a seat of government, the Oregon Zoo became a prison and the grounds near the Portland Audubon Society, now known as Bird Alliance of Oregon, became a kingdom of birds.

The St. Johns Bridge, Portland’s industrial northwest side and the old stone structure commonly called the Witch’s Castle also helped shape the world found in the “Wildwood” books.

Even the name feels rooted in the city. The real Wildwood Trail stretches about 30 miles through Forest Park, passing wooded canyons, the Stone House, and Pittock Mansion along the way.

But the Portland connection goes beyond the setting.

“Wildwood” was created by Oregon-based LAIKA, whose artists constructed the movie’s characters, costumes, forests, and buildings by hand. Director Travis Knight, the son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, has described it as the largest and most demanding production the studio has taken on.

Meloy has called the project a love letter to Portland and Forest Park.

When does ‘Wildwood’ come out?

“Wildwood” opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.