One of the beautiful things about animated films is the breadth of style and stories we get. No two are alike in their look, feel, and the rich worlds they build. They transport us to new places and often serve as the perfect vehicles for bringing worlds of imagination to life. And the best of them keeps audiences of all ages engaged and entertained.

That’s certainly the case with Wildwood, which opens wide today. The film comes from Laika Studio and features a unique stop-motion style. It helps bring the novel from Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis to life in a rich and memorable way. It’s one of the best examples of the format released in 2026.

The film focuses on Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee). She’s a young woman who is charged with watching her younger brother. When he’s scooped up by a murder of crows, she heads into the woods to retrieve him along with her classmate Curtis (Jacob Tremblay). There, she finds a world she never knew existed.

It also plunges her into a story and a truth about her family she never knew. Prue fights along with many of the creatures who call the woods home. They are battling a woman, Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), whose grief and anger is so great it threatens to consume the woods and all those in it.

This film was adapted by Chris Butler, who does a nice job of bringing the story to life. It comes from director Travis Knight—his second big release of 2026 after Masters of the Universe. While that first film brought a classic property back to life in a live-action format, this one spins up the classic novel in a beautifully animated form.

I liked the look and feel of this film. I love the rich worlds that were created and the way the action and characters come to life. It helps draw you into the narrative and tugs at your emotions. You go on a ride that is visually engaging and emotionally satisfying.

The film boasts a strong cast, too. I enjoyed Lee in the lead role and the way she leads this story. I enjoyed the supporting cast, too, which includes Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Awkwafina, and Charlie Day, in addition to Mulligan. It’s a great group that does a nice job bringing this story to life.

I enjoyed Wildwood and the experience of seeing it brought to life. It’s got a great look, story, and production. It feels like a good time of year to bring this story to the big screen, and it should be fun for audiences of all ages. It’s one of the best animated films of the year and well worth checking out.

Wildwood is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.