The Wildwood featurette lifts the veil on the creation of its stop-motion world

Enjoy us legally interested Wildwooddirector Travis Knight’s upcoming fantasy film. Laika Studios produced it additional teaser in May, which racked up nearly 90 million views. A full trailer may be coming, but in the meantime, the studio has released an impressive behind-the-scenes image that shows how the animation team slowly creates the fantasy world.

(Some spoilers for the 2011 book below.)

The film is based on about 2011 novel Written by Colin Meloy—leader of the indie music group The Decemberists—and his wife, photographer Carson Ellis. Meloy and Ellis live in Portland, Oregon, near Forest Park, where they often cross paths. In Wildwoodthey turned the local landmark into a hidden magical world full of talking animals and lurking threats, accessible only to the people of The Wood—and a selection of “different types” of Outsiders.

Twelve-year-old Prue McKee discovers the woods while walking with her baby brother, Mac. Killing the raven swoops down and takes her, and Prue finds the Wilderness hunting her. His school friend, Curtis Mehlberg, follows him, and they both end up in a magical world. Exciting events unfold as the two encounter a mysterious woman, Alexandra, who has lost her son, along with coyotes, bandits, and other beautiful mysteries.