LAIKA Studios shared a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Wildwood, its recently released animated film, showing how the General, a bird character, was brought to the screen.
The General is a giant eagle who leads the Avian Infantry and is voiced by Angela Bassett. According to the studio, every feather was made by hand. "It took many talented hands to bring the General’s magnificent wingspan to life," LAIKA writes.
The fantasy coming-of-age story Wildwood is based on the eponymous novel written by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter of The Decemberists, and illustrated by Carson Ellis. In the film, written by Chris Butler, seventh-grader Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay) set off on an adventure in an enchanted forest beyond Portland, trying to rescue Prue's little brother, Mac (Arthur Knight), after crows abduct him.
Wildwood received a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11. The film was released in theaters on October 23 and opened fourth at the weekend box office. However, its $11.8 million North American debut is the second-lowest opening among LAIKA's films.
