Step behind the scenes of LAIKA’s latest stop-motion adventure, Wildwood, with Brad Schiff, Head of Animation at LAIKA Studios!

Brad joins us to discuss bringing the film’s fantastical world and unforgettable characters to life through the incredible artistry of stop-motion animation. We explore the creative process behind the film, the challenges of animating its characters and creatures, and how LAIKA continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with this unique filmmaking technique.

From the painstaking detail of stop-motion to creating authentic, emotionally driven performances, Brad shares insight into the craftsmanship, creativity, and collaboration behind one of LAIKA’s most ambitious projects yet.

Wildwood is a testament to the magic of handmade filmmaking and the artists who bring it to life, one frame at a time!

Brad Schiff is the Head of Animation at LAIKA Studios, where he oversees the animation team responsible for bringing the studio’s acclaimed stop-motion films to life. His credits include Wildwood, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link, as well as work on Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs, and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.

Schiff received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects for Kubo and the Two Strings and has earned recognition from the Visual Effects Society for his work in animation. With a career spanning television and feature films, he continues to push the boundaries of stop-motion filmmaking, blending meticulous craftsmanship with expressive, lifelike character performances.

We’re stepping into the magical world of Wildwood! We sit down with actor Jacob Tremblay, who voices Curtis, and stop-motion animator Tom Carey to discuss their work on LAIKA’s epic animated fantasy. From bringing characters to life through voice acting to the incredible craftsmanship behind stop-motion animation, we explore the creativity, collaboration, and artistry that make Wildwood such a unique cinematic adventure.

Directed by Travis Knight and produced by LAIKA, Wildwood follows Prue McKeel, a determined teenager whose baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows and taken into the mysterious Impassable Wilderness near Portland, Oregon. Joined by her classmate Curtis, Prue ventures into an enchanted forest filled with talking animals, dangerous adversaries and ancient magic, discovering a hidden world caught in a struggle for its future.

Based on the book by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, the film features the voices of Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and Angela Bassett. It showcases LAIKA’s signature handcrafted stop-motion animation, bringing an extraordinary fantasy world to life frame by frame.

Jacob Tremblay is a Canadian actor who rose to prominence for his acclaimed performance in Room. His film credits include Wonder, Good Boys, Doctor Sleep, Luca and The Life of Chuck. He has also lent his voice to animated projects, including Harley Quinn and Invincible. In Wildwood, he voices Curtis, a loyal but awkward classmate who joins Prue on a dangerous journey into an enchanted wilderness.

Tom Carey is a stop-motion animator who joined LAIKA in 2021 as an intern and progressed through the studio’s animation department to become a stop-motion animator. A graduate of Arts University Bournemouth’s Animation Production program, Carey worked on multiple sequences of Wildwood, animating a variety of characters and performances. Inspired by Coraline and Wallace & Gromit, his work combines performance, artistic detail and painstaking frame-by-frame craftsmanship.

On this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with Ethan Popp, the Grammy Award-nominated music producer, orchestrator, arranger, and music supervisor behind Broadway’s The Lost Boys!

Based on the iconic 1987 vampire film, The Lost Boys brings the dark, rock-filled world of Santa Carla to the stage with a cinematic sound and an original musical score. We chat with Ethan about his role in shaping the production’s musical identity, the creative process behind adapting a cult classic for Broadway, and the work that goes into bringing a show’s music to life.

With an impressive career spanning Broadway, film, and television, Ethan has also worked on productions including Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Motown the Musical, and Back to the Future: The Musical, as well as the hit film The Greatest Showman.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation about music, storytelling, and the creative work that helps make The Lost Boys a thrilling theatrical experience!

Ethan Popp is a Grammy-nominated music producer, orchestrator, arranger, and music supervisor whose work spans Broadway, film, and television. His credits include The Lost Boys, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Motown the Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical, and The Greatest Showman.

Beyond entertainment, Ethan founded Ethan Runs for Good, a charitable running initiative that turns his passion for running into fundraising for meaningful causes, including Make-A-Wish and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Through races and fundraising campaigns, he uses every mile to support organizations making a difference in people’s lives.

More information at https://www.ethanpopp.com/runsforgood