Nike founder’s support fuels Laika’s stop-motion revival with ‘Wildwood’

While these figures are modest compared to billion-dollar animated hits like ‘Toy Story 5’ and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,’ they represent a significant improvement for Laika, particularly when compared to the $5.9 million opening and $16.6 million domestic total of its 2019 film, ‘Missing Link.’ ‘Wildwood’ has already surpassed the global earnings of ‘Missing Link,’ reaching nearly $36 million worldwide.

The film’s budget is reported to be around $100 million, exceeding the production costs of other animated films like Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters’ ($85 million) and DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ ($80 million). Laika has not publicly disclosed the film’s budget.

Laika’s ability to continue operating stems largely from the financial backing of Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike. Knight initially invested in Laika’s predecessor, Will Vinton Studios, in 1998, and became majority owner in 2002, leading to a contentious departure for founder Will Vinton, documented in the film ‘Claydream.’ The studio was renamed Laika in 2005 and brought in director Henry Selick for ‘Coraline,’ based on a novel by Neil Gaiman.

Laika initially partnered with Focus Features for distribution, then United Artists Releasing for ‘Missing Link.’ Currently, Fathom Entertainment, known for event cinema, is distributing ‘Wildwood’ domestically, including a planned 2024 rerelease of ‘Coraline.’

‘Wildwood,’ rated PG-13 – a first for Laika – distinguishes itself with darker content, including fantasy violence and suicide-related themes, prompting other studios like Netflix and DreamWorks to make edits to secure PG ratings. The Knight family’s substantial wealth, estimated at $26 billion, enables Laika to pursue these creative and financial risks, allowing the studio to remain in Hillsboro, Oregon, near Nike’s headquarters, rather than relocate to Hollywood. Travis Knight also serves on Nike’s board of directors.

This support contrasts with recent industry developments, such as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s $40.4 billion investment in his son David Ellison’s Skydance, which recently acquired Paramount and Warner Bros. While such investments often face scrutiny, Laika’s situation is generally viewed more favorably due to its preservation of the stop-motion art form, a painstaking and rare technique. Travis Knight began developing ‘Wildwood,’ an adaptation of a novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, 16 years ago.

Laika is expanding its operations, with the addition of a live-action division led by former Netflix executive Matt Levin and the development of its first series, ‘Exit Party,’ starring Emma Stone. Future animated projects include adaptations of ‘Piranesi’ and ‘The Night Gardener.’

Despite its modest box office performance, ‘Wildwood’ has garnered positive reviews and could earn Laika its first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.