'Wildwood,' 'Ray Gunn,' 'Tangles' and More

Key Points:

• Laika's new stop-motion film "Wildwood," directed by Travis Knight, is the studio's first PG-13 movie, rated for strong fantasy violence, thematic material, and brief nudity; it ties the record as the longest English-language animated film at 130 minutes.
• The SCAD Savannah Film Festival's Pixels and Pencils panel features animation directors including Knight, Brad Bird, Daniel Chong, Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado, and Leah Nelson, highlighting diverse animated projects with adult themes and broad appeal.
• Notable films discussed include Brad Bird's noir-inspired "Ray Gunn," Daniel Chong's environmentally themed "Hoppers," Crawford and Mercado's Filipino folklore-based "Forgotten Island," and Leah Nelson's adult-oriented "Tangles," which deals with Alzheimer's through a graphic memoir adaptation.
• The animation category is seeing a shift away from traditional Disney/Pixar dominance, with studios like Laika, Pixar, and independent filmmakers producing more mature, auteur-driven animated features that challenge conventional family-friendly norms.
• Updated Oscar predictions for 2026 include "Wildwood" among Best Picture and Animated Feature contenders, with strong showings expected for films like "Dune: Part Three," "The Odyssey," and "The Debut," reflecting a diverse and competitive awards season.