Animae Caribe Festival is excited to welcome back one of our most cherished friends and collaborators, Brad Schiff of LAIKA Studios, for our 2026 Festival celebrations. For many in the Caribbean animation community, Brad is much more than a world-class stop-motion animator he is a mentor, educator, and a passionate supporter of young creative talent. His return comes at a particularly exciting time as LAIKA prepares to release its highly anticipated new stop-motion feature, Wildwood.
Based on the bestselling fantasy novel by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, Wildwood takes audiences into a mysterious, magical forest hidden beyond the boundaries of everyday life. Filled with adventure, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking handcrafted animation, the film continues LAIKA's tradition of pushing the boundaries of stop-motion storytelling. Following beloved classics such as Coraline, ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link, Wildwood promises to be another visually stunning and emotionally rich cinematic experience from the award-winning studio.
Festival attendees will get a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of Wildwood, with Brad sharing insights into the painstaking artistry, technical innovation, and creative collaboration that bring a LAIKA production to life. From character fabrication and set design to animation performance and visual effects, participants will gain a rare glimpse into one of the world's most respected animation studios.
Brad's relationship with Animae Caribe and the Caribbean animation sector goes back many years. In 2018, when Animae Caribe featured LAIKA's Isle of Dogs as its opening film, Brad travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to work directly with students and emerging animators. During his visit, he helped mentor participants in the creation of "Isles of Doubles," a uniquely Caribbean stop-motion short inspired by local culture and produced during the festival. Brad was also instrumental in helping to establish the University of Trinidad and Tobago's Stop-Motion Animation Lab. LAIKA's support extended beyond the festival itself. Through collaborations with the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the studio participated in portfolio reviews and educational initiatives that gave Caribbean students direct access to industry feedback and professional guidance opportunities that are often difficult to access from small island states.
As Animae Caribe celebrates 25 years of championing animation and digital content creation across the region, the return of Brad Schiff is a reminder of the power of long-term partnerships. His contributions have left a lasting impact on Caribbean animation, helping to nurture a generation of artists who now see stop-motion not as a distant dream, but as a real and achievable career path. Join us at Animae Caribe Festival 2026 as we welcome Brad Schiff back to the Caribbean and journey into the enchanting world of Wildwood.
