Celebrating Courage Beyond the Screen
LAIKA and Big Brothers Big Sisters Launch National “Wildwood Heroes” Campaign
LAIKA and Big Brothers Big Sisters Launch National “Wildwood Heroes” Campaign
Every day, young people across the country face challenges that require extraordinary courage.
While the heroine of LAIKA’s upcoming animated feature Wildwood journeys into an unknown world to protect someone she loves, many young people navigate their own obstacles with the support of a trusted mentor by their side.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA) and Academy Award-nominated animation studio LAIKA, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), partner to launch Wildwood Heroes, a national storytelling campaign inspired by Wildwood that celebrates real young people.
As each story unfolds, audiences are invited to celebrate the mentors who help young people discover the courage to navigate life’s greatest adventures—and to consider becoming that trusted adult for a young person waiting for a mentor!
The Wildwood Heroes campaign begins in Los Angeles with Zoe, the first young person to be recognized as a Wildwood Hero, and her Big Sister, Kaeti.
Fun, adventurous, and endlessly curious, Zoe has navigated significant changes in her life with remarkable strength. After her family was impacted by the 2025 Southern California wildfires, Zoe faced the challenge of starting over in a new school, meeting new friends, and finding the courage to step into an unfamiliar environment.
Founded in 2005 and based in Oregon, LAIKA is an award-winning animation studio and Certified B Corporation driven to tell bold, original stories that stand the test of time. Renowned for its distinctive artistry, innovative filmmaking and pioneering use of technology, LAIKA has redefined the possibilities of stop-motion animation.
The studio’s five films — Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link — were each nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. LAIKA’s next animated feature, Wildwood, premieres October 23, 2026. The studio has also expanded its storytelling into live action and television.
