As a writer, I am always interested in how authors come up with their ideas and story concepts for their books. The story behind Wildwood is almost as enchanting as the book itself. Its creator, Colin Meloy, is a musician, songwriter, and novelist whose imagination was shaped by literature, music, folklore, and the forests of Oregon. Colin Meloy is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the Portland-based indie rock band The Decemberists. But long before Wildwood became a movie, he had another ambition. He wanted to write a fiction novel.
His wife, Carson Ellis, is an accomplished illustrator whose distinctive artwork helped establish the magical atmosphere of the original books. Together, they created the wonderful book Wildwood. They created a fantasy world rooted in a place they knew and loved. The idea for Wildwood grew from walks through Forest Park in Northwest Portland. Colin and his wife, who live nearby, often explored the park together.
While walking, Colin and his wife noticed the changes in sounds and light as they got deeper into the forest, away from the city. He was mesmerized by the sounds of the birds and enjoyed observing the birds and other animals living in Forest Park. Colin began imagining what it would be like if that familiar forest concealed an entire kingdom.
In an interview with Bird Alliance of Oregon, Colin explained that he loved stories in which recognizable places were transformed into magical kingdoms. His wife helped inspire him while writing the story. She traced the real boundaries of Forest Park onto a large sheet of paper, and together they began populating their imaginary world with familiar landmarks, including Pittock Mansion and the Bird Alliance of Oregon.
Meloy and Ellis drew inspiration from traditional Irish and English folklore. Colin mentions the Sluagh, supernatural beings in Irish folklore associated in some traditions with taking the form of crows and carrying off people, including children. The authors combined these folkloric elements with the geography of their hometown to create something both familiar and strange.
The original Wildwood novel was published in 2011. The novel’s imaginative scope made it an ambitious candidate for a film adaptation. Portland-based animation studio LAIKA eventually brought the story to the screen under director Travis Knight. Screenwriter Chris Butler adapted the novel, while the filmmakers worked to preserve its intricate world and distinctive characters. The journey from book to movie took approximately 16 years of development and production. The finished film required an enormous collection of handcrafted sets and puppets, demonstrating just how much work goes into creating a stop-motion fantasy.
The book is worth reading prior to seeing the movie. The movie is rated PG and is now playing in our local theaters. Also on Netflix, there is a series called Beyond the Seams. One of its segments goes behind the scenes at LAIKA and shows how they created the sets and clothing designs for the characters in the movie. I just watched this and was so mesmerized by the work of the artists at LAIKA who created this beautiful movie.
The art crows are still on display around Portland through this week. The story behind Wildwood is almost as enchanting as the book itself.
Follow this map to find all the art crows on display and create your own stories for a fun day of family adventure. The crows will only be up through this weekend, so I hope you get a chance to see them and also enjoy the movie Wildwood. It is getting fantastic reviews.
