Laika will present the song “The Better Part of Bravery” from the animated movie “Wildwood” to be considered in the original song category at the Academy Awards. Diversity has learned. The song is performed by the Decemberists and plays at the end of the movie.
“Wildwood” tells the story of teenager Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) on a desperate mission to save her kidnapped brother due to a murder of crows. His rescue takes him to the Impenetrable Wilderness, a hidden, magical forest just beyond Portland, Oregon. Prue is joined by classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), and the two enter a world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition. As the two are drawn into a conflict that threatens the balance of the forest, Prue must find a way to save her brother while facing forces that could determine the future of Wildwood.
The film is adapted from the debut novel of Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and marks the beginning of the “Wildwood Chronicles”.
Meloy says, “‘Wildwood’ has been a part of my life for many years, and seeing the story evolve in this way has been an extraordinary experience. Writing the song for the end credits gave me a chance to return to the world of ‘Wildwood’ in a different way. There is something especially meaningful about having music accompany the audience as they leave the forest and the story comes to an end.”
The song is also featured on the film’s soundtrack, which is scheduled to be released on Decca Records in parallel with the film’s opening in theaters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Decemberists also perform two bonus tracks: “Bandit Kind” and “Alexandra’s Lullaby.”
The film’s music belongs to composer Dario Marianelli.
Chief marketing and operations officer for Laika and executive producer of “Wildwood” David Burke says: “Music has always been part of the DNA of ‘Wildwood,’ so bringing together Dario Marianelli’s extraordinary score with the Decemberists’ new songs feels like a natural extension of the world Colin Meloy first imagined. Dario gives the film a sweeping emotional and cinematic scale, while Colin’s music brings the story full circle. Together, they have created something that is both deeply personal and epic in its ambition: ‘Wildwood.'”
The film is directed and produced by Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings”) and written by Chris Butler (“ParaNorman”).
The film will have its worldwide premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday, ahead of the soundtrack and theatrical release on October 23.
WILDWOOD (ORIGINAL THEATER SOUNDTRACK) TRACK LIST
- Impenetrable Wilderness
- Meet the McKeels
- Into the Wild Forest
- coyotes
- A Wildwood Follow-up
- Journey to South Wood
- Alexandra, Dowager Governess
- Pittock Mansion
- Curtis Goes Out
- Prue on the Run
- 86 Rue Thorndon
- Alexei’s Story
- A Flight and a Dogfight
- Ivy’s Waltz
- Here’s the Event
- Escape from Warren
- Agreement
- Iphigenia and the Mystics
- Three Armies
- Going to War
- ATTACK!
- Base
- Victory
- Time to Come Back
- Homecoming
- The Brighter Side of Courage – The Decembrists
- Bandit Kind (Bonus Track) — The Decemberists
- Alexandra’s Lullaby (Bonus Track) – The Decemberists
Listen to the song below.