Laika Eyes Oscar Gold: The Decemberists’ ‘The Better Part of Bravery’ Set for Academy Award Contention
As the awards season circuit begins to crystallize, animation powerhouse Laika has officially thrown its hat into the ring for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The studio announced this week that it will be submitting "The Better Part of Bravery," the evocative closing track from its highly anticipated animated feature Wildwood, for consideration. Performed by the acclaimed indie-folk band The Decemberists, the song serves as the final emotional beat for a film that has already generated significant buzz for its breathtaking stop-motion artistry and deep, narrative complexity.
This submission marks a strategic push for Laika, a studio synonymous with meticulous craftsmanship, as it seeks to expand its footprint in the musical categories of the Oscars. With Wildwood poised for a high-profile theatrical release, the inclusion of The Decemberists—a band deeply rooted in the folklore and Pacific Northwest aesthetic that defines the film’s setting—adds a layer of cultural gravity to the project.
The Narrative Foundation: A Journey into the Impassable Wilderness
At the heart of Wildwood lies an adaptation of the beloved debut novel by The Decemberists’ frontman, Colin Meloy. The film, directed by Travis Knight—the visionary behind Kubo and the Two Strings—and scripted by Chris Butler, transports audiences to an enchanted, alternate version of Portland, Oregon.
The story follows teenager Prue McKeel (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee), whose life is upended when a murder of crows abducts her infant brother. This harrowing inciting incident forces Prue into the "Impassable Wilderness," a dense, magical forest that remains hidden from the prying eyes of the modern world. Joined by her classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), Prue finds herself navigating a complex sociopolitical landscape inhabited by talking animals, opportunistic bandits, and powerful figures driven by the weight of their own grief and ambition.
As Prue and Curtis delve deeper, they become embroiled in a high-stakes conflict that threatens the very balance of the forest. The film acts as a grand odyssey, blending the intimate stakes of a sibling rescue mission with the sprawling, epic scale of a fantasy saga. The narrative serves as the foundation for the Wildwood Chronicles, a series that has captivated readers for over a decade and is now being realized through Laika’s signature stop-motion aesthetic.
A Musical Synthesis: The Collaboration Between Meloy and Marianelli
The soundscape of Wildwood is defined by a unique duality. While the film’s sweeping, atmospheric score was composed by Academy Award-winner Dario Marianelli—renowned for his work on Atonement and Pride & Prejudice—the inclusion of contemporary folk sensibilities through The Decemberists provides a bridge between the story’s modern protagonist and its ancient, mythic setting.
David Burke, Laika’s Chief Marketing and Operations Officer and an executive producer on the film, emphasizes that this musical marriage was not an afterthought but a central pillar of the production’s DNA. "Bringing together Dario Marianelli’s extraordinary score and new songs from The Decemberists feels like a natural extension of the world Colin Meloy first imagined," Burke stated. "Dario has given the film a sweeping emotional and cinematic scale, while Colin’s music brings the story full circle."
For Meloy, the process of scoring the end credits was a homecoming. Having written the source material years ago, the transition from page to screen offered him a chance to revisit his own creation from a new vantage point. "There’s something particularly meaningful about having music accompany the audience as they leave the forest and the story comes to a close," Meloy noted. "Seeing the story transformed like this has been an extraordinary experience."
Supporting Data: The Soundtrack and Expanded Musical Presence
The Academy Award submission for "The Better Part of Bravery" is bolstered by a broader commitment to the film’s musical identity. The official soundtrack, set to be released on Decca Records, serves as a testament to the depth of the project. Beyond the submission track, the album features two additional bonus tracks performed by The Decemberists: "Bandit Kind" and "Alexandra’s Lullaby."
These tracks are designed to complement the cinematic experience, echoing themes of isolation, duty, and the wild, untamed nature of the setting. The inclusion of these tracks on the official release suggests that Laika is aiming to create a comprehensive sensory experience that extends beyond the theater, inviting fans to immerse themselves in the world of the film long after the final frame of the credits has faded.
Chronology: From Novel to Screen
The path to the Academy Awards for Wildwood began long before the cameras started rolling in the studio. The journey can be traced through several key milestones:
- 2011: Colin Meloy publishes Wildwood, the first in a trilogy of novels that quickly gained a cult following for its rich world-building and Carson Ellis’s distinct illustrations.
- The Development Phase: Laika, having established itself as a leader in stop-motion innovation, secures the rights, tasking Travis Knight with the directorial helm.
- Production: The film undergoes a years-long production process, utilizing the studio’s patented puppet and set-building techniques to bring the Impassable Wilderness to life.
- October 2024: The film is slated for a major global rollout, with a world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday, followed by a wide release in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland.
- Post-Release: The soundtrack hits digital and physical retailers on October 23, marking the official start of the promotional push for the film’s various award-season submissions, including the Original Song category.
Implications for the Awards Season
The decision to push "The Better Part of Bravery" for Oscar consideration is a significant move for an animated feature. Historically, animated films have found success in the Best Original Song category, but the competition is consistently fierce. By leveraging the star power of The Decemberists and the artistic prestige of Laika, the studio is positioning Wildwood not just as a technical marvel in animation, but as a complete artistic endeavor that deserves recognition across multiple disciplines.
If successful, the nomination would further validate Laika’s "prestige animation" strategy. The studio has long prioritized artistic integrity and slow-burn production cycles over the rapid-fire output typical of larger conglomerates. A nomination in the music category would demonstrate that their films are viewed by the Academy as holistic, high-art pieces of cinema.
Furthermore, the choice of a band like The Decemberists—known for their literate, historical-fantasy-inflected indie folk—speaks to a specific target audience. It signals to the Academy that the film possesses a unique, artisanal voice that stands apart from the more pop-driven songs often found in mainstream studio animation.
Official Responses and Industry Outlook
The industry response to the announcement has been largely positive. Critics who have had early glimpses of the production have praised the synergy between the visual narrative and the musical score.
"The emotional stakes of the film are elevated by the soundtrack," one industry insider remarked. "When you combine the visual language of Travis Knight with the specific, earthy, and melancholic tones of The Decemberists, you create a texture that feels almost tactile. It’s a very intentional choice that sets the film apart from its competitors."
For Laika, the stakes are clear. While the studio has received multiple nominations for Best Animated Feature over the years, securing a win in the Original Song category would represent a new frontier. As the film approaches its October release date, all eyes will be on the audience reception and the critical consensus regarding how well "The Better Part of Bravery" encapsulates the spirit of the Wildwood journey.
Conclusion: A Testament to Creative Ambition
As Wildwood prepares to invite audiences into its enchanted forest, the submission of "The Better Part of Bravery" stands as a bold statement of intent. It is an acknowledgment that the world of animation is not merely about the movement of puppets or the rendering of light; it is about the synthesis of story, score, and song.
With a legacy of technical excellence and a newfound emphasis on musical narrative, Laika is pushing the boundaries of what is expected from an animated feature. Whether or not the song ultimately takes home the golden statuette, the effort serves as a reminder of the passion and dedication required to bring such a complex, fantastical world to life. For fans of The Decemberists and admirers of the Wildwood books, the upcoming release is a culmination of years of anticipation, a moment where the "Impassable Wilderness" finally becomes a destination for the world to explore.
