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A 1963 tram car from the Wildwood Sightseer tram is being restored to its original condition with plans to display it at the George F. Boyer Historical Museum. The Wildwood Historical Society, which saved the rusted vehicle, is raising money to pay for the project.
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Michael Tanenbaum
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Since last year, Laika’s been keeping its latest movie Wildwood under wraps and only letting out tiny scraps of information. With ParaNorman briefly back in theaters this weekend, the stop-motion studio snuck in some more footage from the film, which it promises will be “their most ambitious cinematic journey yet.”
After an intro building up Laika’s history up to this point, the video shows off concept art from the film depicting its majestic aerial views of Portland and renders of the General, an eagle with “unshakeable grace” voiced by Angela Bassett. As the narrator explains, creating the General required models “inspired by nature” to create her movements, followed by 9,000 individual feathers going onto a pair of special puppets—one puppet for flight scenes, and the other for “intricate performance controls.”
Directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee) and based on Colin Meloy’s 2011 kids fantasy novel, the film focuses on Portland kid Prue McKeel as she and her classmate Curtis explore a magical forest looking for her missing baby brother Mac, and enlist the General’s help to find him. The voice cast also includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, and Amandla Stenberg.
Animation is what Laika movies are known for, and in that sense, Wildwood looks like another winning. Watching the animators and artists bring the General to life from render to puppeting her around sure is something, and you really believe it when the narration talks about “pouring creativity in every joint, feather, and frame.” The studio is clearly proud of what it’s made in the General—particularly when she takes to the skies—and its own technical skill, since the video talks up the “artistry, innovation, and heart” that went into production. We’ll see what it all adds up to when the film releases in 2026.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Justin Carter
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For fans who missed Coraline‘s summertime return, fear not: Animation company Laika Studios will be re-releasing the beloved stop-motion pic beginning on Halloween.
The news comes following a huge global box office return for Laika, who is now partnering with Fathom in the U.S. and Trafalgar Releasing internationally, with more than $53 million grossed during the dark fantasy movie’s re-release in August for its 15th anniversary. The 2009 film will be offered in newly remastered 3D as well as 2D formats.
During the screening, viewers will also get a glimpse at Laika’s upcoming Wildwood. Beginning Oct. 31, the film will be available in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria and Ecuador, with more territories to come. France and Italy will also see a re-release for the film’s anniversary in November.
“Everyone at LAIKA is elated by the global success of the Coraline re-release and we’re delighted to offer one more chance to see it this year during Halloween festivities,” said Laika’s chief marketing and operations officer, David Burke. “In addition to becoming Fathom’s highest-grossing release in the US, Coraline set box office records in multiple international territories, including the UK and Mexico, through our partnership with Trafalgar Releasing. We are humbled by the millions of fans around the world who came out to experience Coraline in dazzling remastered 3D on the big screen this summer, making the 15th anniversary a cultural phenomenon.”
Per Laika, the re-release from August is the highest-grossing in the U.S. in the past decade. It also marked the highest lifetime U.S. gross box office of all time for a stop-motion animated feature, beating The Nightmare Before Christmas and Chicken Run.
Tickets for the re-release go on sale in the U.S. starting today.
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Natalie Oganesyan
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Multiple incidents in Wildwood and Ocean City disrupted a busy Memorial Day weekend, prompting local leaders to denounce the unruly behavior that has become an annual problem for Jersey Shore communities.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland suggested he may adopt a stricter approach with teens and young adults who cause problems on the boardwalk and elsewhere.
“For those who come to our communities to create unrest, be forewarned that your bad decisions and bad actions will not be tolerated and law enforcement will use all legal measures to arrest and charge all violators,” Sutherland said. “Instead of capturing positive memories you will be issued charges to answer to and possible permanent records that will impact your future.”
In Wildwood, officials declared a state of emergency and shut down the boardwalk early Monday morning due to “an irrepressible number of calls for service” that amounted to “civil unrest” during the weekend. The city had brought in police from other communities for assistance because there were too many complaints to respond to all of them, officials said. Most were related to crowds of teenagers and young adults. The declaration was lifted after a few hours.
In Ocean City, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed during a brawl Saturday night on the 1000 block of the boardwalk. The teen was treated at the scene and an investigation is underway to find the suspect, police said.
Sutherland said Wildwood leaders “took the proper action” by declaring the state of emergency.
“Everyone in our shore communities in Cape May County can be assured that law enforcement is here to make our visitors, families and residents safe,” Sutherland said.
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. blamed the trend of unruly behavior on state juvenile justice reforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reforms, driven by efforts to address racial disparities, emphasized having police give teens curbside warnings for a variety of minor offenses to limit their mistakes from impacting their futures.
“Wildwood will not tolerate unruly, undisciplined, unparented children nor will we stand by while the laws of the state tie the hands of the police,” Troiano said.
Ocean City enacted local ordinances last year to empower their police to issue “breach of peace” violations for a variety of offenses. Under these laws, police can take juveniles into custody and have their parents or guardians pick them up at the station. The offenses do not remain on teens’ records like more serious crimes do, but they give police more leeway to take juveniles into custody for violations.
In Ocean City, Wildwood and Sea Isle City, earlier juvenile curfews and other restrictions have been adopted to discourage unruly behavior in places where crowds are most likely to gather. Measures have included reduced boardwalk and beach hours. Sea Isle City banned backpacks on its promenade after 10 p.m. during the summer and Wildwood now prohibits alcohol on all beaches and the boardwalk, regardless of whether containers are open or closed.
On Sunday, Cape May County Commissioner Director Len Desiderio said he’s been working with municipalities and legislators for the last three years to come up with solutions to juvenile disturbances. Last Memorial Day, Ocean City police said they received nearly 1,000 reports of misbehavior by young people over the course of the holiday weekend. The year before, there had been 869 reports of such incidents.
“Trenton has everything backward,” Desiderio said. “So far, despite the efforts of our local legislators, our pleas for help have mostly fallen on deaf ears in Trenton.”
Desiderio said he plans to meet with Sutherland and the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office to talk about how resources can be deployed to better support local police in problem areas. He vowed not to “let these thugs steal summer” from people who visit and live at the shore.
The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority said the state of emergency that restricted boardwalk access on Monday morning helped with enforcing the city’s curfew and prevented serious incidents from occurring.
Sutherland called on residents of Cape May County to continue reporting illegal activity in their communities. He said the extended police responses in Wildwood and Ocean City were effective in stopping what could been more serious injuries or property damage in both cities.
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Michael Tanenbaum
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Thursday, May 23, 2024 9:45PM
As the days and hours to Memorial Day get closer, workers in Wildwood are taking advantage of every second.
WILDWOOD, New Jersey (WPVI) — Summer is just around the corner.
As the days and hours to Memorial Day get closer, workers are taking advantage of every second.
Beaches and boardwalks up and down the shore will soon be packed with people.
Action News reporter Sharifa Jackson made a stop in Wildwood to see how the shore town is preparing for the season ahead.
Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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Sharifa Jackson
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The boardwalk in Wildwood is about to get a major facelift. Crews are getting ready to work on a rebuild for a new attraction aimed at country music fans.
Soon the former home of an aging arcade is set to be transformed into a country bar, a first for the Wildwoods.
“It is going to be called the Honky Tonk Beach, ” Broadwalk Mall co-owner Sean Dougherty told NBC10.
The location will be inside the Boardwalk Mall which also houses shops and a Captn’ Jack’s Island Grill.
“This was a true achievement to actually buy this place and to kind of just reinvent it,” Dougherty said.
Doughtery added that Honky Tonk Beach will build on the success of Wildwood’s popular Barefoot Country Music Fest over the past few years.
Just outside, a major spruce-up is underway and the latest phase of a multi-year project to refurbish the city’s more than century-old boardwalk.
“We’re going to have live entertainment, we’re going to have line dancing,” Dougherty said.
Now is the time to prepare and grab your cowboy hats and boots because the new bar is expected to open in mid-May.
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Ted Greenberg and Cherise Lynch
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