Film

Wendell & Wild

Name: Wendell & Wild
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Horror
Released: 2022
Cast: Lyric Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Sam Zelaya, James Hong

Portal fantasy

A stop-motion romp where two chaotic demons (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele) con their way topside through a grieving punk-rock girl. Henry Selick directs with baroque visual invention, packed with gags and heart underneath the chaos. It's anarchic and gorgeously weird—for people who loved Coraline's darkness but want more laughs.

TMDb rating

3.3

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love gothic, scrappy stop-motion where the grotesque and the giddy share a frame, and a story about a kid who refuses to be pitied into a smaller life.

Skip it if you need a tidy, easy-going kids' film, since the jokes keep rubbing against ghoulish imagery and the chaotic set pieces can feel crowded.

What it asks of you: Settle in for a brisk hour and three quarters of bizarre invention, where the mood lurches quickly from giddy to uneasy and the visuals demand your eye.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Coraline2009

Henry Selick's other masterpiece: same director, same stop-motion craft, same willingness to scare children while making them laugh. If you loved the visual invention here, this is non-negotiable.

But It's slower and more genuinely unsettling—less plot momentum, more dread. Some find it bleak rather than fun.

The Owl House2020

A Disney show about a human girl in a demon realm, mixing horror-comedy with real character work and queer romance. Same tonal balance of silly and sincere, with phenomenal voice acting and world-building.

But It's serialized across three seasons; you can't just dip in. First season moves slower than Wendell & Wild's manic pace.

Craig of the Creek2018

Cartoon adventure with genuine warmth, diverse characters, and a tone that respects both kids and adults. Less anarchic than Wendell & Wild but shares the same belief that fun doesn't require cynicism.

But It's gentler and more grounded—no demons, no supernatural stakes. If you want chaos, this is too cozy.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Wendell & Wild

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Fantastic Mr. Fox2009

Both are character-driven stop-motion films where the craft is the star and personality trumps plot. Both believe animation is for adults too.

Wes Anderson's stop-motion about a con-artist fox outwitting farmers. Same stop-motion craft as Wendell & Wild, same commitment to visual detail, but deadpan and melancholic instead of manic. Shows what the medium can do.

But Slow, quiet, almost mannered. If you want chaos and loudness, Anderson's restraint will feel cold or boring.

Over the Garden Wall2014

A miniseries that nails what Wendell & Wild attempts: comedy, horror, and melancholy woven tight. Autumn-dark, surprisingly moving, with two charming con-artist brothers at its heart.

But Only ten episodes total, and it ends definitively. Some want more world; others find that part of its perfection.

Hilda2018

Adventure-horror-comedy following a girl navigating a supernatural landscape. Smart, visually inventive, genuinely funny without losing stakes. Season one especially captures that Wendell & Wild energy.

But Shifts more serious and serialized as it goes. Early episodes are lighter than later ones.

Amphibia2019

A girl trapped in a frog world learning to be a hero. Underrated gem with the same mix of comedy, adventure, and genuine emotional payoff. Gets better each season.

But Very long commitment—three full seasons. Slow burn compared to Wendell & Wild's sprint.

Gravity Falls2012

Twins in a weird town full of mysteries. Tighter than Amphibia, faster-paced, genuinely hilarious, with a mystery box that actually pays off. Cult classic for good reason.

But Only two seasons, so it ends just as you're settling in. Some feel shortchanged; others call it perfect timing.

Carmen Sandiego2019

A heist-adventure series with style, humor, and heart. Less horror than Wendell & Wild, but similar energy—colorful, clever, fast-moving, and genuinely fun for all ages.

But It's more lighthearted romp than anything dark. If you came for the creepiness, this won't deliver.

Arcane: League of Legends2021

Both prove modern animation isn't a kids' medium. Both use visual invention and character voice acting (especially Key and Peele-style comedy) to elevate what could be simple premises. Both reward watching closely.

League of Legends adaptation that transcends its source. Riot's animation studio created something genuinely staggering—every scene looks different, characters you adore collide with systems that crush them. Funny, brutal, stunning.

But It's serious underneath the style. If you want to laugh the whole time, Arcane will break your heart instead. Video game people can skip it; newcomers won't.