Maki Sparkle ✨’s review published on Letterboxd:
“Wherever that part is, they will never find it.” 🩵
*Score revision: it’s a 10. Periodt
93%🔋Quite possibly the most affecting animated film of the year, it most certainly gives Inside Out 2 a major run for its money. I need a second viewing before I declare which one I believe to be better but either way this is a slam dunk for families and fans of the animation medium in general.
For starters it’s stunning to behold, the animation techniques used gave the movie an almost painted look. As if they’re drawn with brush strokes, background vistas and the overall nature setting was beautifully rendered and all the critters were brought to life with vigor and charm. I really believe this is the highlight animation portrayal of the year, I believe cell shading was used alongside your traditional 3D models and it just made the film pop.
I love that the movie sidesteps any fantasy of talking animals by having Roz our titular robot learn and adapt their animal sounds to human language. It was a very clever way at allowing these animals to have a voice and it ring true and not push it into a realm that the film is not.
Emotional and hilarious, these are the films two attributes that help it soar above your average animated film, hell this is better than most live action we’ve got this year. Yea, the theme of a migrating duck was already done last year but Migration was just a silly, fun but ultimately forgettable detour. The Wild Robot takes that theme and runs with it literally and creates a spiral of emotions that if you don’t shed a tear when she lets go of the duckling she’s been caring for and it allows it to take flight, you’re not human. Lol.
That’s the films heartbeat but there’s more here cooking and I was a bit floored during a rather dynamite sequence that shows Roz find her true calling and goes on a riveting rescue to save all the islands animals from a devastatingly harsh winter. What this portrayed was that while different and alien to a world, you can find what makes it beautiful and that’s the life on the planet she landed on. She knew this and never faltered in her newfound mission.
There’s also a discovering of harmony that I found quite potent. At one point all the animals are safe but we have predator and prey together in one den, how do they manage this? Of course, most of this is comedic but there’s still a nugget of truth here. Roz taught them that coming together atleast for the safety of all is what should be done.
Oh and the comedy bits, man this was a hoot. I didn’t find any of the gags or jokes cringe, in fact it’s rather dynamic in that we get both physical and dialogue driven drollness that had me in stitches. It’s not overtly sophisticated but it’s just smart enough to have the parents laughing alongside their kiddos.
The score is spritely which kept the movie feeling vibrant and it’s not without some riveting action sequences. Its climax is a bit rushed and the main villain was introduced a bit too late but I was very impressed by the tentacles movements, again this is a sharply and intelligently animated film. It manages to pack quite a bit and I’d definitely let go of any reservations that this is just another “duck film”, it’s not. If anything it’s about finding your true calling and adopting a family and adapting to a new and spirited environment.
I saw this with my coworker and her 4 kiddos alongside my little sister who’s 11. During a pivotal moment she started crying and my heart burst, she turned to me and goes “I’m sad” as I was crying as welll. It was a bonding moment I won’t forget, i asked her what she would rate it and she said a 10. That only made me love it more. Incredible film.
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Upcoming🎬
🔜•The Iceman (2012)- Recommendation
🔜•VHS 2 (2013)- Jaded Watch
