tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82886080744249544382024-03-18T15:07:31.277-04:00AFA: Animation For Adults : Animation News, Reviews, Articles, Podcasts and MoreThe site for animation aficionados.Chris Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178848467568403800noreply@blogger.comBlogger45017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-85936867846167289082024-01-20T07:54:00.003-05:002024-01-21T07:18:27.374-05:00The Dragon Prince [Seasons 1-5] (2018-2023)<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv75Wa66owHAwGOrhbHmur3y2nctLqDER8nWY4oeCwpChBuS3vus7cyWAsAzIAh5FR73IlsWspsbd1ukuSwDmIIpYvJW7t7FkUvJZEq7JTwo4uijR9R9vkkcVmooNyj6CLWPq-vZfdfrdIxNshinr1_o4aTf8ueXmdh-zY3WNf0aSutG66jSsbYc_Zug/s1920/DragonPrinceFT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv75Wa66owHAwGOrhbHmur3y2nctLqDER8nWY4oeCwpChBuS3vus7cyWAsAzIAh5FR73IlsWspsbd1ukuSwDmIIpYvJW7t7FkUvJZEq7JTwo4uijR9R9vkkcVmooNyj6CLWPq-vZfdfrdIxNshinr1_o4aTf8ueXmdh-zY3WNf0aSutG66jSsbYc_Zug/s16000/DragonPrinceFT.jpg" /></a></b>
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<b><br />The Dragon Prince</b> is the first show in a long time to capture my
imagination the way stories did when I was a kid. The sweeping fantasy of the
show is held up with its deep and textured world-building, diligent return to
themes, and human-feeling characters. From the magic system to the political
intrigue, to the interpersonal drama, The Dragon Prince executes traditional
fantasy tropes with power and freshness.<br /><br />The show follows the young
princes of<b> Katolis</b>, one of five human kingdoms, journeying to the magic
lands of <b>Xadia </b>with their elven companion to end millennia of war and
hostility between all things magic and all things human.
<b>Callum (Jack DeSena),</b> the oldest of the half-brothers, is dorkily
charming, intelligent, and inept at all things athletic. He is not in line for
the throne and has no wish to be, though he fears having no place in the future
of the kingdom’s infrastructure. He has overwhelming love and affection for his
little brother<b> Ezran (Sasha Rojen)</b>, the precocious and stubbornly
kind-hearted heir to the throne and a friend to all living things. Ezran and
Callum are easily one of the healthiest brother-brother relationships I’ve seen
in animation, each offering the other faithful encouragement and emotional
vulnerability. By contrast, their <b>Moonshadow</b> elf friend <b>Rayla </b>is
emotionally constipated and relentlessly self-critical: a result of her
upbringing in a martial culture with little space made for feelings of doubt,
imperfections, or even familial love. She has a rough-edged sort of kindness:
her strong sense of duty to use her skills in the service of others and for a
greater cause never falter, even in the face of monumental self-sacrifice.
<p></p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBJ7yvcPbveA6d_QNPZDDA1iCTa8HtozFgeAsaDQB7ov2-SyI5-uHqSu4uWdhXe5rFzIEH9yw3YwWGPlEYqxXFXKijLs9d-I8Rb_wu1jMcFjXCA7UJodTf6V965wmsG1DVa4cmRMHB27-fKEYoP9QRJsJB_yYPZ5XeRZHj9NJghoiws2P536cY_y4yw/s1920/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_01_21_12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBJ7yvcPbveA6d_QNPZDDA1iCTa8HtozFgeAsaDQB7ov2-SyI5-uHqSu4uWdhXe5rFzIEH9yw3YwWGPlEYqxXFXKijLs9d-I8Rb_wu1jMcFjXCA7UJodTf6V965wmsG1DVa4cmRMHB27-fKEYoP9QRJsJB_yYPZ5XeRZHj9NJghoiws2P536cY_y4yw/s16000/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_01_21_12.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Showrunner <b>Aaron Ehasz </b>has become popular among the more
subversive sects of the <b>Avatar: The Last Airbender </b>fandom, with many
claiming that the best of A:TLA’s characterization and drama came from Ehasz
rather than <b>Michael Dante Dimartino</b> and <b>Bryan Konietzko</b>. The
Dragon Prince seems to substantiate this claim, though we don’t know enough
about co-writer <b>Justin Richmond</b> to discount his work. As a writer of
animated pieces, I am very excited about the rising representation of
writer-run animated shows; the best stories that animation has to offer will
always take the work of writers and artists working together.<br /><br />A
particular quirk of the magic system that I was thrilled to see was the
extrapolated logic that the arcane can be learned: not just inherited. It’s
always been a pet-peeve of mine when the wisest scholars of magic in fantasy
worlds explain that magic powers symbolize numinous, ethereal knowledge about profound truths… but it’s passed down in chromosomes.
</p>
<p>
<br />While magic in The Dragon Prince comes quicker to ‘superior’
species, such as elves, magic is treated as more of a language one can learn
than a super power. Some elves don’t have any intellectual curiosity about
magic, as some native English speakers seem to have an elementary
understanding of the language, but a human who pursues magic must work and
study hard to gain it. To be a human is to be underestimated, even denigrated,
and achieve greatness anyway with effort and determination.
</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAdYLzXOsmON6xMDs7yuJv8LS2pGwWiCVyj2cKRKSMGNMndWdutUNkV4t1Fl-1QTOD8nn5k-ZTimmPG-3DyaOdkWgKnwRbaYSj_5W4VSNjlDBV2XVs2t2VSJkntHGkd5nnJcSikZnWxYd6dnr6FL2aLPX36H7tZ9CsYUMahNMladYP4mUBZrm2xo1og/s1920/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_01_28_20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAdYLzXOsmON6xMDs7yuJv8LS2pGwWiCVyj2cKRKSMGNMndWdutUNkV4t1Fl-1QTOD8nn5k-ZTimmPG-3DyaOdkWgKnwRbaYSj_5W4VSNjlDBV2XVs2t2VSJkntHGkd5nnJcSikZnWxYd6dnr6FL2aLPX36H7tZ9CsYUMahNMladYP4mUBZrm2xo1og/s16000/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_01_28_20.jpg" /></a></div><p><br />This element of the world also subtly ties in to one of the main
sources of tension underlying the aggression: humans are not inferior to elves
and dragons, but they are made to feel as though they are through the base
assumptions of magic-users. The profound fear and anger of humanity, the
overarching antagonistic force throughout the first half of the show, is
understandable and possibly justifiable. These humans are swayed, tempted, and
threatened by the same forces that we are, but they are trapped in a world
where they are at the mercy of far more powerful beings. <br /><br />I find
the complexity of The Dragon Prince’s antagonists to be its greatest asset.
They drive the central themes of the story forward with clear-eyed
determination. At all times, they represent the twisted yet reasonable
thinking that the danger of a higher power can be overcome with violence, even
while knowing this violence will inevitably lead to an even more severe
blowback.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD3CdBU9Gg7ftO9s5BxITjq6xDhzXQU7grVhGY0ghKLnpo1lopYYZFsI5h8ZjGa2Tg-lkBjnycCbgsqjrIVRJ4RqxFyIl7QXNPN409iR-zpjY20ax9yzgRjtP1-bws4ymP7jlr3DqMZBDssoX6wD1hS08IdRZ7H6ObqYrkr8deO1u9i01Lc3iLk5q1g/s1920/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_00_41_08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD3CdBU9Gg7ftO9s5BxITjq6xDhzXQU7grVhGY0ghKLnpo1lopYYZFsI5h8ZjGa2Tg-lkBjnycCbgsqjrIVRJ4RqxFyIl7QXNPN409iR-zpjY20ax9yzgRjtP1-bws4ymP7jlr3DqMZBDssoX6wD1hS08IdRZ7H6ObqYrkr8deO1u9i01Lc3iLk5q1g/s16000/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_00_41_08.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I mentioned in my review of
<b><a href="https://www.animationforadults.com/2023/06/vinland-saga-season-2-2023.html">Vinland Saga</a></b>
that real pacifism is not an easy thing to sell in stories. But when the
storytellers commit, pacifism can be exciting and badass. It’s engaging and
often more emotionally resonant than action scenes, and there is an inherent
tension to watching a beloved character leave themselves vulnerable to stay
true to their principles. The Dragon Prince has no dearth of action scenes,
but notably fewer than you’d expect from a story about violence. More
importantly, the lack of violence does not feel lazy or unearned. While I’ve
never seen a show earn its pacifism quite as thoroughly as Vinland Saga, The
Dragon Prince puts its story where its themes are, and closes down avenues of
plot when appropriate for characterization.</p><p><br />The dominant antagonist of the first three seasons is<b>
Viren,</b>
the <b>High Mage</b> under <b>King Harrow, </b>whose assassination at the
hands of Moonshadow elves kickstarts the plot. Viren’s stated goal is to
conquer and suppress the magical land of Xadia in order to keep his family
safe. Yet, he makes it clear up front that he would willingly sacrifice family
to retain ownership of the dragon egg, his ace in the hole against the threat
of Xadia. In his most private and unguarded moments, his allegiance to family
seems steadfast, and his desperate need for power is revealed to be unified
with his love of his family; fear is the main motivator behind the drive to
power. Our antagonist isn’t a cackling villain spitting fire and smiling at
the success of dastardly plans. He’s a shivering coward, whose tenuous grip on
security occupies every waking moment of his life. <br /><br />Viren is an
addictive presence on screen: he is a walking contradiction, and his true
goals are as much a mystery to him as they are to us. He’s a straight-laced
bureaucrat who managed to raise two deeply unserious children, who inherit his confused moral code and abstract goals. But they love him, and their
(mostly) free-spirited natures suggest a healthy childhood being raised by a
caring and warm parent. Nowadays, it’s difficult to even imagine what a
loving, parental Viren would look like: the way he speaks to and treats other
young people in the show indicates a complete lack of empathy for those whom
human adults are usually hard-wired to protect.
</p>
<br />
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoy3WFUlm9Z6WuQ0yIekQKG4XswrKV0Ejuw-ZUdz7iZD6vJXRgo42kHyA6mbC2NXtcO6BMh18MJKO7hran-jdSE2B-boILXPaLlYJY3-ut8XJ5vWMJdekgw7HODPL3MX-wU2-LcWHVqGhm_IM7vWZMvrqOGfCS6Rq7gszMeTuZEFf_pcjTwPqLdPZlRA/s1920/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_00_30_16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoy3WFUlm9Z6WuQ0yIekQKG4XswrKV0Ejuw-ZUdz7iZD6vJXRgo42kHyA6mbC2NXtcO6BMh18MJKO7hran-jdSE2B-boILXPaLlYJY3-ut8XJ5vWMJdekgw7HODPL3MX-wU2-LcWHVqGhm_IM7vWZMvrqOGfCS6Rq7gszMeTuZEFf_pcjTwPqLdPZlRA/s16000/Season_4_Trailer__The_Dragon_Prince_00_00_30_16.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The relationship between Viren and his children drive the main
action behind season 4 and beyond, called
<b>The Dragon Prince: The Mystery of Aaravos</b>. His daughter
<b>Claudia, </b>a brilliant, eccentric mage and the inheritor of Viren’s
skills and motivations, is contrasted with his son <b>Soren</b>, whose simple
himbo personality allows him to bombastically meet danger head on. Soren’s
emotional openness, courage, and immaturity innoculate him to the violence
fear inspires in his sister and father. <br /><br />While Claudia and Soren
have questionable chemistry in their many scenes together (the fluidity you
would expect in a tight-knit sibling bond isn’t quite there at times) their
love for each other comes through in the dramatic moments centering them.
However, Soren and Viren are yet to have the cathartic moments of honesty we
would expect at this point in the story, and there have now been numerous
chances for such a confrontation. Similarly, Claudia’s relationship to her
father needed more groundwork before “Mystery of Aaravos.” Her compulsive
attachment to family pulls her much closer to her father than her brother:
this doesn’t quite square with the fact that she knows the lengths to which
her father would go for his goals (specifically, how this affects Soren) and
Claudia’s trauma is far more tied to her relationship with Soren than her
father. Overall, her commitment to Soren is far more grounded in the text we
have seen so far in comparison to her commitment to Viren. I’m hoping season 6
opens up avenues for reflecting on Viren’s relationships with each of his
children, whether he is there in person or not.
</p>
<br />
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpgo3Q5ZUmP-PLfaZF1oRLON8Mr8ZB5A1Tn1nE6Qq-gJ-74Yx1VmYXn8mDoJx0NgmaOvDDbjp0wXogbF6hWGZNdlKpXEYQA9JoW8YNqtaOjyye5vwTiQi78ovGC8pfgR1g2laKNpoXwx0L01BzL5N3eWHiSZGxkNyARWo8RzvoxhpEyJOSfJOwylonA/s1920/The%20Dragon%20Prince_Season%205_First%20Look%20Screenshot%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpgo3Q5ZUmP-PLfaZF1oRLON8Mr8ZB5A1Tn1nE6Qq-gJ-74Yx1VmYXn8mDoJx0NgmaOvDDbjp0wXogbF6hWGZNdlKpXEYQA9JoW8YNqtaOjyye5vwTiQi78ovGC8pfgR1g2laKNpoXwx0L01BzL5N3eWHiSZGxkNyARWo8RzvoxhpEyJOSfJOwylonA/s16000/The%20Dragon%20Prince_Season%205_First%20Look%20Screenshot%2010.jpg" /></a><br /><br />There is one more apprehension I have going into the next two and
final seasons of the show, and it’s a whopper. In the fourth season, we learn
that, according to the dragon queen, Aaravos orchestrated every crisis that
has ever occurred. I’m sorry?<br /><br />The humanity of evil – the tragic
fear and despair that drives the most loving among us to slip into monsters –
is retconned as a magical bishonen seducing powerful people to the dark
side? I don’t exaggerate: it is stated explicitly that Aaravos whispered in the
ear of everyone responsible for all bad things ever. <br /><br />I hope I am
interpreting this reveal uncharitably and the show will find some way to
backtrack the severity of this claim in seasons 6 and 7. The real magic of The
Dragon Prince is its lack of a Big Bad. Evil cannot be killed in a single
battle: it must be fought every day when we are confronted by that which we
fear or desire.
</p>
<br />
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptP8XbzVN0E3z2_zvrHrNAHzL58bvdtQpr-S9TRO9ymJXMQLIy3yk2niPAXWAMV2uwWBYLNiChcQiK_L9DoHXD0g0JUXJwOQdiK8U1G2l9Jycy8X4Qaa6n7a7BFmhpKRSrhUZYfqQ3eT6jcCkOAWwL2l61LBMju_Fq1epG92HYSgspqZ1kfpbhY7TFQ/s1920/The%20Dragon%20Prince_Season%205_First%20Look%20Screenshot%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptP8XbzVN0E3z2_zvrHrNAHzL58bvdtQpr-S9TRO9ymJXMQLIy3yk2niPAXWAMV2uwWBYLNiChcQiK_L9DoHXD0g0JUXJwOQdiK8U1G2l9Jycy8X4Qaa6n7a7BFmhpKRSrhUZYfqQ3eT6jcCkOAWwL2l61LBMju_Fq1epG92HYSgspqZ1kfpbhY7TFQ/s16000/The%20Dragon%20Prince_Season%205_First%20Look%20Screenshot%207.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So far, season 5 has used the evil of Aaravos to challenge our
main cast. Will Ezran choose to kill him if Callum can offer him the right
tools? Will Viren continue outrunning danger at the expense of connecting with
his family? These are good uses of this new information, creating conflicts
for our heroes and villains. But unless humans, elves, dragons, and other
complex beings are held fully responsible for the turmoil their world has
faced, all the hard work done to drag the powerful thematic statement to the
front of the story will be made diluted and toothless. If “history is a book
we write ourselves” (arc words throughout the series), we cannot take agency
over the present without owning up to our mistakes in the past.<br /><br />Overall,
The Dragon Prince is visually gorgeous, exciting, and powerful. Barring a few
missteps following the season 3 finale, the show has managed to demonstrate a
clear understanding of its characters, world, and themes. I’m overwhelmingly
optimistic about season 6, which is set to air sometime this year.<br /><br /></p>
<p>
<br />
<br />
</p>
<div class="alert-message alert">
<b> FORMAT: </b>SERIES <b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>STREAMING <b>FROM: </b>NETFLIX <b>RATING</b>: PG <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 26 min x 45
episodes<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<apan>
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<span style="color: orange;">WATCH NOW</span> | POWERED BY
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<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<div><i><b>Shain Slepian</b> is a screenwriter, script consultant, and content creator with a life-long love of animation and media analysis. Their work can be found on <a href="https://shainslepian.medium.com/">Medium</a>, and on their YouTube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcqvaCcY9mvWah7nxi0f48g%20">TimeCapsule</a>. Shain's book, <a data-amzn-asin="B093QXV29C" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093QXV29C/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Reframing+The+Screenwriting+Process+By+Shain+Slepian&qid=1619736661&sr=8-1">Reframing The Screenwriting Process</a>, is available on Amazon.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><div> </div></div>Animation For Adultshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184153657841028205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-64998408855543935242023-12-22T11:17:00.002-05:002024-01-20T07:56:55.552-05:00Elemental (2023)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoUF-VCut2bwO7Yz-DzE2EuGRzVjWyKSSLt8x8H59BLpe5XiJJHO2k9_cnQs9rvI66f2Kd8424cXtdR4fRp0CTiL5NyMb5W6sQBpYxTvSBncZmZ7Sb_N0jzRZ-SA0AD8Go6-giAWBzE98HqzPMQhUqfIYGzMUbFGqutoxUKiQ3jOn2XPgYVoLSqk1Zw/s770/elementalFT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoUF-VCut2bwO7Yz-DzE2EuGRzVjWyKSSLt8x8H59BLpe5XiJJHO2k9_cnQs9rvI66f2Kd8424cXtdR4fRp0CTiL5NyMb5W6sQBpYxTvSBncZmZ7Sb_N0jzRZ-SA0AD8Go6-giAWBzE98HqzPMQhUqfIYGzMUbFGqutoxUKiQ3jOn2XPgYVoLSqk1Zw/s16000/elementalFT.jpg" /></a>
</div>
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<p></p>
<p>
As a life-long worshiper of the cult of Zutara, I can’t say the romance at the
heart of <b>Pixar’s Elemental </b>didn’t give me the feels.
<br /><br />Elemental follows <b>Ember Lumen</b>, the daughter of immigrants
from <b>Fireland</b>, as she works hard to take over her father’s shop so he
can finally retire. Ember rarely leaves the fire neighborhood of
<b>Element City,</b> claiming everything she needs is right there.
<br /><br />The problem is, there are four kinds of people in Element City:
fire people, earth people, water people, and air people. (Long ago, the four…
you get the idea). Ember is intelligent and artistic, and her chance encounter
with <b>Wade Ripple </b>(guess his element) shows her that she needs a bigger
life than the one offered by her working class family’s store. Throughout the
story, she comes to realize that her father’s dream of having her inherit the
store is stifling and burdensome, and she only works so hard for it because
her parents “sacrificed everything” to bring her to the shining Element City.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLcCd5pTpCM_-pIlAgz5wK9ylGn4OlybvbCpF9ORPLHcdMAFCUd1pZfo9L2NfV_kbWHV74JqiOm-juWe_sDUuKebOWY1Z35geaBH_3NnZ64tuTf-SgYvJGClMf980M5XTbXItRtZATX8Sgzvn0ytiHNDhHxFwEn5u5HOxdb49VvOvKPkfudTwBID4wQ/s5994/mental.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3234" data-original-width="5994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLcCd5pTpCM_-pIlAgz5wK9ylGn4OlybvbCpF9ORPLHcdMAFCUd1pZfo9L2NfV_kbWHV74JqiOm-juWe_sDUuKebOWY1Z35geaBH_3NnZ64tuTf-SgYvJGClMf980M5XTbXItRtZATX8Sgzvn0ytiHNDhHxFwEn5u5HOxdb49VvOvKPkfudTwBID4wQ/s16000/mental.jpg" /></a><br /><br />As expected, Pixar wastes no time capitalizing on the unique
setting to bring us some striking and clever visuals: a group of air people
slowly inflating a blimp as they file in; an earth person with a tree growing
from them using their wooden nose to stamp a paper; a crowd of water people in
a stadium doing a wave that literally becomes a wave. These moments always
remind me of the endless visual potential of animation and excite me
regardless of what’s happening in the plot.<br /><br />These smart images also
work to advance the drama and develop the main characters. Ember sees her
reflection on the surface of Wade’s head in a dark subway car, enhancing the
tension of this moment while giving the two an almost mystical, private moment
in an otherwise fast-paced action scene. During an emotionally vulnerable
scene, Ember’s face is reflected on Wade’s during a close-up, allowing us to
see her sadness and Wade’s empathy, while distorting her image to make her
look small and trapped.<br /><br />There is some strange but not unwelcome use
of rough lines on Ember’s ‘hair’. We wouldn’t expect computer-generated flames
to have sharp, red edges that extend past the translucent, golden peaks of
fire, but they tie together the sharpness of her look. They also lend a touch
of something simulating hand-drawn lines, bringing her look back to her
working class background as well as her love of making art; Ember is more
tactile and solid than her loftier and more sentimental counterpart.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnZnfJOdmquJFNGFWN44Ob2krcyk5o1QZjwCXJBvwGwL23aHYqYNyxfIdQ9smSUNs05akQ9HySH9IwyZxha5m8bGu4Y1Mz5GzftnoR5kOuvkIzba1soxz2tDNeiMkKyFu5-HIglrsDMFhRX33c2-h4iBqGWjvRqukabmw5QT4am5oxEURWiNfLXtJZg/s1024/mental2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnZnfJOdmquJFNGFWN44Ob2krcyk5o1QZjwCXJBvwGwL23aHYqYNyxfIdQ9smSUNs05akQ9HySH9IwyZxha5m8bGu4Y1Mz5GzftnoR5kOuvkIzba1soxz2tDNeiMkKyFu5-HIglrsDMFhRX33c2-h4iBqGWjvRqukabmw5QT4am5oxEURWiNfLXtJZg/s16000/mental2.webp" /></a><br /><br />I did not catch the trailers for this movie and therefore wasn’t
looking for the classic tells of a romance. From that perspective, I found the
slow-burn of the two main characters charmingly unexpected. Wade and Ember
have a genuine chemistry that results in some fun flirtatious moments that
most <b>Disney</b> films aren’t capable of due to their emphasis on timidity
and modesty in their characters. Wade in particular is delightful to watch:
with his painfully genuine feelings, he is transparent in more ways than one.
He fits right in the expectations we might have for a water-themed being
(compassionate, nurturing, socially fluid) while maintaining a distinctive
character with his own conflicts, quirks, and desires.<br /><br />From their
disastrous meet-cute in the flooding basement of Ember’s shop, to becoming
friends as they work the problem together, to their inevitable clash in the
second act, something about this story feels a bit more ‘grown-up’ then other
animated romances. Maybe not more mature, but perhaps a bit more worldly,
drawing off the tropes of modern live-action romances rather than its parent
company’s roots in ‘true love’ tales. While Disney’s bread and butter is the
sincerest iteration of love stories, Pixar’s repertoire really only includes
one, and I think we can all agree that <b>WALL-E</b> doesn’t fit the same mold
as <b>Beauty and the Beast</b> or <b>Cinderella. </b>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-JSFDuGfyglMw242as4NP59hA0RDk9G-Ga-ooIvznDjfjGTr3wyNLM5YgDu3EfzEYmPXw_FhgpqRkSfd7yAfeMSeXforAi1yrpZqJaadwSglCKWY4lFaLe6xNCHFPjoIWK3YjZ6dAgIxIzC7aMIKjrteGfZDYfNjTL40ujFqUHSxfO3R2TDdX-4ZpA/s1024/firey.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-JSFDuGfyglMw242as4NP59hA0RDk9G-Ga-ooIvznDjfjGTr3wyNLM5YgDu3EfzEYmPXw_FhgpqRkSfd7yAfeMSeXforAi1yrpZqJaadwSglCKWY4lFaLe6xNCHFPjoIWK3YjZ6dAgIxIzC7aMIKjrteGfZDYfNjTL40ujFqUHSxfO3R2TDdX-4ZpA/s16000/firey.webp" /></a></b>
</div>
<b><br /> </b><br /><br />The clash of cultures is naturally at the center
of the film’s conflict. Not so much the conflict of fire and water (the only
conflict in that respect is chemical, not social) but the conflict of
homogenized, upper middle class life, with its emphasis on individual choice and
tolerance, and the diligent, insular infrastructure of immigrant communities,
where it is presumed that roles, duties, and sacrifices are more important than
following one’s heart.<br /><br />The obvious parallels to real-world immigrant
communities and the following xenophobia that atomizes them are strangely weak.
Despite the years Ember’s parents have lived in and done business with the
denizens of Element City, they don’t speak in full sentences. There is a world
of difference between portraying a non-native speaker mixing up words and having
them talk like cavemen – with the vaguely eastern European accents of Ember’s
parents, this unflattering portrait of real people in our world is
baffling.
<p></p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt0IDBtYiMMgKEhynRtlYUcGxb0k3OmK5ZCCUfVDBLOKmd1Kj_cTDXhg1rE9cLkLoch0391GAVvKd4y4m3Ztnuw6siNm0XQ_K2gTA77JZrT8_pOfaXqtaZcYCobVLdUvWH8z5Gu4ZCRy0lpBELQBlvRjRoLE79RzhCt_Xev50aEi4KGA78syOS5bIpA/s1920/mental3.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt0IDBtYiMMgKEhynRtlYUcGxb0k3OmK5ZCCUfVDBLOKmd1Kj_cTDXhg1rE9cLkLoch0391GAVvKd4y4m3Ztnuw6siNm0XQ_K2gTA77JZrT8_pOfaXqtaZcYCobVLdUvWH8z5Gu4ZCRy0lpBELQBlvRjRoLE79RzhCt_Xev50aEi4KGA78syOS5bIpA/s16000/mental3.webp" /></a>
</div>
<br /><br />It’s simply too literal: they speak fireish, the language of
fireland, but other firetown immigrants speak in different accents. What
accounts for this? Do fire people live in different areas around the world? Were
all their homelands flooded by storms, or is there an expansionist water-people
state analogous to the USSR driving people to the City? This isn’t a facile
knit-pick presented for the pleasure of poking holes in someone’s work, but a
significant aspect of the world-view the movie takes. Why was coming to this
land such a sacrifice that Ember feels she owes her life to the fortitude and
bravery of her parents?<br /><br />It’s hard not to see this movie’s logic
falling into the same pitfalls as <b>Zootopia’s</b>: fire really can burn plants
and vaporize water people, both of which happen in the film. So, do we take from
this that xenophobia and racism are based on truths that are simply blown out of
proportion? <br />
<p></p>
<br />
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4uF-WwBFlGlwKqoUFX_I835AxcUr8jnHgTv4gER3wl55IMfWGeW7PuODoFCYADWF7T41M2Ph5d460m-bW012GO744tEZy7sm751MKKFxNVJpb78mJymUJe5t9AUXcK8zn72DiFXYXLV8ZDBsgpm_yN8QRstEj7y2oOqi4dkCo8BX33kLbP_vsSraTg/s2560/fireandwater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4uF-WwBFlGlwKqoUFX_I835AxcUr8jnHgTv4gER3wl55IMfWGeW7PuODoFCYADWF7T41M2Ph5d460m-bW012GO744tEZy7sm751MKKFxNVJpb78mJymUJe5t9AUXcK8zn72DiFXYXLV8ZDBsgpm_yN8QRstEj7y2oOqi4dkCo8BX33kLbP_vsSraTg/s16000/fireandwater.jpg" /></a><br />
</p>
<p>
All this has an effect on our emotional involvement with the story. The stated
tension between fire and water people that act as an obstacle for our main
character’s love feels flimsy. The emphasis on fire and water is alluring
because opposites are fun to play with, but it gets in the way of the class
struggle at the heart of the drama.<br /><br />That’s not to say that there
isn’t a certain subtlety to the individualized manifestations of xenophobia
and racism. Ember’s trip-wire personality that twists from confident and
professional to explosively angry is fed by discrimination and ostracization,
demonstrating the vicious cycle marginalized communities face when confronted
by the ignorance of the dominating society. Microaggressions make her angry,
further alienating those who oppress her, making her anger even more necessary
as a mechanism for defense and protection. She’s had to toughen up as a result
of this kind of marginalization, and most of the film’s tension plays off the
rigidity and fragility that this causes a person.<br /><br />This hurdle
notwithstanding, Elemental is emotional, visually exciting, and romantic. It’s
well-worth the uncomfortable commitment to the one-to-one, real world
comparison, because in the end, the love story feels genuine, the character’s
feel distinct, and the ending is on-point. And really, those are all the
elements you need.<br /><br />
</p>
<br />
<p>
<br />
<br />
</p>
<div class="alert-message alert">
<b> FORMAT: </b>MOVIE
<b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>4K/BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL/STREAMING <b>FROM: </b>DISNEY <b>RATING</b>: PG <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 1hr 41m<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<apan>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>IN A NUTSHELL:</b>
<blockquote>
Despite some unartful world-building, Elemental provides an
emotionally authentic love story in a vibrant and visually potent
setting.
</blockquote>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></span></apan>
</h4>
</div>
<i><br /></i> <br />
<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">☆</span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hXzcyx9V0xw?si=vjodpPNJ_YarUJxU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><i><b>Shain Slepian</b> is a screenwriter, script consultant, and
content creator with a life-long love of animation and media analysis.
Their work can be found on <a href="https://shainslepian.medium.com/">Medium</a>, and on their YouTube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcqvaCcY9mvWah7nxi0f48g%20">TimeCapsule</a>. Shain's book, <a data-amzn-asin="B093QXV29C" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093QXV29C/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Reframing+The+Screenwriting+Process+By+Shain+Slepian&qid=1619736661&sr=8-1">Reframing The Screenwriting Process</a>, is available on Amazon.</i> <br /></p>Animation For Adultshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184153657841028205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-32230167465391148762023-12-08T10:02:00.000-05:002023-12-08T10:02:55.742-05:00The Peasants (2023)<p><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc03zmHY4d0bft7lK19dGI9aXOabJ3siTkkExmKRAiKaxEBiJR6fZz0gl9SGwHCJVCKimoxxtSTIrupDm5A5AEAvtib3zh6XMDh8pjDcLD3YmXVra3x0Wcwoh1SxZGLWQRH1wUoHUNxJpPeZHSPF53wlrK_1QyYJChdkIjIc7vIYUaXkwuIjyUHuenrPb/s1000/The-Peasants%20(1).webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc03zmHY4d0bft7lK19dGI9aXOabJ3siTkkExmKRAiKaxEBiJR6fZz0gl9SGwHCJVCKimoxxtSTIrupDm5A5AEAvtib3zh6XMDh8pjDcLD3YmXVra3x0Wcwoh1SxZGLWQRH1wUoHUNxJpPeZHSPF53wlrK_1QyYJChdkIjIc7vIYUaXkwuIjyUHuenrPb/s16000/The-Peasants%20(1).webp" /></a>
</div>
<br />Easily one of the most memorable animated films of the past ten years is
2017's <b>Loving Vincent. </b>Claiming to be "the first fully painted"
feature film, it recreates the art of <b>Vincent Van Gogh </b>to tell the story
of the artist's final few days. The second film from the same directors was
always going to attract considerable attention.
<p></p>
<p>
<b>The Peasants </b>is written and directed by <b>D.K. Welchman </b>and
<b>Hugh Welchman, </b>based on the Nobel Literary prize-winning novel
<b>Chlopi </b>by <b>Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont. </b>It is produced by
<b>BreakThru Films </b>and is the official submission for Poland for the Best
International Feature Film for the 96th <b>Academy Awards. </b>The film was
released in the United Kingdom on <b>December 8 </b>and will be released in
the US on <b>January 26, 2024.</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-SoNs2B8JyN8ksd80M7VuzPohVuCGcfeJhVvdm5LUseNq4YnD0T0_YYRt-AeZrY-SMdOvKV4GN2NUo4bdlolKljvI8s5Bw-U9WkTmFqRMbOLUUCYsfmdcXCvY_6K2iIinu1WzXx22_-jUbvb0qrXNsZnxhhSHdvAnwhWLZOh-gAs4WlWbx2UPhGnZkef/s1000/The-Peasants-FT.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-SoNs2B8JyN8ksd80M7VuzPohVuCGcfeJhVvdm5LUseNq4YnD0T0_YYRt-AeZrY-SMdOvKV4GN2NUo4bdlolKljvI8s5Bw-U9WkTmFqRMbOLUUCYsfmdcXCvY_6K2iIinu1WzXx22_-jUbvb0qrXNsZnxhhSHdvAnwhWLZOh-gAs4WlWbx2UPhGnZkef/s16000/The-Peasants-FT.webp" /></a>
</div>
<b><br /></b>
<p></p>
<p>
The film follows a young woman named <b>Jagna </b>living in a typical Polish
village in the late 19th Century. She is forced into a marriage with a much
older man- the richest farmer in town- but develops feelings for the farmer's
son. She tries to find her own way in life, despite the gossip and rumour that
surrounds her, thanks to her fellow villagers and the deep rooted patriarchy.
</p>
<p>
The first and most obvious thing to say about The Pesants is that it's
absolutely beautiful. The film features stunning animation throughout. It
differs from Loving Vincent in that it's not tied to recreating one artist's
style, and it makes the most of it. The animation and the filmmaking is much
more ambitious too, with a dynamic 'camera', swooping around and often
following its lead. The cinematography is also very impressive, emphasising
the bucolic beauty of the film's setting.
</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVm14g2-8Bw4SCydD8lhoYrS1hIKLPQ6p1BPzZ9Sga6tj0Xq0WrS-B3bYPiKH5P91juCC52QyBUdwEB3B7SYiWpSZueGOELV81vQ1vP_K4Vu1J6m8uQIVQyfZYs3UKhTLY2l6E47hsBHkuSChA8ziA-YDfNlRIQJpaNtKLzB0mOLIv_DxIyDNdkMm4LRa/s1998/MV5BODBkNTdhMTQtZTk3OS00MWU5LTk3YmYtNzE0MGE1ZTQwY2VjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTY3MTE3OTM1._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVm14g2-8Bw4SCydD8lhoYrS1hIKLPQ6p1BPzZ9Sga6tj0Xq0WrS-B3bYPiKH5P91juCC52QyBUdwEB3B7SYiWpSZueGOELV81vQ1vP_K4Vu1J6m8uQIVQyfZYs3UKhTLY2l6E47hsBHkuSChA8ziA-YDfNlRIQJpaNtKLzB0mOLIv_DxIyDNdkMm4LRa/s16000/MV5BODBkNTdhMTQtZTk3OS00MWU5LTk3YmYtNzE0MGE1ZTQwY2VjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTY3MTE3OTM1._V1_.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
The beauty isn't only skin deep, however, and it's also a highly absorbing
tale. Beneath the surface, the village is a hotbed of gossip and on-going
feuds. Jagna in particular seems to be the victim of a lot of these. Baseless
aspersions on her sexual morals are made by those jealous of her youth and
beauty. Rumours surround her throughout, which is a problem in a highly
judgmental and deeply religious place like the village.
</p>
<p>
The film expertly creates a sense of time and place. Although in theory, Jagna
can move about the village freely, in reality it has an oppressive,
suffocating atmosphere. And when she becomes trapped in her marriage it
becomes doubly so. Except for a couple of brief scenes, the film takes place
entirely within the confines of the village, which ultimately becomes like a
prison to Jagna.
</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbricM47qIYEBb77e9BU8BoHlBIQTGf8al6vlU-zE9-XCLiZxkkxG4IK69Y3Me5_0wIDv_KeSHpyz8ZODxxDfNT2ZSgqqfWOo18GwWJ1JwcOrMpIAQGrCsA5873nfN7KpRU7Ole86qlWpt7Xm57YiCoHM0cSHGz3QapSFBN7TNbKAaBBjfawA26QJmrsR/s1920/PEASANTS_keystill01_@Breakthrufilm_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbricM47qIYEBb77e9BU8BoHlBIQTGf8al6vlU-zE9-XCLiZxkkxG4IK69Y3Me5_0wIDv_KeSHpyz8ZODxxDfNT2ZSgqqfWOo18GwWJ1JwcOrMpIAQGrCsA5873nfN7KpRU7Ole86qlWpt7Xm57YiCoHM0cSHGz3QapSFBN7TNbKAaBBjfawA26QJmrsR/s16000/PEASANTS_keystill01_@Breakthrufilm_1920.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p>
This is very much Jagna's story, with her appearing in almost every scene
remaining at the centre of the action. That means a lot hangs on the central
performance. Luckily, <b>Kamila Urzedowska</b> as Jagna gives a
tour-de-force performance. Spirited and soulful, she's almost impossible not
to empathise with. As the animation is based on live-action performances the
acting is more important than in a traditional animated film. Fortunately, the
performances here are strong across the board.
</p>
<p>
The Peasants is a Polish-language film and it's very culturally specific.
Elements like the wedding scene and various traditions make this feel like a
Polish film. At the same time, it's universal with the family politics and prevailing air of misogyny likely
all-to-relatable with female audiences.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcK4aUAqfU7-UhAQJZNWRSnnAJq_cbvtG1by1IMUl76UNGdH4dSox-0tR56l-vF9FjEezupPBGPyfyQCVgrbhnVZXZGmLvY8N0j_jwrzro-sK2Jl0bxvhaFU_w255-qhP70SdkbQHUqIr_WP5bng36uXO8XwgEVsulhoQ-wxZ0bGNd-oMZI-ppAkYD1pn/s1296/THEPEASANTS_keystill02_@Malgorzata-Kuznik-copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcK4aUAqfU7-UhAQJZNWRSnnAJq_cbvtG1by1IMUl76UNGdH4dSox-0tR56l-vF9FjEezupPBGPyfyQCVgrbhnVZXZGmLvY8N0j_jwrzro-sK2Jl0bxvhaFU_w255-qhP70SdkbQHUqIr_WP5bng36uXO8XwgEVsulhoQ-wxZ0bGNd-oMZI-ppAkYD1pn/s16000/THEPEASANTS_keystill02_@Malgorzata-Kuznik-copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
This is also definitely an adult film, with scenes of violence, sex, nudity
and sexual threat (although no on-screen sexual violence). It never feels
gratuitous though, and it feels like a necessary part of depicting life at
that time. Still, it's a lot more brutal and a shade darker than your average
period drama- be warned that the film ultimately comes to a disturbing climax.</p>
<p>
Both a convincing portrait of the 19th century and very much a film made in
the 21st, it deftly walks a fine line. One of the most beautiful animated
movies ever made and with an engaging plot to back it up, The Peasants
deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can find.
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<div class="alert-message alert">
<i class="fa fa-info-circle"></i><b> FORMAT: </b>MOVIE/
<b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>CINEMA FROM 8/12/23 (UK) <b>FROM: </b>VERTIGO
RELEASING <b>RATING</b>: 15 [UK] <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 1 HR 54m
<p></p>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>IN A NUTSHELL: </b></span>
</h3>
<blockquote>
Every frame's a painting in this beautifully animated feature that's as
compelling as it is visually stunning.
</blockquote> </div>
<p>
</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★</span><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">☆</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yMzqyLo7yn0?si=SjyG5r2rVmWaNf3g" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</p><p></p>Chris Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178848467568403800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-28385661669221464232023-11-25T12:17:00.003-05:002023-11-25T12:17:54.475-05:00Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1QxHAjJVo5dJHLRlqeb-dkONByumIAyvRQxXQGg5l7lkN-v30B82ythHa-eFiRwn4uIKNEKbbeb1zgME_4LIiEJpe38JJDg8mU6w9JUqUIwH8_pUzxHt_fjmPe_P7r9WOm8TLi8jzbv5hu-HN8hWGZ32ICh9UpXV0-9AGpShFg7A17Jr8JubT1PvWzuO/s3840/ScottpilgrimFT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1QxHAjJVo5dJHLRlqeb-dkONByumIAyvRQxXQGg5l7lkN-v30B82ythHa-eFiRwn4uIKNEKbbeb1zgME_4LIiEJpe38JJDg8mU6w9JUqUIwH8_pUzxHt_fjmPe_P7r9WOm8TLi8jzbv5hu-HN8hWGZ32ICh9UpXV0-9AGpShFg7A17Jr8JubT1PvWzuO/s16000/ScottpilgrimFT.jpg" /></a></b>
</div>
<b><br />Scott Pilgrim Takes Off </b>is not the show you think it is. You may be
expecting a more faithful adaptation of the series of graphic novels, covering
the same ground as <b>Edgar Wright's </b>2010 live-action movie. That would have
been entertaining enough for fans, but the producers have taken a very
different- and arguably more interesting- approach.
<p></p>
<p>
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is based on the Scott Pilgrim comics written and
illustrated by <b>Bryan Lee O'Malley. </b>The showrunners and writers are
O'Malley and <b>BenDavid Grabinski. </b>The series is a
<b>Netflix </b>Production, with the animation produced by
<b>Science Saru. Abel Gongora </b>is the director and
<b>Eunyoung Choi, Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Jared LeBoff, Marc Platt, Adam
Siegel </b>and <b>Michael Bacall </b>are executive producers. The first eight-episode
season debuted on Netflix on <b>November 17, 2023</b>.
</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tqxz1XX6HqTO-2FYEdT5AI51tQV3yfasiVSdwLAAJuBCQpxB-1gVzYHlLRAQO4Y65xY-Fdv3oglfJS-xIhZ8dNYhLvhaBCVWGNqZ_1WUcpHcZhHaivCsvGKL7ZQ1JkdFbb4MUWehZprM-YH0HlCJYuUdHwwrXhbbf0LRt2yGk6mMb5N3CC483AnfZH2P/s3840/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_u_S1_E1_00_24_09_16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tqxz1XX6HqTO-2FYEdT5AI51tQV3yfasiVSdwLAAJuBCQpxB-1gVzYHlLRAQO4Y65xY-Fdv3oglfJS-xIhZ8dNYhLvhaBCVWGNqZ_1WUcpHcZhHaivCsvGKL7ZQ1JkdFbb4MUWehZprM-YH0HlCJYuUdHwwrXhbbf0LRt2yGk6mMb5N3CC483AnfZH2P/s16000/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_u_S1_E1_00_24_09_16.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p><br /></p>
<p>
The series begins by sticking closely to the story as depicted in the graphic
novels and in the movie. It follows 23-year-old <b>Scott Pilgrim </b>as he
develops a crush on the enigmatic newcomer <b>Ramona Flowers. </b>He soon
finds out that if he wants to date her he must first defeat her seven evil
exes. It follows the original comic pretty faithfully, with a few updates or
changes. For example, in a smart change, Ramona now works delivering DVDs for
Netflix instead of working for <b>Amazon</b>. Otherwise, the scenes play out
exactly like in the source material.
</p>
<p>
It closely follows the comic storyline... until it doesn't. It unfolds as
expected until the end of the first episode when the plot makes a radical
departure from the original. It zigs rather than zags and completely changes
the story in the process.
</p>
<p>
The first episode is the only one to take its name directly from the graphic
novel- <b>Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life. </b>The remaining
seven episodes are completely original material.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcl2igdEE6gqyc0U128NQjY0klqW9KGzwm81kuxCqshk5kIAIZ2tqtLcTKVo71KSb0kE5PJI7PDK2NEFn0qyKuXTb2QXIHcdaQgGXrj8JfihdkTuJLmOQndcVv9lfQm4HYsWYQUL-wG_V_2o3RLqU8zszHE5zobONyHpVkeN_LTETHgsPIJ03G1ZfJYDQ/s3840/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_u_S1_E1_00_04_44_11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcl2igdEE6gqyc0U128NQjY0klqW9KGzwm81kuxCqshk5kIAIZ2tqtLcTKVo71KSb0kE5PJI7PDK2NEFn0qyKuXTb2QXIHcdaQgGXrj8JfihdkTuJLmOQndcVv9lfQm4HYsWYQUL-wG_V_2o3RLqU8zszHE5zobONyHpVkeN_LTETHgsPIJ03G1ZfJYDQ/s16000/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_u_S1_E1_00_04_44_11.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p>
At this point the show completely diverges from the story as we know it and
heads in a totally different and unexpected direction. It's no mistake that
this is Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and not
<b>Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. </b>It's an entirely different storyline-
albeit one that starts in the same place.
</p>
<p>
Unfolding across eight episodes allows the characters more screen time and
characterisation than they have ever had before. It enables them to be more
fleshed out, with some who previously were almost glorified cameos becoming
more rounded characters. Particularly benefiting from this is Ramona Flowers,
the archetypical magic pixie dream girl. Here she graduates to practically
co-lead. She has a lot more agency than she's had before and is a major force
in driving the plot forward.
</p>
<p>
Visually, Science Saru have done an absolutely fantastic job of turning
O'Malley's original art into animation. It has a westernised manga/anime look
to it and a pleasingly chunky feel. It's animated dynamically and captures the
spirit of the original work perfectly. It's hard to imagine a Scott Pilgrim
animation looking better than this.
</p>
<p>
The series brought back virtually the entire cast from Edgar Wright's movie to
reprise their roles.<b> Michael Cera </b>and<b> Mary Elizabeth Winstead </b>are joined by
<b>Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson,
Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman,
Ellen Wong, Anna Kendrick. Allison Pill </b>and <b>Aubrey Plaza.</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUoKva2MSVRtUC9Uf28wGnoc9JVLW7UveHsaELuPz7NSv2AztO5GFM_bB2KyJwYWgx1Eibj0sru8b8T9CvjM7qSz8mNppQSRS7qEX2OQewDhCBqKX_pNqGE2P9X0Hk4ojTDrtqrryq_NESlkFJJG6zSzezD4uzQMzwbFMk6jCLCyiV4hI6MpnZ5fnpK9G/s3840/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_u_S1_E7_00_20_06_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUoKva2MSVRtUC9Uf28wGnoc9JVLW7UveHsaELuPz7NSv2AztO5GFM_bB2KyJwYWgx1Eibj0sru8b8T9CvjM7qSz8mNppQSRS7qEX2OQewDhCBqKX_pNqGE2P9X0Hk4ojTDrtqrryq_NESlkFJJG6zSzezD4uzQMzwbFMk6jCLCyiV4hI6MpnZ5fnpK9G/s16000/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_u_S1_E7_00_20_06_01.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<b><br /></b>
<p></p>
<p>
Not every on-screen actor is suited to voice acting. It's a different skill,
and quite often even big stars don't have it. Luckily, everyone here equips
themselves well, channelling their original performance from all those years
ago.
</p>
<p>
Also on the sonic side, original music comes from <b>Anamanaguchi, </b>who provided the soundtrack of
<b>Scott Pilgrim Vs The Video Game. </b>There are also a few musical cues
lifted from the movie. As a whole, it helps to add to the series's nostalgic
vibe. It seems to be set in an unspecified year in the past- everyone has flip
phones and both VHS and DVDs are used.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHOF_LwJ6t16t3Lqr_pL3PebICOo9Ju_oNM9eBUOsscPG_TJx9OPx9xiR_UhEICyGEKBscdUFPPOQxvKjRb7nc-ERPB136XPB_wmUwTlQrATrHjwum4gSL2E894iIqemhJ-_MPh_J-Qf3Rgh-4WJxHELtGUKJIlK3kx__MCgtS14J9TzVjnU1E817pP8t/s1920/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_MainTrailer_03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHOF_LwJ6t16t3Lqr_pL3PebICOo9Ju_oNM9eBUOsscPG_TJx9OPx9xiR_UhEICyGEKBscdUFPPOQxvKjRb7nc-ERPB136XPB_wmUwTlQrATrHjwum4gSL2E894iIqemhJ-_MPh_J-Qf3Rgh-4WJxHELtGUKJIlK3kx__MCgtS14J9TzVjnU1E817pP8t/s16000/Scott_Pilgrim_Takes_Off_MainTrailer_03.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p><br /></p>
<p>
So Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is not the show we were all expecting (sequel?
reboot? somewhere between the two?) but is it any good? In short- yes. Yes,
it's very good. By turns funny, thrilling and at times surprisingly moving,
it's the full package.
</p>
<p>
There's lots of references and nods for the eagle-eyed fan. There's even a
reference to events that took place in
<b>Scott Pilgrim Vs The Animation, </b>the promotional <b>Adult Swim </b>short
released around the time the movie was released. Still, if you're completely
new to Scott Pilgrim you shouldn't find yourself too lost.
</p>
<p>
The series comes to a satisfying conclusion but definitely leaves room for
further adventures. And if they are of this quality- then they'll be very welcome.Very welcome indeed.<br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<div class="alert-message alert">
<b>FORMAT: </b>SERIES <b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>Streaming <b>FROM: </b>Netflix <b>RATING</b>: 12
[UK] <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 8 episodes, times vary<br />
<h4>
<apan><div class="alert-message alert">
<span style="color: orange;">WATCH NOW</span> | POWERED BY <a href="https://www.justwatch.com/"><u>JUSTWATCH</u> </a><a data-original="https://www.justwatch.com" href="https://www.justwatch.com/" style="color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background: url("https://widget.justwatch.com/assets/JW_logo_color_10px.svg"); display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-left: 3px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -3000px; width: 66px;">JustWatch</span></a> <a data-original="https://www.justwatch.com" href="https://www.justwatch.com/" style="color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">6 <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background: url("https://widget.justwatch.com/assets/JW_logo_color_10px.svg"); display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-left: 3px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -3000px; width: 66px;">JustWatch</span><br />
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<i><</i></a>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>IN A NUTSHELL:</b> </span></apan>
</h4>
<h4>
<apan><span style="font-family: inherit;"><blockquote>
Combining the best of the graphic novel, the film and even the
videogame to make something new, Scott Pilgim Takes Off to the
stratosphere.<br /></blockquote></span></apan>
</h4> <i><br /></i>
</div>
<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★</span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span>
</p>
<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dLvRvqByxUI?si=PL3LNxGzey92oscD" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
</div>
Chris Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178848467568403800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-10598848710319419022023-11-09T10:27:00.000-05:002023-11-09T10:27:19.928-05:00Blue Eye Samurai (2023) <p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />
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<p></p>
<p>
<b>Netflix’s</b> latest adult animation offering<b> Blue Eye Samurai </b>is
what happens when top end writing, perfectly-cast voice talent and beautiful
design come together. It is a work of art, one which demands a five star
rating from its very first sword-thrusts into the world. This is no
by-the-numbers anime outing. The voice talent includes
<b>Kenneth Branagh, Masi Oka, Brenda Song, Stephanie Hsu, Maya Erskine,
Randall Park </b>and <b>George Takei</b>, who don’t lend their names lightly.
</p>
<p>
Before we go on, the show requires all the trigger warnings and more, so if
any of the following has you turning off, you’d better know before you press
play: violence, frequent gore, amputations, suicide, torture, racism, physical
abuse, implied sexual abuse, drug use and abuse, explicit sex, ‘deviant’ sex.
That said, none of the above is gratuitous. All of it serves the dark and
riveting plot.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following review contains mild spoilers.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p>
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</div>
<br />
<p></p>
<p>
<br />The setting is 17th Century Japan, the time of the country’s Edo period.
All foreigners have been expelled from the country in an attempt to defend
Japanese values from Western imperialism. But rumours abound that four ‘white
devils’ remain, in hiding. We soon meet one of them,
<b>Abijah Fowler (Kenneth Branagh)</b>, a cruel and talented man in luxurious
house arrest overseen by <b>Heji Shindo (Randall Park)</b>. Abijah intends to
smuggle in Western guns, overthrow the Shogun and have a puppet ruler open
Japan up to foreign powers.<br /><br />Our hero, the eponymous Blue-Eye
Samurai, <b>Mizu</b> (<b>Maya Erskine</b>), is a reviled “half-breed”, child
of one of the four, she knows not which (though set up as a boy – her mother
makes her strap her breasts to pass as one – it is pretty obvious to anyone
except any of the other characters that she’s a girl). Relentlessly bullied by
a gang of urchins, notably <b>Taigen</b> (<b>Darren Barnet</b>), Mizu sees her
home burned with her mother in it and flees from the village, ending up at a
smithy where Japan’s finest swords are created by blind-from-birth blacksmith
<b>Swordfather </b>(<b>Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa</b>). Cue an apprentice
coming-of-age sequence, including tutelage in epic sword-handling, until it’s
time to leave on a quest to kill all four of the white men who might be her
father.
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BJy9HPcLoC7S4RwiU_9_O_7qW1XlxmkLu1yQZ5maAv0Kv6vvr-LmlA1TxK-PFkEN8yZBmztP3qjj5r-SYKWBqMwIcmHKv_TwdZ7MgwCvAZal-OOkOlOCNsLn373BxpjaP5-rR2h5IyBLy7kqlhf8TWO6yYs057YWV72ZrlpfTPfL2wkx2mY5l1ZCFw/s3840/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E1_00_40_49_00_R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BJy9HPcLoC7S4RwiU_9_O_7qW1XlxmkLu1yQZ5maAv0Kv6vvr-LmlA1TxK-PFkEN8yZBmztP3qjj5r-SYKWBqMwIcmHKv_TwdZ7MgwCvAZal-OOkOlOCNsLn373BxpjaP5-rR2h5IyBLy7kqlhf8TWO6yYs057YWV72ZrlpfTPfL2wkx2mY5l1ZCFw/s16000/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E1_00_40_49_00_R.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br /><br />Along the way, Mizu reluctantly acquires an apprentice of her own in
the form of <b>Ringo</b> (<b>Masi Oka</b>), a noodle chef whose lack of hands
prove to be no disability, and who is the most endearing character in the
story.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in the palace of powerful feudal lord
<b>Daichi </b>(<b>Patrick Gallagher</b>) we meet the wilful
<b>Princess Akemi</b> (<b>Brenda Song</b>) and her protector in her father’s
court, <b>Seki</b> (<b>George Takei</b>). Akemi refuses her father’s attempt to
force her to marry, preferring instead Taigen, who has grown up to become the
best samurai at the nearby Shindo dojo.<br /><br />When Mizu raids the dojo
seeking the location of Heji Shindo (and hence Fowler) she kills or maims all
the best samurai and chops off Taigen’s beautiful top-knot before she gets what
she wants. The disgraced Taigen is no longer a fit husband for Akemi and her
father reverts to Plan A. Akemi runs away, taking Seki with her, but eventually
ends up in a brothel catering to ‘specialist’ tastes, run by the cunning
<b>Madam Kaji</b> (<b>Ming-Na Wen</b>). When Mizu comes to the brothel for
information on Fowler, she and Akemi meet, intertwining the two plots and
allowing for plenty of drama which builds over the episodes to the season’s
eventual blockbuster climax. It’s a story of prejudice, struggle and
self-acceptance set against the backdrop of a violent, rigid society whose
arcane way of life seems doomed.
<p></p>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7gnUIjdf39nNaThvIa2D5FYAC7LEYfY3MrC0SoeIrLdGUWyyNTtIwKPMjSk-KHIUx_7nw_ATt0tQx4YVttJHEPQErN7eWpuaAhxs0u11z9IFTVIU_h8hezTCSgxk2b7x67RjrCKDpcPi5OqSSOlHjhgdc34g_BpqcbjUMjhqjazIo611NwGNUYfc-A/s3840/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E1_00_19_31_06%20R%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7gnUIjdf39nNaThvIa2D5FYAC7LEYfY3MrC0SoeIrLdGUWyyNTtIwKPMjSk-KHIUx_7nw_ATt0tQx4YVttJHEPQErN7eWpuaAhxs0u11z9IFTVIU_h8hezTCSgxk2b7x67RjrCKDpcPi5OqSSOlHjhgdc34g_BpqcbjUMjhqjazIo611NwGNUYfc-A/s16000/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E1_00_19_31_06%20R%20copy.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p>
Blue Eye Samurai is the brainchild of husband and wife team
<b>Michael Green</b> and <b>Amber Noizumi</b> (their young daughter has blue
eyes, which partly served as inspiration). TV writer Green wrote or co-wrote
<b>Logan, Blade Runner 2049, Alien: Covenant </b>and Branagh’s
<b>Murder on the Orient Express</b>, while this is Noizumi’s first writing and
producing credit, and together the pair deliver a masterclass. The writing is
tight as a drum, beautifully paced and everything serves a purpose, as all the
main characters are driven to physical and mental extremes. If there is one
tiny criticism, it is that for all its apparent realism, some of the physical
situations are ones characters would not recover from. But this is heroic
drama, so some poetic licence is fully justified.
</p>
<p>
All the rock-solid writing is wrapped in beautiful production design, which
uses light stylisation and exquisite detailing to settle us into in a
thoroughly believable Edo period Japan for the coming thrill-ride. Of
particular note is the incredible costume design, and the attention to detail
in terms of food, customs, armour and weaponry.
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpOfCoHqYrh3usNqaadVtTWbzDvbokA6m-DcTqJrHOxaEObL6nXTuAL51-UlZNljysNgivUkn3MlXlE10uc6hjFFU2UdKM7thq1AdXLYLvCYeIcgXKdCg8_fzzayZIwQ9UbTrHueWmTsoe6gPuMhbqeab-VB06BmxXxgYzXV7xhNAqfwsTSz465TPfA/s3840/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E2_00_37_26_13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpOfCoHqYrh3usNqaadVtTWbzDvbokA6m-DcTqJrHOxaEObL6nXTuAL51-UlZNljysNgivUkn3MlXlE10uc6hjFFU2UdKM7thq1AdXLYLvCYeIcgXKdCg8_fzzayZIwQ9UbTrHueWmTsoe6gPuMhbqeab-VB06BmxXxgYzXV7xhNAqfwsTSz465TPfA/s16000/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E2_00_37_26_13.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br /><br />The animation (from Netflix <b>Animation,</b> with Paris-based
studio <b>Blue Spirit</b> also credited) is superb throughout, with character
design, movement, colour and weather effects all combining to spellbinding
effect. While the season rounds off nicely, it leaves you wanting a lot more: an
obvious set up for a second season.<br /><br />Supervising director
<b>Jane Wu</b>, one of<b> Variety </b>magazine’s ’<b>10 Animators to Watch</b>’
is the guiding hand for the mayhem. Wu was a storyboard artist on<b>
Marvel Studios’ The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World</b>
and <b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b> as well as <b>Game of Thrones</b> prequel
<b>House of the Dragon,</b> renowned for orchestrating exciting, complex battle
scenes, and her experience shows in all of Blue Eye Samurai’s amazing fight
scenes. But it’s not all swords, sex and severed limbs. There is real pathos
throughout, as situations demand unlikely alliances and some very human
choices.<br /><br />If strong adult themes are in your wheelhouse, Blue Eye
Samurai is a real treat, proof that animation can go farther in its storytelling
than regular movies or TV. In what should serve as a strong lesson to any studio
or producer striving to make art as well as cash, it is excellent writing and
manifest love of the project from all its creators which put Blue Eye Samurai
ahead of its peers. Don’t miss it.
<p></p>
<br />
<p style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<div class="alert-message alert">
<b>FORMAT: </b>SERIES <b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>Streaming <b>FROM: </b>Netflix <b>RATING</b>: 18 [UK] <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 8 epiodes, times vary<br />
<h4>
<apan><div class="alert-message alert">
<span style="color: orange;">WATCH NOW</span> | POWERED
BY <a href="https://www.justwatch.com/"><u>JUSTWATCH</u> </a><a data-original="https://www.justwatch.com" href="https://www.justwatch.com/" style="color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background: url("https://widget.justwatch.com/assets/JW_logo_color_10px.svg"); display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-left: 3px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -3000px; width: 66px;">JustWatch</span></a> <a data-original="https://www.justwatch.com" href="https://www.justwatch.com/" style="color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">6 <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background: url("https://widget.justwatch.com/assets/JW_logo_color_10px.svg"); display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-left: 3px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -3000px; width: 66px;">JustWatch</span><br />
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<i><</i></a>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>IN A NUTSHELL:</b> </span></apan></h4><h4><apan><span style="font-family: inherit;"><blockquote> Netflix surges ahead with eight episodes of a beautiful, epic samurai
revenge story which hits all the adult buttons, and then some.
</blockquote></span></apan></h4></div> <br /><br /> <i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★</span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span>
</p><p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nJ1yQn17lbE?si=ffnmW5ZPXFQYsimC" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p> </p><div><b>By <a href="http://www.animationforadults.com/search/label/MB?&max-results=7">Mark Brandon</a> </b></div>Mark Brandon is a fiction and review writer based in Leicester, in the UK, who has loved all things animation since he was a kid, especially anything with science-fiction, fantasy, horror or detective themes. When he's not writing reviews, he's busy on novels and short stories. <br /><p style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p>
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<p></p>
Animation For Adultshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184153657841028205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-43022006052654026362023-11-07T11:56:00.001-05:002023-11-07T11:56:37.590-05:00Nimona (2023)<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQsNdryF93aY9c83PqvQ_KwkvJoT0YmjeNbMNmnQeUyEQrxx048QZ-NWMzVD8zw2M-OxYV5_kNeN5LTqAZke7swKF8ouzCCnTWyZiNx-FtR4s3FvjK_OjLxdZm3qDbh4sJnXnpjMbpcVhnu2xEgIklQ1CVKlC96o_qJDbyGlUm94hPEDLleg3ope3XQ/s1280/AAAABSSTnHW8pXtpkhZRHPRk3YT1DoIWBIrDrUGaQAZTX4o3l9Mb67Y43H9FNRgyyPCk6-jq0avQYrbhMyCG3B6Idow3RkxTJ1rbxwzM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQsNdryF93aY9c83PqvQ_KwkvJoT0YmjeNbMNmnQeUyEQrxx048QZ-NWMzVD8zw2M-OxYV5_kNeN5LTqAZke7swKF8ouzCCnTWyZiNx-FtR4s3FvjK_OjLxdZm3qDbh4sJnXnpjMbpcVhnu2xEgIklQ1CVKlC96o_qJDbyGlUm94hPEDLleg3ope3XQ/s16000/AAAABSSTnHW8pXtpkhZRHPRk3YT1DoIWBIrDrUGaQAZTX4o3l9Mb67Y43H9FNRgyyPCk6-jq0avQYrbhMyCG3B6Idow3RkxTJ1rbxwzM.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />Nimona,</b> based on the webcomic and graphic novel by <b>N D Stevenson</b>, is an LGBTQ-themed science fantasy tale set in a thousand year old futuristic medieval city-kingdom of armoured knights, flying cars and London-style Tube trains. <p></p><p><br />Our hero, <b>Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed)</b>, is to be the first commoner to join the Elite Knights, an order set up by the kingdom’s founder, the legendary heroine <b>Gloreth </b>– coincidentally the ancestor of his fellow knight-aspirant (and boyfriend) <b>Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang)</b> – to defend it from “a Great Black Monster”. The city has walls mounted with laser turrets to defend it, and a citywide alarm system to warn if ever the monster comes – which it hasn’t. Ever. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsPjBjxMeux89H6X0prG8yzlGkw99Uthy6vkf1XwfRowlXwx3qylq3-JgVjraey4CJSIbrhWKTC8nusZCYyWdA_rF19mGXcYUla1Smwks83CvLx8jAS7b7EQXnZZNghREhmJ9vVcItxYyH_We-x7hX9oF_O-2gCnURp_pAsYvyZDIzxzXwU2iSbwVEQ/s5158/Nimona_(Upscaled)_00_29_40_13_R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsPjBjxMeux89H6X0prG8yzlGkw99Uthy6vkf1XwfRowlXwx3qylq3-JgVjraey4CJSIbrhWKTC8nusZCYyWdA_rF19mGXcYUla1Smwks83CvLx8jAS7b7EQXnZZNghREhmJ9vVcItxYyH_We-x7hX9oF_O-2gCnURp_pAsYvyZDIzxzXwU2iSbwVEQ/s16000/Nimona_(Upscaled)_00_29_40_13_R.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br />But ruler <b>Queen Valerin (Lorraine Toussaint)</b> wants to shake things up, opening up the Knights so that “anyone can be a hero”, a highly controversial notion in this resolutely feudal kingdom. Just as she is about to knight her protégé Boldheart, a blast of green laser light from his sword fells her. Goldenloin reacts instinctively, chopping off his paramour’s sword-arm, but it is too late for the Queen. Boldheart runs, and the starchy <b>Director of the Knights (Frances Conroy) </b>takes over management of the kingdom, vowing the killer will be found. </p><p><br />The now universally-hated regicide Boldheart goes into hiding and somehow manages to make himself a prosthetic arm, at which point the eponymous Nimona (voiced beautifully by <b>Chloe Grace Moretz</b> (of <b>Kick-Ass</b> fame)) shows up, demanding to be made official sidekick to the city’s “greatest villain”. Nimona is an outsider, who can shapechange into any number of creatures from a tiny bird to a rhinoceros, gorilla or even – with hilarious consequences at one point – a whale, and who can get quite demonic at times, prefiguring her eventual transformation. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkAdhquzugOQorWkZhYrqeYszubK9P072PcIrk7cNRwNyOAp0adQDthsPF1gFqY5Ls7bQ6vVmZYkNOIYsBLDy0d0nG_HjqihOJJbJEGOXeuLagg0BJmPGLdoyVXt9yJT53GVgnX3I_CVim94g-lG4ei2AFpiQhMkNziya8rgzdMSm8p-izMNKOruXqA/s1920/EN-US_NIMONA_MainTeaser_1920x1080_PRHQ_2CH_TXTL.mov.01_00_33_04..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkAdhquzugOQorWkZhYrqeYszubK9P072PcIrk7cNRwNyOAp0adQDthsPF1gFqY5Ls7bQ6vVmZYkNOIYsBLDy0d0nG_HjqihOJJbJEGOXeuLagg0BJmPGLdoyVXt9yJT53GVgnX3I_CVim94g-lG4ei2AFpiQhMkNziya8rgzdMSm8p-izMNKOruXqA/s16000/EN-US_NIMONA_MainTeaser_1920x1080_PRHQ_2CH_TXTL.mov.01_00_33_04..jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Pursued by the guards, headed by Goldenloin, aided and abetted by the moronic and annoying guard captain <b>Sir Thoddeus “Todd” Sureblade (Beck Bennett)</b> and the frankly useless knights (who display Imperial stormtrooper levels of competence and aim throughout...), Boldheart and Nimona must work together to vanquish the real evil in the kingdom. </p><p><br />What follows is a wild, at times hyperactive ride towards a good climax and neat resolution. There are chases, battles and some moments of genuine pathos as the two outsiders bond through adversity. Trigger warning/spoiler here: the tense climax does feature a suicide theme (though nobody dies). <br /> </p><p>The intention to produce a movie version of the acclaimed webcomic was first announced in 2015, but the project was cancelled in 2021 when producer <b>Blue Sky Studios</b>, a subsidiary of <b>20th Century Animation</b>, was closed down by <b>Disney </b>(which had acquired Blue Sky as part of its purchase of various Fox assets in 2019). When <b>Annapurna Pictures</b> launched its animation division in 2022, it brought on British animation studio <b>DNEG</b> to revive the picture, building directly on the work Blue Sky had done. <br /> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVvl0n8wH4rBjCU-PqwSoFBurCxwFrv9ccLFAm8lF0r90hS_2WriG4IleBF5mHG4rL_d77Vlpyry5-VKsEbBNyVhlPZAcTSGej2TnXHOssCYs4IHT7LGT0UhOL6HwN8EDSNOFLpOXM32yXUwrs5UgErzRIfDVagDM_P2_kPI_sMoWk-CXKqW9IGoN1Q/s5158/Nimona_u_00_19_25_12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVvl0n8wH4rBjCU-PqwSoFBurCxwFrv9ccLFAm8lF0r90hS_2WriG4IleBF5mHG4rL_d77Vlpyry5-VKsEbBNyVhlPZAcTSGej2TnXHOssCYs4IHT7LGT0UhOL6HwN8EDSNOFLpOXM32yXUwrs5UgErzRIfDVagDM_P2_kPI_sMoWk-CXKqW9IGoN1Q/s16000/Nimona_u_00_19_25_12.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Animation-wise, the production design mixes modern and medieval elements – Tudor beamed skyscrapers, self-driving flying cars which resemble fairytale carriages etc – and stirs in contemporary elements here and there, such as a version of <b>YouTube </b>and a cereal called <b>Dragon Krisps</b> (whose mascot, <b>Kwispy Dwagon</b>, is voiced by Nimona creator N D Stevenson). </p><p>Obvious influences include <b>Shrek, Blade Runner, Arcane, Tron</b> and <b>Attack on Titan</b> while Nimona herself turns into all kinds of pink creatures rather like those in<b> Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove</b> (when the guards are all transformed by polymorphic potions). The eventual, predictable “Great Black Monster” looks like <b>Godzilla</b> and <b>Studio Ghibli</b> had a baby. It looks good, but it sometimes feels like you’ve seen it all before. </p><p><br />Thematically, Nimona is the latest in a line of animated movies and TV series to feature LGBTQ+ characters engaged in proving that just because they’re different, they’re no less than other people. Three previous Blue Sky Studios staffers suggested that part of Disney’s decision to cancel Nimona was because of its LGBTQ+ theme and a fairly prominent kiss between Ballister and Goldenloin, so it’s good to see Annapurna kept all that in. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro-z0RO0SDFkKWbKfWh-GDJkyf5DOmuaPNt8exFLvVUg-9YT0KmuQQnSPVYIKrzEgM5f8hVuDK_kHbBmPUXSOPme5jpcV1RdmR97vxiKi_n3tkVSapaIFGwL54_F3zGFZ5YKBTLeTcQr33F70QED6n_OrN74HVtAlaP3TqqGxSD9JkW1reJ5tE5P9Qw/s5158/Nimona_(Upscaled)_00_17_38_21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro-z0RO0SDFkKWbKfWh-GDJkyf5DOmuaPNt8exFLvVUg-9YT0KmuQQnSPVYIKrzEgM5f8hVuDK_kHbBmPUXSOPme5jpcV1RdmR97vxiKi_n3tkVSapaIFGwL54_F3zGFZ5YKBTLeTcQr33F70QED6n_OrN74HVtAlaP3TqqGxSD9JkW1reJ5tE5P9Qw/s16000/Nimona_(Upscaled)_00_17_38_21.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br />The handling of its main theme is a little problematic, though. The word “different” is used constantly, but the kingdom isn’t actually homophobic – nobody, including chief bruh Todd, has a problem with Ballister and Goldenloin being lovers. Instead, kids are brought up to want to put swords in monsters; it’s literally the marketing campaign for Krispy Dragon cereal. What the monster here stands for is unclear, and it’s not nothing because the movie has clearly set out to make a point. Trans? Non-binary? That’s fine, but it would mean that Ballister’s eventual – and by the way entirely unconvincing – turn on Nimona which sets up the climax, amounts to LGBT internecine warfare, a highly nuanced point to make for a movie which otherwise doesn’t especially push political or philosophical boundaries. </p><p><br />Nor does the worldbuilding stand up to more than a moment’s thought – all these people have lived in a walled kingdom for a thousand years and nobody has gone outside in all that time? Where do they get their food from? The lithium for all those batteries? </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pwqEoRFnQHGrvmWJ0MJjUiQrAkQE1cAUiMzcbc3xiMQljuXO3aAHxtvl_U7be2p0KZ93dIV2H3QXl6ysC6gwMauRy0951HpyFloqBkqb9dm-Z2ZnBp3iZE8E6lRn9DueuWqEs0bmjcmj8Eq-hA6mO2kLxk37JlJ2m3i8ssu2PATvt00lPtPnmyTJng/s5158/Nimona_u_00_05_27_20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pwqEoRFnQHGrvmWJ0MJjUiQrAkQE1cAUiMzcbc3xiMQljuXO3aAHxtvl_U7be2p0KZ93dIV2H3QXl6ysC6gwMauRy0951HpyFloqBkqb9dm-Z2ZnBp3iZE8E6lRn9DueuWqEs0bmjcmj8Eq-hA6mO2kLxk37JlJ2m3i8ssu2PATvt00lPtPnmyTJng/s16000/Nimona_u_00_05_27_20.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br />The characterisation could also have done with a bit more work; the real villain is pretty two-dimensional, and of the heroes, only Goldenloin is given a genuinely tough choice to make and only Nimona herself gets a proper arc. </p><p><br />Those niggles aside, Nimona is charming, fun and kooky enough to make it an enjoyable way to spend its 102 minute runtime. But the lack of real depth or credible threat – an ultimately happy ending is never really in doubt – and a fairly predictable plot means it’s likely to be a more exciting and satisfying watch for young teens than for most adults. </p><div><br /></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="alert-message alert">
<b>FORMAT: </b>MOVIE <b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>Streaming <b>FROM: </b>Netflix <b>RATING</b>:
PG <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 1hr 41 mins<br />
<h4>
<apan><div class="alert-message alert">
<span style="color: orange;">WATCH NOW</span> | POWERED
BY <a href="https://www.justwatch.com/"><u>JUSTWATCH</u> </a><a data-original="https://www.justwatch.com" href="https://www.justwatch.com/" style="color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background: url("https://widget.justwatch.com/assets/JW_logo_color_10px.svg"); display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-left: 3px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -3000px; width: 66px;">JustWatch</span></a> <a data-original="https://www.justwatch.com" href="https://www.justwatch.com/" style="color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">6 <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background: url("https://widget.justwatch.com/assets/JW_logo_color_10px.svg"); display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-left: 3px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -3000px; width: 66px;">JustWatch</span><br />
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<i><</i></a>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>IN A NUTSHELL:</b> </span></apan></h4><h4><apan><span style="font-family: inherit;"><blockquote> A colourful LGBTQ+-themed retro futuristic fantasy which manages to pull some genuine pathos from its hyperactive, at times predictable, story. </blockquote><br /><br /> </span></apan><br /></h4></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★</span><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">☆☆</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p>
</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f_fuHRyQbOc?si=tub8uN5yD65q14qu" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><br />
<p></p><div><b>By <a href="http://www.animationforadults.com/search/label/MB?&max-results=7">Mark Brandon</a> </b></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Mark
Brandon has been a fan of all things animated since he can remember,
and a writer since he could put pen to paper. He lives in the south of
Scotland, where he writes science fiction and fantasy, goes for walks in
the country and lifts big bits of metal up and down (mainly for
vanity’s sake). <br /></div>Animation For Adultshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184153657841028205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288608074424954438.post-42921993438507561722023-08-10T09:16:00.000-04:002023-08-10T09:16:49.376-04:00Puffin Rock And The New Friends (2023)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDsGyNSdlc9h2DApHJaCawPr0R9k-46f49AC6r_FLRRbj9oGo49-GlGqFGG9cFNe03gM4GHBevIrkDQk5kfFK0z1PzQmGl9I1WdOrIx_OQFzwR0Urjd8cmigz6c9xYyAWUkylLrMEqeefLdTzqbFhgAnTPIhIUiTLcnkgl2Y7R7iDU9af40wYFvaeuwVI/s900/PRATNF_feat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDsGyNSdlc9h2DApHJaCawPr0R9k-46f49AC6r_FLRRbj9oGo49-GlGqFGG9cFNe03gM4GHBevIrkDQk5kfFK0z1PzQmGl9I1WdOrIx_OQFzwR0Urjd8cmigz6c9xYyAWUkylLrMEqeefLdTzqbFhgAnTPIhIUiTLcnkgl2Y7R7iDU9af40wYFvaeuwVI/s16000/PRATNF_feat.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p><br /></p>
<p>
Adapting a television series into a feature film well is a tricky
proposition. And it is one at which dozens have failed.
<b>Puffin Rock And The New Friends</b> has its work cut out more than
most- the original series consists of seven-minute episodes.
</p>
<p>
The film is based on the <b>Puffin Rock </b>TV series. It's produced by Irish
studio <b>Cartoon Saloon, </b>in association with Northern Ireland's
<b>Dog Ears </b>and <b>China's Nebula Group. </b>It is directed by
<b>Jeremy Purcell </b>and written by <b>Sara Daddy. </b> It was
released initially in Ireland and Northern Ireland on July 14 by
<b>Wildcard Distribution </b>and then in the UK on August 11 by
<b>Vertigo Releasing.</b>
</p>
<p>
The plot of the movie kicks off with the arrival of some strangers on Puffin
Rock. But joy over new found friends soon turns to anguish when the last little egg of the season
mysteriously disappears. <b>Oona</b> and her friends (old and new) find
themselves in a race against time to rescue the egg before a big storm hits
the island.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzszRx1F0Ibzoid1djJoW0adYy0XEkG9AMDo-MknWA-Z8f_h81W2hAm7K-aBKMX1kmN1_OLDqphbJD0fEHqFBAchQm5DZpkJd37zYAHYE8d0EiFaFPREa7P1grnki5uvh-KYRvlYxWFRqTG_7lrmnlIDT222e9m3V1Lc0UHLfvx7rDR22A9lmY5TOYIXFa/s640/fid22577_trid21582.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzszRx1F0Ibzoid1djJoW0adYy0XEkG9AMDo-MknWA-Z8f_h81W2hAm7K-aBKMX1kmN1_OLDqphbJD0fEHqFBAchQm5DZpkJd37zYAHYE8d0EiFaFPREa7P1grnki5uvh-KYRvlYxWFRqTG_7lrmnlIDT222e9m3V1Lc0UHLfvx7rDR22A9lmY5TOYIXFa/s16000/fid22577_trid21582.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p><br /></p>
<p>
One of the challenges in adapting a series into a film is in finding a story
that feels big enough for that expanded canvas. It's easy to fall into
something that just feels like an extended episode or several episodes
awkwardly stuck together. Puffin Rock makes the move from seven minutes to a
90-minute feature with ease. It does so without any need for an epic
plot or a change in location. It manages to craft a plot that is suitable for
the extended running time but still small and intimate enough to feel like
Puffin Rock. There's no world-in-peril level danger here but the emotional
stakes feel appropriate for the audience.
</p>
<p>
Visually, Puffin Rock is a gorgeous looking film. It's not a huge evolution
from the TV series (some assets and backgrounds are reused) but then it was a
beautiful looking series to start with. It sticks closely to the Cartoon
Saloon house style- look out for the use of their recurring circle motif.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljlSTlvHBVsNmZU_GtjTU7pmIYGjPMT-UDOfi2VBEIFt2_DsP_zBAmMPjewovBQQu58y9az3-jGsRp1eg2hQ2acv5m_hDqjiFLHQYWXsURF2rax1kAKb9AUbBlrRS5ceLgD60FJVjEEKxG9EYh1YGppcjwMyuUUFV5Tfgd5k--k0l4jayjAan0ptfr_Ls/s1000/Puffin-Rock-Movie-featured-jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljlSTlvHBVsNmZU_GtjTU7pmIYGjPMT-UDOfi2VBEIFt2_DsP_zBAmMPjewovBQQu58y9az3-jGsRp1eg2hQ2acv5m_hDqjiFLHQYWXsURF2rax1kAKb9AUbBlrRS5ceLgD60FJVjEEKxG9EYh1YGppcjwMyuUUFV5Tfgd5k--k0l4jayjAan0ptfr_Ls/s16000/Puffin-Rock-Movie-featured-jpg.webp" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<p><br /></p>
<p>
For one notable sequence, the film steps away from the house style, and with
great success. Accompanying a flash-back sequence, the animation switches from
the regular style and into a Chinese scroll and ink technique. They
effectively create a different mood from the rest of the film.
</p>
<p>
One notable area where the big screen outing differs from its small screen
predecessor is its use of songs. It would be pushing it to describe it as a
full-blown musical but it has several musical interludes. It does help it feel
more cinematic.
</p>
<p>
Puffin Rock is aimed at a younger audience than previous Cartoon Saloon
features. However, it has plenty of charm ensuring it can be enjoyed by
audiences of all ages. The film also works beautifully as a standalone, no
previous knowledge of Puffin Rock is required to watch this.
</p>
<p>
Puffin Rock And The New Friends is not <b><a href="https://www.animationforadults.com/2020/10/wolfwalkers-2020.html">Wolfwalkers</a> </b>or
<b><a href="https://www.animationforadults.com/2014/12/song-of-sea-2014_19.html">Song Of The Sea</a>- </b>but then it isn't really trying to be. It swaps their
sophistication for a simplicity and purity that should make this perfect for
very young audiences. This would be an ideal first (or early) cinema trip for
the little one in your life- and it should keep you entertained too.</p>
<p><br /><br /></p>
<div class="alert-message alert">
<b>FORMAT: </b>MOVIE <b>AVAILABLE ON: </b>Cinema [UK+
IRE] <b>FROM: </b>VERTICAL/ WILD CARD <b>RATING</b>:
U <b>RUNNING TIME </b>: 92 mins<br />
<h4><apan></apan></h4>
<h3>
<apan><div class="alert-message alert">
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></div></apan>
</h3>
<h3>
<apan><h4 style="text-align: left;">
IN A NUTSHELL
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
Beautifully animated and full of charm, it's another corker from
Cartoon Saloon
</blockquote></span>
</h4></apan>
</h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><apan></apan></span>
</h3>
</div>
<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-31a2744d-7fff-dbcd-1f17-0892e27f65c3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★</span><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">☆</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/niiJ6kRxt6I" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Chris Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178848467568403800noreply@blogger.com