Animated Films of 2021

Mad God (Amazon Prime)

Sadly, Phil Tippet’s magnum opus is most likely going to be overlooked by the mainstream. That’s because he’s a tough act to follow, and is better known for working behind the scenes than being in the forefront. After creating a lot of practical special effects that’s seen in films ranging from Empire Strikes Back to Jurassic Park, he semi-retired. When stop-motion animation is his passion and there’s a love for Dante’s Inferno spiced throughout this work, this film is worth examining!

My movie review of this film, back when it premiered at Fantasia Film Fest, can be read here.

Moonbound
(Streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video)

When Peter sets out on a magical journey to rescue his little sister Anne, he needs to leave Earth to do so. When he finds out aliens from the moon has kidnapped her, that’s because she did something to help someone else from this hunk of rock, and he wasn’t there to watch over her. And along the way, the characters he meets–ranging from Mr. Sandman to the Night Fairy, are very real. When he has to face even more fabled individuals, to survive the might from the Five Spirits of Nature are going to be daunting.

Where Is Anne Frank? (Prime Video)

The film follows the adventure of Kitty, the imaginary friend to whom Anne Frank often referred to in her diary. In this book, she documented what life was like under Nazi occupation. Because they were actively hunting for Jews in the Netherlands, staying hidden was tough. Her family had to go about life as best they can. The vandalized home brought this fictional character to life.

Although confused, Kitty is believes finding where her “creator” went to is important. Thankfully, this tale is not similar to Harold and the Purple Crayon (movie review). Here, what she discovers about herself is important. And when she learns about the fate of the Frank family, what she must do is save the legacy that her bestie left behind! This movie is also available to purchase on home video.

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Author: Ed Sum

I'm a freelance videographer and entertainment journalist (Absolute Underground Magazine, Two Hungry Blokes, and Otaku no Culture) with a wide range of interests. From archaeology to popular culture to paranormal studies, there's no stone unturned. Digging for the past and embracing "The Future" is my mantra. View all posts by Ed Sum