Tag: CGI

In Toy Story 5, How Many Friends Are Needed?

Pixar shifts the spotlight to Jessie in Toy Story 5, delivering a heartfelt story about growing up, moving on, and finding human connection in an increasingly digital world.

Toy Story 5 Soundtrack CoverAnyone who grew up watching Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) won’t find them at the centre of the action. In Toy Story 5, the focus shifts to Jessie (Joan Cusack) as the new “Justice of the Peace,” and as for the others, they’ve been busy. While the cowboy is spending his best days with Little Bo-Peep (Annie Potts) to rescue abandoned toys, Buzz has an eye on the cowgirl, an idea first introduced in the second film. The allusions are there, and choosing not to rush that relationship is a smart move.

But do we really need more tales? I’d say yes. After 31 long years, most fans have either moved on or are waiting to see what PIXAR does next.

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Netflix’s Swapped Shows Who Is More of A Strange Animal

Rather than saying, “You’re a Strange Animal,” maybe the creators of Swapped were humming along to Gowan’s song when world-building a mystical realm where safety must come first rather than mixed breeding through magic.

Swapped Movie PosterNow streaming on Netflix

Netflix’s Swapped feels familiar. While it differs from Pixar’s Hoppers, where a human can masquerade as a beaver through technology and must walk a mile in another’s shoes, what’s presented here concerns a secret valley that is far more mystical than grounded in reality. This tale follows Ollie (Michael B. Jordan), a Pookoo, a groundhog-like creature, who meets Ivy (Juno Temple), a strangely Big Bird-like animal. The pair must work together if they are to thwart a looming threat.

There’s an angry Firewolf (Tracy Morgan) who has grown jealous of the peace bestowed upon the valley by enormous elephantine trees known as the Dzo. From that point on, I could swear I was watching a film that leaned heavily on the imagination of Jim Henson back when he conceived The Dark Crystal. While Swapped is brighter and more naturalistic, favouring cheerful colours and innocent charm, the similarities do not end there.

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When A Tooth Fairy Tale Concerns Renegade Teens From Folklore

When A Tooth Fairy Tales stands out in the small list of movies in this subgenre, some folks may well ask why? The thought put behind world-building provides the answer….

A Tooth Fairy Tale Movie PosterShout! Studio & Automatic Entertainment
Available on VOD
Spoiler Alert

Van (Booboo Stewart) isn’t your typical teenage boy, and in A Tooth Fairy Tale, he’s more than just the odd kid out. I like to describe him as a punk-rock version of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. The parallels are certainly there, especially when considering DreamWorks’ adaptation: Van has issues with his father, who expects him to one day take over the family business. And, unsurprisingly, he has to prove himself by being the next in line to retrieve a loose molar from a human child.

When Van discovers that goblins are also on a similar mission, his curiosity about the wider world begins to grow. Each species in this realm—trolls, spiders, goblins—has a specific role to play, and just who counts as friend or foe is largely a matter of perspective. In this story, it’s the arachnoids that pose the real threat. I appreciated how they were portrayed as silent, creeping dangers rather than loud, chaotic villains.

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15 Animated Films That You May Have Missed or Not Heard Of…

In this list of animated films that you may have missed, thankfully most of them have surfaced online to stream on demand.

Dreambuilders Movie PosterAs we enter halfway into this decade, I wondered what animated films have I missed watching? Kids aren’t the only target audiences; the medium also works to tell biographies, visualize experimental ideas and explore adult topics. Also, not all animated films are American productions. What I offer are titles that have caught my interest as I count from 2020 to 2024.

Depending on whether I’ve seen it during my construction of this list, I’ll include either the official synopsis or my thoughts on that title. Some of these releases might still be unreleased. To note: I’ll be limiting my choices to three per year. And, where possible, will provide links on where it’s available to stream or purchase.

Animated Films of 2000

Dreambuilders (Plex)

Minna misuses her newfound ability to create and control other people’s dreams to teach her bothersome step-sister a lesson. When her stepsister can no longer wake up, it is up to the is young girl has to enter the dream world to save her.

Nahuel and the Magic Book (Apple TV)

Nahuel and the Magic Book (Apple TV) - Animated Films

I overlooked this Chilean-Brazilian animated fantasy coming-of-age adventure despite its considerable praise since release. It’s a work that certainly lives up to its name, and there’s an early Studio Ghibli type of charm that I like. When the title character has a fear of playing near water, especially the sea, all he can do to get over it is to search for a magical solution!

Unfortunately, there’s an evil sorcerer who figured out that this boy intruded upon his home, and kidnaps this kid’s father. And in true Ghibli-style fashion, this lad will have to confront more than just a wizard. His unprepared adventure is fraught with dangers, and it’s best not to spoil the details.

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (Netflix)

After the aftermath of a war, a young girl who was used as a tool in battle learns how to live for herself. With the scars of burns, she goes back to her past to discover her true feelings towards the Major.

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To Put A “Panda Bear in Africa” May Be Hazardous For This Cub’s Health

Although Panda Bear in Africa is not one of Richard Claus’ finest, this movie is worth the watch for its messages.

Panda Bear in AfricaShout! Studios and Shout! Kids
Digital Release Date: Jan 28, 2025

Richard Claus’s love for all things little is front and centre in Panda Bear in Africa. It’s a Spanish-animated film that’s now seeing distribution outside its country. When it purposely borrows from Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and Lion King, I’m hoping this filmmaker has not run out of ideas.

After delivering well-meaning tales like The Little Vampire (2017) and Ainbo, Spirit of the Amazon (2021; movie review), this latest work isn’t all that original. Even then, I still enjoyed the overall message about how Pang (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing), a young panda, loves to play with others outside his species. While others are not as kind, his behaviour is worth learning from. No one should be judged because they are from another species. Even when his pal gets kidnapped, he doesn’t listen to the advice of his elders and is determined to rescue his bestie.

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Is It Spellbound or Excitement that Skydance’s Latest is on Netflix?

One dream from a young teen is never enough in Spellbound. What she wants, she may not get, and when she has a lot on her shoulder, what’s taught will have most parents nodding.

Spellbound 2024 Movie PosterNow Playing on Netflix

Skydance Animation must be taking lessons from Disney with their latest film Spellbound. That’s because the heroine is a princess, and after seeing her parents argue, the argument transformed them into giant furry beasts. Ellian (Rachel Zegler) has to break the curse. This task will be difficult and as much of this backstory is told in song, what comes next is her trying to maintain the kingdom while questing at the same time. This teen is as adventurous as Merida from Brave, but as for who is in the know, only Minister Bolinar (John Lithgow) and Nazara (Jenifer Lewis), do.

As for the rest of the kingdom, they are blissfully unaware. The young lady has managed everything, and I believe this film is great showing teens they should learn how to be responsible, and take charge when needed. The message is important to note, and although she’s close to getting her parents back, she has to understand what she’s become and also the new boundaries, as the film implies the king and queen are no longer in love.

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