It’s a little sad to see this fly under the radar due to being released on streaming. Here you have something that’s actually interesting, boundary pushing and accessible, so it’s unfortunate there’s no room for it on the big screen. Right from the opening scene its main reference point is made abundantly clear. It plays with similar themes as that film (it’s a celebration of outsiders), but the story and aesthetic go in a much more progressive direction. So progressive, in fact, that this couldn’t be made under the conditions of cynical box checking currently happening at Disney and its subsidiaries. Yes, you read that right, this project was rejected by a company that loves to pride itself on its representation and inclusivity. Looks like they’re just a bunch of gross, immoral capitalists after all, who saw that one coming? Thankfully their latest animated effort called Elemental smashes every creative boundary and box office record in existence.
Look, I’m of the opinion that representation doesn’t necessarily makes a difference for the quality of a film, however here its woven into the subtext and improves the overall narrative. It’s a great mix of comedy, action and adventure that feels fresh, and the medieval-futuristic setting is also pretty unique. The animation, while not completely state of the art, carries enough personality to make this an overall experience memorable. Sonically, it mostly just gets the job done; the voice acting, score and soundtrack are fine but nothing outstanding. My biggest issue really comes with the comedy, which I found to be a little hit or miss occasionally. The Nimona character starts out as a bit annoying, though she definitely grows on you as the film goes along. Overall, this is unfortunately very likely to be overlooked due to Across the Spider-verse dominating the cultural conversation about animation, but there’s an argument to be made for this being the bolder film.
Review by JordyVIP 8BlockedParent2023-07-09T18:29:57Z
It’s a little sad to see this fly under the radar due to being released on streaming. Here you have something that’s actually interesting, boundary pushing and accessible, so it’s unfortunate there’s no room for it on the big screen. Right from the opening scene its main reference point is made abundantly clear. It plays with similar themes as that film (it’s a celebration of outsiders), but the story and aesthetic go in a much more progressive direction. So progressive, in fact, that this couldn’t be made under the conditions of cynical box checking currently happening at Disney and its subsidiaries. Yes, you read that right, this project was rejected by a company that loves to pride itself on its representation and inclusivity. Looks like they’re just a bunch of gross, immoral capitalists after all, who saw that one coming? Thankfully their latest animated effort called Elemental smashes every creative boundary and box office record in existence.
Look, I’m of the opinion that representation doesn’t necessarily makes a difference for the quality of a film, however here its woven into the subtext and improves the overall narrative. It’s a great mix of comedy, action and adventure that feels fresh, and the medieval-futuristic setting is also pretty unique. The animation, while not completely state of the art, carries enough personality to make this an overall experience memorable. Sonically, it mostly just gets the job done; the voice acting, score and soundtrack are fine but nothing outstanding. My biggest issue really comes with the comedy, which I found to be a little hit or miss occasionally. The Nimona character starts out as a bit annoying, though she definitely grows on you as the film goes along. Overall, this is unfortunately very likely to be overlooked due to Across the Spider-verse dominating the cultural conversation about animation, but there’s an argument to be made for this being the bolder film.
7.5/10