While I’d not consider myself a dissident, I have been open about how critical I am of the form Disney and Pixar have taken over the last couple of decades, going from producing the gold standard in animation and mastering the art of family-oriented storytelling, to a shrill shadow of their former glory, another cog…
Category: Animation
Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
Maturing is realising that Dr Seuss was not just the source of the colourful, eccentric stories that we embraced as children, but rather one of the great wordsmiths of his generation, a writer whose work is nothing short of poetic exuberance, his imagination seemingly endless and yet also so incredibly accessible. Whether you grew up…
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025)
Some stories exist to teach a lesson, others to communicate a specific message. The kind that I find is often the most surprising, but yet oddly the one we see only sporadically, are those which set out to just capture emotions more than reaching a specific narrative point. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of striking…
Boys Go to Jupiter (2025)
Growing up is never easy – this seems to be a sentiment that we frequently discuss, which is likely a result of the coming-of-age story being one of the most common narrative structures, primarily because it is somewhat universal. Anyone who has reached adulthood will likely recognise the experience of navigating those wonder-fueled childhood years,…
A Magnificent Life (2025)
Every artist has their particular niche in which they excel, and there are a few exceptional cases of those who are also able to do well in other media, which is a testament to their skills. However, very rarely do we find those who are able to thrive in every conceivable medium in which they…
The Iron Giant (1999)
It has become so trite to refer to 1999 as the greatest modern year for cinema; some even view the sentiment as somewhat passé, based on how widespread and commonly discussed this point tends to be. However, there is a reason many consider it to be such a strong period for cinema, since so many…
Dumbo (1941)
Every child has a few sets of films that undeniably shaped their formative years, playing a vital role in their development and aiding in their growth over time. Some tend to cross over between generations, which is usually a sign of not only the strength of storytelling, but also emotional brilliance and genuine creativity. This…
They Shot the Piano Player (2024)
At some point in our lives, we have all been entranced by the genre known as bossa nova – the soothing rhythms intertwining with the lyricism that exists somewhere between philosophically profound and hopelessly romantic, there is a reason the world was utterly taken when this genre emerged out of Brazil and underwent a cultural…
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022)
Over a decade ago, a curious little film was released – the title was Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and (as the title suggests) centres on an anthropomorphic shell on his daily adventures. In subsequent years, a couple of sequels were released, each one beautifully made and just as endearing. The shorts were the…
Living Large (2024)
Anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong can relate to the sensation of being an outsider. Whether due to physical appearance, ability or a more intangible element, many of us have felt like we exist on the outskirts of society, merely being fodder for the gawking mockery and entertainment of those around us….
The Postmodern Pelican 