NYICFF 2023 Discussion - Renegade Animation #97
This week, Captain Kaye and the Animation Guru discuss a handful of films from this year's New York International Children's Film Festival!
What’s going on, everyone? This is your Captain speaking, and I’m excited to share this week’s episode! We’re still a few weeks away from the first major theatrically released animated film in the US, but fortunately Cameron and I had the opportunity to watch a handful of films presented at this year’s New York International Children’s Film Festival. Tune into the episode to hear our full discussion, though please note that due to time and availability, we weren’t able to see everything.
Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo
This movie does a great job to remind audiences that there is always hope in a hopeless situation. When a family is forced to leave their home in Syria because of the war, they are uplifted by tales of the ancient world. While it is the shortest film of the bunch, it makes the most out of its 73 minute runtime. There’s a certain charm to the character designs and animation, while its use of both diegetic and non-diegetic music is simply gorgeous.
“Honestly? I found Dounia to be a charming little experience. It might not last in my or anyone’s top 10 by the time the end of the year comes up, but there have been a lot of smaller animated films coming out that I have been truly charmed by, and that’s healthier than most years where smaller releases that aren’t good are given to everyone upfront and then the good stuff is released during the spring and summer releases before retreating back to the award season release timeline. Unfortunately, there is no word on an official US release, but since there is a US dub trailer, hopefully, that means it will be given one soon. Definitely give it a watch if you want something different from your usual animation enjoyment that shines.“ -The Animation Guru
Little Nicholas
This movie charmed the pants off of me, just a delightful little romp that's partly a biopic about the creators of the titular comic strip, as well as adapting a few of his stories. As much as I would have enjoyed a more traditional adaptation, I thought this worked quite well as an introduction to the character, especially for those who didn't grow up reading Little Nicholas comics. The art style is fantastic, bringing to life Sempé's expressive illustrations with a warm, intimate approach. My only real "critique" is that I just wanted more. I want to see more adventures with Nicholas and his friends, I want to learn more about Sempé and Goscinny's friendship, and I want to hear more of Ludovic Bource's delightful score.
“Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be is, simply put, a wondrous ball of delight. It captures the feelings of childhood, memories, friendships, and kindness, and wraps it all up with a bow made of incredible 2D animation. This film set out to find its own way to obtain happiness and it did so with flying colors with it being a faithful adaptation of the comics, but also of the legacy of the two men who brought this iconic series to life. - Little Nicholas“ -The Animation Guru
Titina
If you really want to see what Guillermo del Toro meant when he says “animation is cinema,” then may I present exhibit A? Titina does a lot of things right, especially for what I understand is Kajsa Naess’s feature directorial debut. It has a very distinct art style, and it’s used to tell the mostly true story of Umberto Nobile and Roald Amundsen's expedition to the North Pole. It’s a fascinating tale of how one’s obsession with glory could lead to their downfall.
“Titina is a brilliant globe-trotting wonder of animation. It’s a human journey of what can happen when one’s pride gets in the way of an experience that was meant to be a positive one for the world in which they live. Of course, we see all of this through the eyes of one of the cutest animals in history, Titina and how what can get us through turbulent times is love, compassion, and connection.“ -The Animation Guru
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia
As much as I adore the 2012 original, this sequel is of similar quality to Paddington 2 by comparison. Everything that made Ernest & Celestine has been carried over to the sequel, except for the people behind the scenes. This new installment, directed by Julien Chheng and Jean-Christophe Roger from a screenplay written by Guillaume Mautalent, finds our titular protagonists traveling back to Ernest’s country, Gibberitia, to fix Ernest's broken violin. The film balances its irreverent sense of humor with another great story involving generational trauma, and challenging archaic societal norms.
“While it would be tough to top the acclaim and impact left by the first film, A Trip to Gibberitia continues the charming journey of Ernest & Celestine by tackling the complicated theme of familial drama and finding the freedom to express yourself.“ -The Animation Guru
That’ll do it for this episode! Thank you for joining us, and stay tuned for more coming your way!
