Shadows on the Wall

Swapped

dir Nathan Greno
scr John Whittington, Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow
prd John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews
voices Michael B Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, Justina Machado, Ambika Mod, Lolly Adefope, John Ratzenberger, Nate Torrence, Camden Brooks, Tata Vega, Johnny Williams
release US/UK 1.May.26
26/US Skydance 1h42

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Set in a fantastical land populated with colourfully outrageous critters, this beautifully animated adventure spins an exciting tale that carries a strong thematic kick. It's an enjoyable blast of imagination that throws sparky characters into a series of eye-catching moments. So even if the narrative feels a little thin, director Nathan Greno (Tangled) makes a film that is likely to hold the interest of both adults and kids.

Curious chipmunk-like pookoo Ollie (Jordan) loves exploring beyond his species' island, much to the consternation of his nervous parents (Cedric and Machado). But after he teaches a predatory javan bird how to eat piplets, the pookoo are starving. Then Ollie stumbles into a magical pod that swaps him into a javan's body, meeting intrepid javan Ivy (Temple). When a boogle fish (Morgan) shows Ollie where to find another pod, it's Ivy who turns into a pookoo. To return to themselves and help their species survive, they must teach each other to use their specific skills.

Earlier, Ollie's grandma (Vega) recounts the legend of the villainous firewolf who banished the magical tree creatures that made it possible for animals to identify with each other and communicate. So the age-old warning, "Never trust anything but a pookoo", needs to be revisited if Ollie is going to help the residents of this valley find peace. Yes, these are rather on-the-nose themes, especially later on when the critters are threatened by a raging fire bringing immediate climate change to the entire valley.

While the natural locations and intriguing animals are extraordinary, some of the design work is oddly anthropomorphic, rather simplistically using human solutions to animal problems. But everything looks gorgeous, with adorable creatures in lush places, often inventively blurring the line between the plant and animal worlds. There are terrific textures of fur, scales, leaves, water and stone. And the characters have big personalities that allow the voice cast to have some improv-style fun along the way.

While grown-ups will recognise the larger ideas, kids may be unsettled by some very dark turns in the plot, notably as the firewolf wants to rule the valley using fear. This is countered by the cute animals, who instead opt to live with open-hearted kindness. The most important message in this story centres around the superpower that comes from seeing the world through different eyes. And of course, if the diverse forest community works together, they can protect the most vulnerable among them. Hint hint.

themes, violence 1.May.26

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