Flow is, in simple terms, one of the most beautiful films of 2024 both visually and narratively, and one of the most interesting – and awarded – animations of the year for several reasons. It is a Latvian production that tells the story of a kitten struggling to survive in a mysteriously flooded world, learning to coexist with animals from other species aboard a boat. Simple, but effectively told with pure images, without dialogue, achieving an almost naturalistic expressiveness in the animals and a deceptive emotional depth for such a basic premise, which focuses more on evoking compassion than on explaining its mysteries. Additionally, in terms of the animation industry, it could be a game-changer: it was made entirely with the open-source software Blender, which opens the door for independent animators to create innovative animated films without the constraints imposed by other expensive industry standards.
The saga of Shrek, like so many others that go beyond what is necessary, was from the most to the least, although its first (and only) spin-off, 'Puss In Boots', had a good performance. That was in 2011, however. The franchise, one of the most popular of DreamWorks, remained inactive until the release of 'Puss In Boots: The Last Wish', and what a return! This movie brings back the elements that worked in the franchise - Antonio Banderas as Puss, Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws and parodies of fairy tales - to tell an adventure that delights children, but with its own existential baggage even for the older ones. The animation style, reminiscent of what Sony did for 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', is simply spectacular, like an animated storybook, and undoubtedly deserves to be seen on the big screen. Read more in our review.
This is an anime movie produced by Studio Colorido, one of Japan's newest animation studios, best known for 'Penguin Highway: The Mystery of the Penguins'. With a plot that will surely echo with fans of Studio Ghibli's 'The Cat Returns', 'Love of the Cat' is a story of fantasy, love, and yearning for belonging that explores much deeper topics in a very accessible way that makes it suitable for all ages. The animation is as beautiful as its story, under the joint direction of Jun'ichi Satô – known for directing the classic anime 'Sailor Moon' – and Tomotaka Shibayama – who has worked in the animation department of gems such as 'Spirited Away' and 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time'.