KIDS FIRST!
35 Most Recent Endorsements

The film follows Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) as she embarks on an epic journey three years after her first adventure. Prompted by a mysterious call from her ancestors, she ventures into uncharted waters alongside Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and a diverse crew of seafarers. Together, they navigate treacherous oceans and uncover long-lost realms, confronting challenges that test their courage and unity. The stakes are higher; the landscapes are grander; and Moana's determination shines brighter than ever.

What truly sets Moana 2 apart is its rich combination of music, character development, and cultural authenticity. The soundtrack composed by Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foa?i, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear blends contemporary styles with traditional Polynesian rhythms, resulting in songs that are both memorable and deeply meaningful. Auli'i Cravalho delivers a stunning vocal performance that adds depth to Moana's journey, while Dwayne Johnson brings humor and heart again, as Maui. The film also introduces new characters, with actors Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Hualalai Chung, Awhimai Fraser, and Gerald Ramsey joining the cast and bringing fresh dynamics and humor to the story. Beyond the music and characters, the animation is stunning, capturing the majesty of Oceania with dazzling colors and intricate details. The filmmakers clearly respect and celebrate the cultural heritage they portray, immersing the audience in a world that feels authentic and alive.

At its heart, Moana 2 carries a powerful message: the importance of perseverance and staying connected to your roots while embracing the unknown.

Moana 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 through 12, plus adults. This film releases in theaters on November 27, 2024. Be sure to check it out.

By Gavin S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Moana 2 has visually mesmerizing visuals, great animation, and a lovely soundtrack. I saw the first Moana when I was eight, so I was very excited to see what this sequel would bring to the table.

The film opens with a call from Moana's ancestors warning her that if she doesn't find the lost island of Motufetu, the story of her people would end. Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) recruits people from her island to sail the seas with her to find Nalo, a power hungry God who believes humans can achieve anything when they are united, which threatens him. Nalo separated all of the people of the sea and hid Motufetu so that he could never be destroyed. Hesitant, Moana takes on this scary journey for the sake of her people.

This sequel doesn't really continue the story from the first film, instead it re-tells the same tale with new characters. It follows the same formula as the first Moana: a call from Moana's ancestors, obstacles in reaching the main antagonist, and the final battle. The storyline is pretty underwhelming; it feels like a recreation of the first film just with better animation, new characters, and new songs. However, what makes this film so enjoyable to watch is all its other aspects. The immersive animation is absolutely enchanting. All of the colors and textures are spectacular; I didn't expect anything less from Disney. The score by Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa'i is also perfect. The soundtrack stuck in my head and raised the bar from the first film's score. The introduction of new characters is also a strong point. Moana's new little sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) is just adorable. And the new villain, Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), creates some mystery and suspense in the plot. Auli'i Cravalho, as Moana, and Dwayne Johnson, as Maui, still have their powerful duo dynamic. With all these strong aspects this film has so much potential to continue the beautiful story the first film left us with, but unfortunately the plot makes this sequel subpar.

This film explores themes of community, overcoming adversity, and shows how when people come together, they can achieve anything.

Moana 2 gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. You can watch Moana 2 in theatres beginning November 27, 2024.

By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Moana 2 is one of the best movies I have ever seen. If you liked the first Moana, you're going to definitely LOVE this one. It has even more action, cooler songs, and new characters that will make you laugh. I definitely had the most awesome time watching this film.

In this film, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) is older, mature, and more adventurous. After getting a call from her ancestors, Moana enlists a new crew Moni (Hualalai Chung), Loto (Rose Matafeo) and Kele (Daniel Fane) along with the help of Hei Hei (Alan Tudyk), Pua and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to embark on a dangerous journey to sail across the seas of Oceania to help save her island from a huge, powerful storm. As Moana faces new challenges, she discovers more about her ancestor and her true destiny!

The cast of characters is fabulous! Some of the original characters return in this sequel. Auli-i Cravalho Maui reprises the lead role. Maui is back, as himself, and his hair looks better than ever. Be ready to laugh when Maui argues with his tattoos. The new characters, Moni, Loto, Kele, and Moana's little sister Simea have a new spice that entertains the audience the whole way through. One of the best things about the film is its animation. The ocean is even prettier this time, and is so realistic it made me want to jump into the screen and go for a swim. The island looks like a setting straight out of a postcard. Also the constellations are vibrant and look amazing in the beautiful night sky. Last but not least, I love how Moana's hair majestically blows in the wind throughout the film. My favorite song from the film is "Beyond." It is the most wonderful song as it makes you feel brave to undertake any adventure.

Moana 2 has a powerful message of embracing your culture and inheritance. It also emphasizes the idea that, together with others, you are stronger and can do anything. Moana embraces the wonderful ocean life and that shows throughout the movie. Be aware that there are a few scary creatures that might frighten younger audiences.

Moana 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. Moana 2 opens in theaters November 27, 2024.

By Junior R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

Moana 2 is a new and exciting journey for Moana. This sequel brings her liveliness and bravery back on the big screen, while also representing Pacific Islanders and making them feel seen.

The story follows Moana receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors telling her to restore an island that will connect all the people across the ocean. This journey is more risky than last time -- will she and her crew make it?

The main characters are Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), Maui (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), Moni (Hualalai Chung), Loto (Rose Matafeo), Kele (David Fane), Heihei (Alan Tudyk) and Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda). We see the return of many beloved characters, with the addition of some new ones. It's fun to see some former characters pop up at random times. However, I question whether the addition of so many new characters is necessary -- it almost feels forced. The playful connection between Moana and Maui remains the same, but even at a deeper level as they have matured. In terms of the music, it is very upbeat and energetic, and Moana's voice has improved so much. It's stronger and has so much emotion, which adds to the plot, showing us how strongly Moana feels about taking the ancestor's call. The animation is wonderful; it truly captures the beauty of the islands with its vibrant colors and captures the characters' emotions through their expressive faces. The plot is enjoyable, despite some holes. It's a creative take on Moana's journey, not only to the ocean, but inside herself. She knows the risk of taking this journey, and she especially doesn't want to leave her little sister, Simea. But, she makes a difficult decision and ends up trying to restore the people. This could be a symbol of unity. My favorite part is the beginning, when the villagers are shown - it reminds me of the first movie and is so beautiful because it represents the Pacific Islanders' culture.

The film's message is that there's always another way to solve a problem. A goddess tells Moana that, even when it seems impossible, there's always another way. This gives Moana the motivation to push through and be strong. It also emphasizes the importance of community and sticking together.

Moana 2 gets 4.5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18. Moana 2 comes out in theaters November 27, 2024.

Boonie Cubs is a TV series about two bear cub brothers, Briar (Nichalia Schwartz) and Bramble (Joseph S. Lambert), who live in the forest and have all kinds of expeditions with their friends Vick, Babu, Tiki, Coach Mack, and several others. Together, Briar and Bramble are hilarious! Briar is the smarter, adventurous, and more responsible brother, while Bramble relies on his brother for help, and is more laid-back and loves to eat. The forest friends all attend Pine Tree Kindergarten and the wise owl, Miss Olivia teaches them math. They also learn valuable lessons along the way while having fun in the forest.

There are four seasons of Boonie Cubs. Each episode is around 25 minutes long, so it can easily hold the attention of younger audiences. The animation is vibrant and detailed, creating a work that feels alive and magical. The forest isn't just the backdrop for the show; it feels like its own character, full of surprises and beauty. Even the bark on the trees has such a strong texture. The detail in the character's faces really gives them each their own special personality. My personal favorite character is the squirrel, Warren, with his emerald green bright eyes. Boonie Cubs provides interesting facts about animals and nature. My favorite fun fact is how fireflies glow. Did you know they need oxygen to light their light? The more oxygen they have, the brighter their light is. I commend the director, Leon Ding, for balancing humor, adventure, and heartfelt lessons in this show, creating a series that entertains while teaching kids about teamwork, kindness, and protecting the environment.

What stands out most about Boonie Cubs is how it combines humor, adventure, and meaningful life lessons all in one series. Together the friends at Pine Tree Kindergarten learn about emotions, nature, courage, friendship, and other important social skills. The dynamic between the characters also sets the series apart. The sibling relationship between Briar and Bramble is relatable for kids with brothers or sisters. They argue and tease each other, but they always come through for one another when it matters most.

I give Boonie Cubs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. Boonie Cubs is available now on Peacock and other streaming outlets! Go check it out.

By Junior R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

Boonie Cubs is a bear-y cute film for younger audiences! It has fun animation, an enjoyable storyline, and adorable characters. Viewers will definitely be tuned in while watching and get to learn important lessons at a young age.

Boonie Cubs is a show for elementary schoolers that follows Briar (Nichalia Schwartz) and Bramble (Siobhan Lumsden) on their journeys throughout their forest along with their friends such as Vick. They all go on small adventures and learn lessons along the way. In Season 1, Episode 1, Briar steals Vick's ax which causes a small feud between the two as Vick tries to get it back. After a while, Briar is then taught the lesson of not taking things from others. Later on in the episode, Briar doesn't have anyone to play a game with because everyone else wants to play with Vick's car. But then Briar is again advised and told to maybe join them! It's a cute episode of life lessons and handling situations.

The main characters are Briar and Brimble as well as Vick, Miss Olivia (Nichalia Schwartz), and the other forest friends! I think that this is such an interesting series considering it's a Chinese animated series that is dubbed in English for a US audience. While you can tell that it was originally recorded in a different language, the voice actors' performances are very good and succeed in making the show appealing. I'm not the audience for this show; it is definitely a show for younger viewers because of how the story develops. It's not too much of an entertainment show, as it's honestly made to inform little kids of situations and the life lessons to be learned from them. But of course, it will keep little kids entertained and watching.

There are many messages to get from this show. Season 1, Episode 1 in particular focuses on lessons such as not taking what's not yours without permission, going in with others instead of pulling them away, and even stepping out of your comfort zone. This is definitely a cute show for parents to put on when they want some free time from their little ones.

I rate Boonie Cubs 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids ages 2 to 8. You can stream Boonie Bears on Peacock now!

By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The animated series, Boonie Cubs is fun, full of great lessons, and is very pleasing to watch. I really like it and can't wait to see more episodes.

The show's first episode is divided into two fun stories. The first story introduces us to a boy named Vick who chases a thieving bear, Briar, through the forest. Briar has stolen Vick's ax and he wants it back. Vick finds himself in Briar's world, which is a magical forest with talking animals. After getting his ax back, Vick and his new friends play together and learn lessons. The second story focuses on Bramble bear who is starting his first day of kindergarten and is very scared. His teacher and his new friends include him in fun and games, and soon Bramble is at ease.

Vick and all of the animals, including four bears, two monkeys, a squirrel, a badger, a mole and an owl, are incredibly voiced by just four actors - Siobhan Lumsden, Joseph S. Lambert, Gene Hobes and Nichalia Schwartz - who uniquely bring each character to life. The graphics are so vibrant - it looks as though they are high definition photos that are turned into animation. The snow-capped mountains and the moss growing on the sides of the trees are very realistic, so are the leaves and grass which sway as if they are real. My favorite part of the first story is when Vick meets Ms. Owl. He is afraid of her but after she comforts him with a sweet song, he knows that she is a friend. In the second story, I really like that the classmates include Bramble in their games and it makes him less fearful.

The show has many lessons including: be willing to make new friends and have new experiences; stealing is wrong; it's good to compromise; try to be brave.

I give Boonie Cubs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. You can watch it on Peacock and other streaming outlets now.

The story begins with a little boy explaining what ego and waste management are. Then a grandma that sews old clothes into new things makes some items for the boy's mom. The grandma's niece steals a shirt that she really likes, but the grandma finds out and takes it back. The girl is mad but the grandma finds a solution. This is from India, with dialogue in both English and Hindi, and English subtitles as needed.

The story flows well and makes a lot of sense. I like how the girl changes the most. At first she is mad at her grandma because she would not allow her to do anything, but in the end she is happy. I was empathetic with the girl because she really liked the shirt but she could not have it because it didn't belong to her. But, grandma finds a solution. The images are very clear and easy to identify. As a live action film it is very realistic and kid friendly. It invites the viewer to problem solve, especially the girl's conflict with wanting something she can't have. We observe grandma's problem solving solution as she makes both people happy. It teaches us a bit about Halduwala culture and the importance of recycling as a way to protect the environment.

The film's message is about the importance of taking care of the environment and how recycling helps do that.

Max & The Midknights follows the journey of Max (Blu del Barrio), an adventurous ten-year-old girl with a big dream: becoming a knight. She leads her friends on thrilling adventures in a fantastical medieval kingdom -- battling zombies, outsmarting evil sorcerers, and even taming dragons. Max's determination and bravery drive the story, making each episode full of surprises and laughs, while teaching valuable lessons about courage and friendship.

The voice acting is top-notch, with a cast that brings the characters to life in a truly dynamic way -- including Blu del Barrio as Max, Melissa Villase�or as Millie, Zeno Robinson as Simon and Caleb Yen as Kevyn. Max is voiced with a perfect mix of sass and sincerity, making her a standout lead character. The 3D animation is stunning, especially during the action sequences, which are full of sword fights, magical duels, and explosive moments. The world of Max & The Midknights is colorful, immersive, and full of detail, making each scene feel like a mini-movie. One of my favorite parts is the series' use of humor. The show is genuinely funny, with plenty of clever jokes that will make both kids and adults laugh. Max's imagination also plays a huge role in the series, adding another layer of fun as she dreams up wild and creative solutions to the challenges she and her friends face. The combination of humor, heart, and action makes it an exciting adventure from start to finish.

The message of Max & The Midknights is about pursuing your true passions, no matter what others may say. Max is determined to become a knight, despite those around her doubting her abilities because she's a girl. The show encourages kids to follow their dreams and not let anyone tell them they can't achieve their goals.

The film follows Jaime Jangles and her Zany Dad on an imaginative world tour, visiting 20 different countries and sharing the music from each one. The images are drawn and they move a bit but aren't fully animated.

I love the music and the sets in each country. It really gives you an overview of so many different cultures in a quick way. It reminded me of Guido Sarducci's 90 second vacation on SNL back in the day, only from a kids' point of view. We see penguins in Antarctica, the tower of London in the UK, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the coliseum in Rome, and so much more. I could see this five-minute short as an interstitial at a KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. It's cute; it's fun; it's childlike and I love the dad and daughter narrators.

The film gives us a quick overview of the different countries, cultures and music that exist on our great planet.

Time for Art is a fun and quirky collection of activities for school-aged kids that revolve around humor and creativity. The host, Bill Dougal, is joined by a few other interesting characters who lend their silly jokes and input on - on gosh, everything. Bill teaches basic drawing techniques sprinkled in with songs, jokes, and other stuff.

I have to say that I just love this guy, with all his quirks. I especially love the drawing lessons. They are so simple and straightforward; it makes you think that anyone could do it. When he bursts into song, which he does quite often, it just makes me giggle. And then there are the "bad" jokes; they are definitely kid appropriate and parents will appreciate that.

The film's message is really about creativity and fun. Who doesn't like that?

This CD takes the listeners on a journey through a zoo, concentrating on different animals that you might find there including lions, flamingos, ostriches, giraffes, and monkeys, just to name a few, all while learning the French language. Each song has its own concept which acts as a mini-lesson. The songs introduce and repeat vocabulary, which builds language skills bit by bit.

The appealing thing about AU ZOO (At the Zoo) -- French Learning Songs is the creativity of the lyrics along with the fun, upbeat vibe of the music. I found myself humming along immediately to every song that played. I also appreciated the animal noises and sound effects, especially the lion's ferocious roar! The music provides a solid, creative avenue for students to learn the French language. They won't even know they are learning because the songs take the hard work out of learning a new language. The songs do not just focus on animals; they also focus on concepts like holidays, back to school, the alphabet, and dancing. All of these are appropriate for younger audiences, because they are things that young kids are familiar with. Adding another language with content that kids are familiar with in song form helps them easily learn a new language. The CD's animal them emphasizes an appreciation for nature and animals. The repetitive nature of the songs helps the children enjoy a sense of achievement as they learn new words in French. Learning a new language also promotes a sense of openness to accepting other cultures and languages.

The songs on this CD are unusual. The background instrumentals are extremely catchy and definitely had me bobbing my head, clapping my hands, and tapping my feet. There were a few songs that I immediately recognized such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider. The lyrics are selected to help the beginning student learn and understand the French language. The biggest educational benefit of this CD is that it helps even the youngest audiences begin to learn and understand French in a new and exciting way. It engages them to want to learn more because it takes the stress out of learning and makes it less of a chore. The songs are easy to sing along to and remember. The emotional support that Au Zoo offers children is a sense of pride and confidence as they increase their knowledge of French. The CD definitely encourages children to want to practice and perfect the French words they have learned.

Included are 20 quirky, fun, and vibrant songs. They are not long and are repetitive for language learning purposes and fun. It didn't take me long to sing along to most of the songs. Artist, Didier Prossaird does an exquisite job of mixing an instrumental element with lyrics and lively background noises. I truly felt that I was on a safari at one point! Besides the animal songs, songs like Your Birthday, Happy Father's, Happy Valentine's Day, and Happy Back to School are included as well. My favorite songs are My Donkey, Have You Seen Fritzi, and Move and Dance. My Donkey is a silly song about a sick donkey who gets a lot of items from the doctor to feel better. And don't worry, the donkey gets better! Have You Seen Frizti had a memorable tune that I really enjoyed. Move and Dance made me want to - well move and dance! Although the songs are geared toward younger children, I found myself engaged and wanting more! Whether you're a young kid or just someone who loves animals and music, this CD makes learning French enjoyable.

I give AU ZOO (At the Zoo) -- French Learning Songs 5 out of 5 �toiles (that's French for stars!) and recommend it for ages 2 to 12, plus adults. It is available now through online retailers so look for it.

By Junior R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 10

The Au Zoo French Learning Songs CD is an entertaining and creative way to teach the French language to beginners. I enjoyed the wide selection of songs from a variety of genres and found this CD enjoyable from start to finish.

This language learning program teaches children how to speak French at an early age. It has a wide selection of songs about animals from the zoo, foods, and holidays throughout the year, like Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and even the start of school! It uses storytelling and repetition to help listeners learn the language.

This CD is excellent! All the songs are fun and well written. The lyrics include a lot of beginning French words, and the music uses multiple genres. Everything is designed to help beginning French language students learn vocabulary and pronunciation. My favorite song is La Tortue A Faim, which means The Hungry Turtle, and is about a turtle trying to get across a yard. It is extremely catchy and creative, plus it is very educational and has lots of action words and adverbs. This song uses a lot of repetition as well as call and response methods. The singers are quite talented and have very melodic voices that are a pleasure to listen to. The music includes many different instruments, as well as scatting and whistling which fit the songs perfectly and makes them unforgettable. Many of the songs feature children's voices, which is great representation for the target audiences and makes the songs even more relatable.

The CD's purpose is to teach children how to speak beginning French at a young age. It definitely hits the mark for its educational impact while delivering fun and entertaining music.

I give The Au Zoo Learning Songs 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It is available now through online retailers so look for it.

The story follows a young girl, NingNing, who has come home to visit her father and has multiple situations to deal with that she never anticipated. Her dad almost abandons her at the bus station, and then she discovers that her grandmother has been sick for a long time. The morning after she arrives her dad disappears and she becomes completely distraught until she finds him in an unlikely place.

Bravo to the director, Jiaxin Xu, for an outstanding film with great camera work, audio recording and editing. The key cast members, especially the little girl and her dad, are perfect for their roles. The locations are quite appropriate, especially the religious temple. The pace is painstakingly slow in the middle, but it holds your interest as you try to figure out what happened to the dad. When she finally finds him, I took a big sigh of relief, and then when they return to grandmother's house and she is no longer on her deathbed, the whole film takes a major turn.

The film's message is about the importance of family.

The story follows a drop of water and chloroplast who unexpectedly meet and fall for each other, but they have some serious differences that make it difficult to even kiss each other. Fortunately, things evolve and they at last... well, you'll have to watch to find out.

The animation in this short film is terrific and the storyline has classic elements to it. Not exactly a Romeo and Juliet because there are no warring families, but the two protagonists definitely come from different worlds. Their efforts to make things work eventually pay off and we have a happy ending. Great background music. All around well executed short film that would make lovely interstitial for a KIDS FIRST! festival.

The storyline is about how two individuals from different backgrounds can somehow make things work out between them if they are clever and focused enough.

This story is told by the great Bichon Frise detective, Upton Charles, with assistance from his feline friend, Watson. It begins at a time when things seem to have reached a new calm in his household until, quite unexpectedly, a new dog joins the family. A walk on the beach reveals a possible problem when an abandoned sailboard is spotted on a nearby island and suddenly, everyone jumps into action trying to figure out what is going on.

I was not surprised that the new dog, Upton's brother, Arthur, turns out to have natural "detective" instincts, just like Upton and, as they join the police chief investigating the stranded sailboat, he proves his skills. Bit by bit, the mystery unravels and the reader begins to make presumptions about what happened. I like how the clues are reiterated once a few have been collected, as a way to help the reader engage their deductive reasoning. I also like that there's a lot of knowledge to be gained about boats, boat parts and how boats operate. If you've never been in the boating community, this story definitely teaches a thing or two about how things work. The dialogue between the family members, Upton, Watson and the new dog, Arthur, allows us an inside look at who is thinking or saying what. It makes me wonder how much the author listens to the dogs in his universe. I like how certain words, like wake, which might be unfamiliar to the reader, are explained. Another plus is how a few lessons are intertwined into the story about environmental awareness, such as the police chief's disgust at finding plastic bottles in the sand and commenting on how long they take to disintegrate. There are a few typos such as: Chief O'Brien gives s 'thumbs' up (the a is missing). Also, there are some punctuation errors such as: type in the hospitals number (missing an apostrophe). But, for the most part, this is well written and definitely age appropriate.

The story reminds us of how to collect clues when solving any mystery we run into as they progress step by step in solving the mystery of the missing sailor.

I give Upton Charles: Double Trouble 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It can be found online where books are sold and in select bookstores.

The story follows a little girl and her grandmother, as the girl studies ballet and we learn of her and her grandmother's love of yellow butterflies. The grandmother dies, but she turns into a yellow butterfly and eases the little girl's grief.

The filmmaker is so creative and I really love the unique visual arts. The story is touching and uses the butterflies in a way that nicely represents the impact of the grandmother's death on the little girl. The death of an elder can be a very traumatic time in a child's life, but this story is presented in a much warmer and creative way that lessens the sadness of the story. It's a short 2D animated movie and the whole presentation is very creative with fabulous angles showing various points of view. Every part of the story is visualized very well. For example, the connection of the grandmother's death with the butterflies, is very creative and strongly connects to the theme of the story. The backgrounds have a clipart-like feel to them, and the colors are especially vibrant, which can get a child hooked on the film very quickly. I really like the music - it is very simple, and fits the theme of the story very well. It is also very soft and that softness fits the sadness of the death of the grandmother, adding a touch of tenderness. The protagonist of the story, the little girl, changes through her grandmother's death and her transformation into a butterfly, thus the girl's initial sadness becomes acceptance of her loved one's death and allows her to move on with her life happily. The way the character is presented in this story is a good way to show the perception of death for a child. My favorite scene is when granny becomes a butterfly. This scene is so creative and starts the whole story. This short film is really creative and educational.

The film's message is about the love between grandma and granddaughter.

The story follows a little girl who dresses up as a fairy. When she does so, her older brother tells her that fairies aren't real. She decides to teach him a lesson and show him that, in fact, fairies are real.

This film is very heartwarming. The two kid protagonists (Mila Diaz, Niko Diaz) are quite something. The little girl is absolutely adorable and I loved seeing her teach her brother a lesson. She is so feisty. The storyline is cute but it is a bit confusing. And there is very little dialogue. The plot is pretty obvious, and the little sister gets the upper hand in the end, which is very cute and humorous. The quality of the video is incredibly clear and really makes the film. There are a few close-ups that are well placed and accentuate the different characters. Some camera work is a bit shaky during the scenes where the characters are walking. The costumes work well, especially the little girl's fairy costume. The forest location is gorgeous and quite a bit of the film takes place there. The trees are so tall and the rich green colors surrounding the characters is striking. The background music is a critical part to this film, since there is very little dialogue. The music drives a lot of the action and gives the film a mysterious energy, especially during the scenes with the fairy - it gives her a very ethereal feeling. It's definitely worth a good laugh, especially for siblings that can relate to it. The film's message is to respect other people's ideas and opinions.

The storyline is about a slave girl called Ping (Mayalinee Griffiths), who dreams about meeting dragons. Her dream comes true, but one of the magical creatures dies and she goes on a quest to save the dragons and hatch the last imperial dragons' egg. Joining her is a dragon (Bill Nighy) as her protector and a funny "very helpful" mouse. She soon finds out that she has mystical powers and learns to use them to stop bad guys who want to steal the egg and use its powers for evil.

I really enjoyed this film. It's an animated film with special effects. It also has lots of humor - there are all sorts of humorous scenes like my favorite, where the mouse tries helping. He marches up to the big fight against something 2,000,000 times his size. Another fun scene is when he rolls the egg away from the bad guys. The movie is also sad and heartfelt because one of the dragons dies. The visual effects are great and really stand out. For example when one of the dragons heals Ping's wound with the power of the egg as shown in the trailer. I do have to admit that some parts of the movie are a little childish. For example, there is a scene about 30 seconds long of two kids blowing raspberries at each other.

The film's message is "you can do whatever you want; only you decide your destiny."

I give Dragonkeeper 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It is available on digital in the US now and opens in theaters in UK & Ireland on September 27, 2024. I hope you enjoy it.

The storyline follows a girl who has a pencil that is now dead and she calls it useless. She has a flashback showing her as younger with the pencil. Then she experiences a lack of thoughts (her project) and has visions of her pencil everywhere- in the book, cooking pot, and bathroom. Finally she learns that it's okay to miss things and grieve for something you loved because it helps you move on.

I really enjoyed the movie and I believe that children and parents will too; plus, it gives a good message. I really appreciate the camera work. I like how the camera zooms in to the most important thing in every scene. My favorite one is when they are in the kitchen and she sees pencils. The camera zooms in to the pencils, then her reaction, then the pencil again, then the reaction again. I really enjoyed the flashback because it contributes to the plot in a good way and helps the viewer see what the short film is about. The film is amazingly well written and the other aspects of the production are quite good. The costumes go well with the timeframe and the story line. My favorite costume is the one in the flashback. I like her artistic outfit and it goes well with the film. The sets suit the story well. The set that I really like is the animated one when she is throwing the paper. It includes the world, the Eiffel Tower and space. It stands out the most because it is cool and funny. The background music is well chosen; though there are a lot, my favorite one is the background music played in the kitchen. It really brings tension and suspense to the film. This movie used a lot of effects; they are not realistic, but they bring excitement to the movie so they are effective. My favorite one is the coffee pot, which made me laugh. The main character is an illustrator, (Lucia Schaab), who goes through a character change by ignoring her grief, which makes her lose ideas and go through not being able to move on, to finally embracing the grief which allows her to move on and accomplish things. My favorite part of the film is when the paper is thrown across the world and the animation takes us 'round the world. That is funny and cool. This could be considered an educational film, because it teaches people that grieving something that is lost is the best way to move on.

The film's message is about how grieving for something you used to love is the best way to move on to something new. Be aware that the film talks about death, although in a good way, but it could be a sensitive topic for some kids.

The storyline follows a young alchemy student who attempts to solve issues with his mentor's greatest creation without getting caught.

I really enjoyed the film and I think it's perfect for younger kids. It begins with the master making a potion and he keeps messing up. His young apprentice tries to help and when the master tells him to go away the boy gets sad. The 2D animation is very good; it's bright and colorful and well designed. This could easily turn into a longer film because it holds up well. There is no dialogue, only computer-like sounds. The backgrounds are excellent. The kingdom is so colorful and beautiful. The characters are all designed very well; it definitely brought to mind the classic Disney film, The Sorcerer's Apprentice - without the whole craziness of that. What I like most is when the apprentice is able to get the potion right. The apprentice is the most interesting character to me; he starts out sad because the master won't let him help, but after he fixes the potion, he's happy, even though the mast still doesn't let him help. My favorite part of the film is the cute little frog. I like when the scene zooms into the frog after it jumps out of the cauldron and the frog is glowing. I kept watching the frog after the credits.

The film's message is that helping does not always mean you get a reward but it still makes you feel good.

Up and Away is a short animated film that follows a journey by a young girl and boy through space in a quirky looking spacecraft exploring the universe.

This film is fairly esoteric and leaves much to the viewer's imagination. This non narrative film, by Edward Ramsay-Morin, is well crafted although I need to point out that the animation is limited. The two child characters look like cutouts from a Dick and Jane reader and are not animated. They travel about without any movement from their bodies or mouths, which can be an issue for younger kids. The kids travel past various objects in space - rocks, piles of blue things. The film begins and ends with a face floating in space and it's unclear exactly what that face represents. One of the key characters is a bird who appears early on and later, attacks Dick and Jane's craft with lightning bolts. The bird doesn't have any motion in its body either, it moves as a still image across the screen. The bird's attack is odd and we have no idea what it is all about or why it is attacking Dick and Jane. Once the spacecraft crashes other birds appear and attack the "big" bird until it disintegrates and, la voile, the craft rises to continue its journey and the face reappears - perhaps happily so? The score, by Trent William Hanna, is well designed also. It consists of various pieces of music assembled into sort of a musical collage that helps create the mood of the film.

The film's message is to never get too off-guard because there could always be an obstacle.

Two scientists, Mark Langry and Amy Hassett are joined by an alien Muppet character named Zoom and they go on a fun, educational adventure exploring different aspects of climate change. The main issue to solve is how greenhouse gasses severely increase global warming and climate change. They team up with some elementary students to conduct experiments and teach kids about climate change by making greenhouses. This is from Ireland, with dialogue that has a lovely Irish accent to it.

The show's pace is really quick because it tries to fit a lot of information into a short period of time. I like how the animation shifts to realism and back again to animation. It is very upbeat and positive, without talking down to kids or being trivial. There are three main characters - Mark Langry, Amy Hassett, and the alien named Zoom, voiced by Charlie Wolfe. Mark and Amy focus on explaining things very clearly using vocabulary that is appropriate for school aged kids. The three adventurers begin observing the Earth from their spaceship, which is cleverly created using greenscreen technology and animation. Later, they zoom down to Earth to visit kids at a school. Amy is in a wheelchair, but that never restricts her participation in any way. I love the animated props they use, because everything looks futuristic, but based on technology we are familiar with today. I love the part when their spaceship lands in the school yard. My favorite part is when two elementary students conduct a science experiment based on greenhouses. It reminds me of PBS Kids shows. I love the music at the end. It's fun and completely dance-able.

The film's message is that humans need to stop destroying mother nature because it's leading to not so good things on Earth like global warming and climate change.

The story, told solely through 2D animation, follows a young girl who receives a dress that is a bit too big for her, but she adapts and ends up wearing it in various ways for some time. Eventually, she takes it to a thrift shop and next thing we see is another girl enjoying the dress.

I love the sweet and simple animation and the film's message - recycle, reuse, donate. It brings home a message about making things last and, when they no longer work for you, to pass them on to someone new. The background music is perfect and non intrusive. The characters are well drawn and easy to relate to, no matter what your background is. This would make a perfect interstitial for a KIDS FIRST! film festival.

The film's message is about reusing and recycling the materials things in our lives.

The story follows a Komodo Dragon who aspires to be a "real" dragon and admires one she has seen. She goes to great lengths to create wings so she fly! And accomplishes it, but not for long. Dejected, she lands back on the ground, only to be surprised by the real dragon coming towards her on foot to hang out with her. Together they fly with Koru on the real dragon's back, showing us how things can work out in the end. I love the animation; it's quite beautiful. The narrator's voice is perfect for this short animated tale and the background music works well also.

The film's message is that we all can be who we are and fit right in with others. We don't need to try to be something we are not.

Hi Noel follows a shy young boy, Leon (Zane Asher Quek), who is very sad because he realizes that his parents might be headed towards a divorce. As his parents argue with each other, Leon feels a sense of loneliness and he creates an imaginary friend for himself named Noel (Oscar Ow). Noel is the perfect friend that Leon needs during this tumultuous time. Together, Leon and Noel take off on an adventure trying to get his parents back together and, eventually they end up getting trapped in a room. When Leon's parents look for him they finally work together and it changes everything. The dialogue is in Mandarin Chinese and English, with English subtitles as needed.

This is a great film that addresses a difficult topic - divorce. It is very suitable for school aged kids and their parents. The production levels are quite good with excellent camera work and audio recordings and a great soundtrack. I especially like the beginning when a number of kids are interviewed; they are very real and charming. The stars of the show are Zane Asher Quek and Oscar Ow, who play the two boys. They are absolutely adorable. The parents, played by Jaime Teo and Dylan Quek, are also quite good. They seem like typically busy and distracted young parents. When the mom asks Leon who he would live with if they separated, she is surprised to hear him say, "Daddy." And the reason why? Daddy plays with him.

I like the scene when we first learn that Leon has an imaginary friend. Although it is sad, it contributes to the story and introduces the stress of his home life where his parents fight a lot and are headed for divorce. I enjoyed watching him play soccer with his imaginary friend and when they wander off to the park. Later when Leon learns that another girl at school also has an imaginary friend, it vindicates his own. The background music is excellent; it really enhances the tone of each scene and brings home the emotional context. I especially love the circus sounding music when Leon and Noel head to the playground. And, it really emphasizes the sadness in the scene where the parents have finally acknowledged they are divorcing and individually are packing up their stuff. This film doesn't hold back on the issues causing unhappiness in this family. We see how the relationship between the parents has become physically abusive in addition to being mentally abusive. We see Leon blaming himself for his parents' behavior and thinking he should run away so they could be happy. It drags a bit past the midpoint, but picks up again and the ending is a happy ending. I enjoyed seeing the transition the mom and dad make as the film progresses. They finally stop fighting and focusing on themselves when they have to work together to find their child and, somehow in the midst of that, remember what they mean to each other. It may be a bit of a far-fetched ending because we all know that relationships are complicated, but who doesn't love a happy ending?

The film's message is about working out your issues for your family, because family is important.

In LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, the entire Star Wars galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artifact called the Cornerstone from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into adventure in a new, wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy is full of comedy, action and incredible animation. This show is filled with heart, laughter, and the important message of believing in yourself. It is a family friendly special and for fans of LEGO or Star Wars this is a must watch. I could not take my eyes off the screen. The animation and visuals are stunning - I love when the light sabers light up and the flying sequences are awesome. They could not have picked a better cast to voice these characters. It features the vocal work of Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Gaten Matarazzo (Sig Greebling), Bobby Moynihan (Jedi Bob), Tony Revolori (Dev Greebling), Marsai Martin (Yesi Scala), Michael Cusack (Servo), and Ahmed Best (Darth Jar Jar). The writing is so smart and funny. I think this movie will create a whole new generation of LEGO and Star Wars fans because it has something for everyone.

This film teaches you to believe in yourself and to embrace teamwork.

I give LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. You can watch LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy on Disney+ beginning September 13, 2024 on Disney +.

The storyline follows a young woman, Larkspur, whose town is hit by an earthquake and, in the midst of the confusion, a mysterious cavalryman appears. Larkspur has the gift of healing people and cures the young man of his injuries only to discover eventually that they have shared skills, which may just save her town from complete oblivion. This is a pilot for a new animated series.

Great animation - simple and straightforward, and quite charming. The characters are interesting and well developed. The storyline begins here and has a cliff-hanging ending. The voiceover talent is excellent; each character is well defined by the individual voices. The background music is reminiscently medieval which suits the story.

The film's message is yet to be determined, but we can see from this pilot that it's about chivalry and taking care of your community.

Eli, a "social" scientist, conducts a laboratory in which children (and adults) can learn how to acquire personal characteristics that enable them to problem solve effectively. She and Pau, her little assistant, help Tino understand why he feels angry and uncommunicative, and then work out a way to put things to rights with his friends.

This film's storyline presents quite sophisticated values. Many of these words, let alone their meanings, are likely to be unfamiliar: sociability, solidarity, loyalty, honesty, dignity, excellence, and love. In the play land of Living Water, children can create scenarios that are analogous to their own difficulties and then work them out in a safe space free of condescension and judgment. By and large, these values are presented in terms of absolutes: things are black and white, right and wrong. Perhaps this is a good starting point for young hearts and minds, and later they can explore the many shades of gray that are less than moral imperatives.

This movie uses live actors as well as animation. Eli and the children discuss Tino's dilemma, choose a value to apply, and select toy characters to participate in an animated play scenario. Animated characters are simple and colorful, appealing and recognizable, which provides a nice contrast to philosophical complexity. The film's spoken language is Spanish, and there are noticeable misspellings and translation errors in the English subtitles. Also, the subtitles are in a white font which makes them difficult to read when superimposed on the film.

Children will find all the rows of colorful glass jars in the laboratory appealing, as each of them contains a particular value. Eli literally feeds the chosen value, which looks like a glistening orb of sticky candy, to Tino...the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. After every segment exploring a particularly suitable value, there is a lively song to reinforce understanding. They are subtitled in Spanish (as well as English) so children can read and sing along. Music reinforces memory.

Tino is the character showing the most development. He begins the story sullen and untalkative because he is in a pickle. As he is drawn out by Eli, then given values and an understanding of how to apply them to his situation, he becomes more and more invested in the play scenarios. In the end, Tino decides for himself how he is going to handle cleaning up his own mess--no adult has handed him the script. Eli does give him a Love candy to share with his friend who will probably be mad about the outcome, but that's the extent of adult intervention other than providing the tools to create his own solution. That's a great lesson in empowering children while still keeping the gentlest guiding hand on the rudder.

I appreciate the smooth transitions from live actors to animation. I especially admire the parsing out done when presenting an explanation of Dignity. The music box ballerina, who spurned the affection of the Count, was required to pose like a statue for 60 minutes in order to participate in his dance pageant. Solomon, the wise toy elephant, asks her if she has reconsidered, and she steps off the timer with five minutes remaining. "Dignity is the limit you put on being offended. On being disrespected. And you should never allow that," explains Solomon to all her friends. He makes a fine distinction between being tested or being humiliated. In my opinion, this is a rich lesson for young children to understand, especially since there's such a prevalence of trendy "dares" on social media. Dares humiliate. Solomon also knocks out false dignity: acting dignified because someone has called you out on your questionable behavior. This lesson helps children calibrate their internal compass.

The film's message is: acquiring a set of personal values is like having a rainbow to chase away the storm clouds: the more values you have, the better decisions you can make.

The film shows various creatures, including frogs, ladybugs, caterpillars and axolotls that go through metamorphosis. However, this is also a metaphor for growing up and going through the different stages in life. The different animals go through different phases to find their true self, just like people.

I recommend this film for a youth and family film festival because it's a visually appealing film that has a deep message behind it. I like that the story uses nature to describe something that humans can relate to -- change. Animals go through metamorphosis and, in their own way, humans morph through adolescence. I like that each animal develops to its true self in the end. I love the claymation; it is very encapsulating, creative and well-made. For instance, when the axolotl (a type of salamander) is coming out of the water, it starts as a little piece of pink clay to become a full amphibian in just a few frames. The quality of the camerawork is quite good. The animated creatures change in many different ways. For example, the ladybug's haircuts change when the narrator says "going through phases." Another example is when the caterpillar goes into a cocoon and then changes into a monarch butterfly. The backgrounds are quit inventive and perfect. Whether there are real rocks or a paper replica in the underwater scene, the background looks so realistic. Since frogs are aquatic creatures, they have underwater backgrounds illustrated by flat paper. Also, when a frog jumps into the water, the "splashes" are pieces of clay against a blue background. The sound effects are amazing because they're timed perfectly to make it look like an amphibian splashing and swimming in water. An example is when the fully developed frog jumps onto a lily pad. So, the water sound effects definitely enhance the story. All of the characters are so interesting and their characters develop throughout this two minute film. Ladybug goes through phases before finding out who she really is and she learns to be herself. Frog morphs from tadpole to frog over time, and aspires to be stronger. Axolotl doesn't want to grow up, but discovers a whole new world when she does. Caterpillar is impatient but learns to soar and not take the moment for granted. All the characters grow by the end of the film. I am astonished that this is written, animated, and directed by twelve-year-old Bryn Wright. It really shows that kids can do incredible things and follow their passions. She should be proud; the film is very original and inspiring. My favorite part is at the beginning when the tadpole changes into a frog. The tadpole swims around and changes form in each frame. I love the water sound effects in the background. It's my favorite part of the film because I can tell a lot of hard work went into making the clay models by hand - and I know how tedious it is to make stop motion animation. This film is perfect for an entry into a student film festival and shows what an extraordinary film can be made by a young creative.

The film's message is about finding yourself through life's obstacles and embracing change. Transition can be difficult and the film reminds the audience to be patient and "wait a while."

The storyline is about Analise (Inez Hubbard), a new girl at school, who has a very important secret. Her friends want to find out what the secret is and end up making tragedies happen.

I like that this film only lasts a few minutes and yet, I quickly managed to understand what it was about. The film is five minutes long and in the first two minutes, I managed to capture the message of the film. The camera work is very good. There is a scene that impressed me in this regard where one of Analise's friends is entering her house and I couldn't even notice the transition. The costumes are casual contemporary clothing, which are suitable for the story. The locations work well - both the school and Analise's home. The background music is essential to the film; in certain parts, such as when a friend is running to her house, the background music is frightening, which matches what the girl is feeling. The girls' performances are incredible. They are super natural. And they have great development too. The friends Ellie (Ellie Maxwell) and Florence (Arya Whitney) go from being suspicious to being frightened by Analise's secret throughout the film. Their performances in this change of thought are very perfect. The director of the film, Iris Taylor is actually a 12-year-old young film. She worked in collaboration with the Whole Life Learning Center classmates. My favorite part is where we discover Analise's secret. It definitely took me by surprise and I had never seen anything like it in any film. It is very creative and it makes me create crazy theories about this secret even now.

The film's message is, do not trust everyone you think you can trust.

The storyline follows a young boy named Jack (Grey Bahat Stolarz), who is grieving the loss of his father. Jack's mother, Nancy (Chelsea Alden), brings him a special picture book to read about an enchanted swing on a hilltop that mirrors the ups and downs of his own feelings during a time of loss.

The Mood Swing's emotional message will reach anyone experiencing a loss or other hardship, whether mental or physical. The production is excellent! The animation, combined with the live-action shots, makes it an intriguing and enchanting experience. I like how the film not only retells the book, but has a story within a story. Jack has his own conflict, separate from the boy in the book - the book simply helps Jack cope. The book has significance to Jack because of his ordeal, so the film shows a real, relatable kid reacting to what he sees in the book and a mom who has chosen it for a specific reason. All that adds a layer of depth to the film and makes it seem more authentic and less like a straightforward reading of the book. I was very impressed by the animation. It has a unique, 3-dimensional style, and the images are bright, colorful and detailed, creating a magical world that I love. I felt like I was flying up to space with the characters.

The live-action portion of the film takes place in Jack's bedroom at night. His bedroom features telescopes, lava lamps, dinosaur statues and posters, and soft ambient lighting that gives it a cozy feel. Despite being a very stereotypical boy's bedroom, it has a peaceful glow to it that adds to the charming, dreamlike tone of the film. The background music immediately stood out to me, as it is the first thing I heard as scenes in his bedroom take place. The tinkling sounds are reminiscent of a lullaby or a child's music box, or even a rotating mobile above a baby's crib. It put me at ease immediately, as if I was getting ready to hear a bedtime story. The live-action shots have plenty of special effects, including beams of light from the book, stardust swirling around Jack and Nancy as they read, and quicksand that shakes Jack's bedroom, nearly swallowing his bed.

I like the way that Nancy reads the story in a way that engages not only her child, but the film's audience as well. Her voice matches the emotions of the book's characters, and I could tell that she, like Jack, was fully captivated by the story and was experiencing it, rather than simply reading the words. Nancy has a maternal presence, with a graceful air that I found instantly calming. Jack's character is also worth mentioning, as there is a significant difference between the way he acts before and after Nancy tells the story. At the beginning of the film, Jack is tense and somewhat upset but, as he becomes engrossed in the book, he relaxes and seems at peace by the end of the film, as though it has reassured him.

One thing from The Mood Swing that will definitely stay with me is the music. The gentle twinkling reminds me of the magic of being a little kid, when your imagination could take you up to the stars or to a land of fairies if you just closed your eyes. This is exactly where Jack is as well - his imagination allows him to live inside the book, and to resonate with the book character on a deeper level. My favorite part of this film is the animation. I was especially impressed by the shot showing Nancy and Jack holding the book while animated characters literally dance across the pages.

The film's message is that your emotions can make you feel as if you are losing control and sinking, but by asking for help and learning to cope on your own, you will gain it back and land on the ground.

My Little Babies is about a bunch of stuffed animals being interviewed. Each one talks about its background and tells the story of how they were given to their child. The dialogue for the short film is almost entirely in French, except for a scruffy old bear who uses sign language. There are English subtitles however.

This film is great for any kid who loves their stuffed animal. It is a simple independent film so it doesn't use the highest technology and the camerawork is a bit jumpy at the start. But the essence of the film are the interviews, so it is very much like a documentary where you get to see how the set and lighting are set up. What I most enjoyed about this film is how it humanizes the stuffed animals. It is entirely likable and charming. It is cute to see the stuffed animals moving with the help of strings and their actions match their personalities. The background stories help further define them. For example, there is a monkey who is a retired Ninja; his personality is quite spunky. The scruffy bear is quite shy. All of the stuffed animals look well-loved as they are all quite worn and scruffy. When the stuffed animals tell the story of their first day with their kid, the flashbacks show them as a new stuffed animal and now, years later, we see how worn they have become. I love this element as it makes the film so heartwarming. This film has a documentary feeling to it from the way the stuffed animals are interviewed. All the animals sit on a stool and are animated with strings, which makes it very believable that they are talking. The only sound effects that stand out are the sounds of clicking - like a camera. When the Rabbit, PinPin, talks about meeting his dad for the first time and the many adventures they have, we hear a clicking sound, like a camera, when the photos transition. That effect works quite well. There is no storyline here per se; we simply connect with the stuffed animals as they tell of their experiences with their humans. We get to learn about the relationship between the stuffed animals and their humans. My favorite character is the scruffy bear, Ouse. He is unique because he doesn't speak at all, instead he uses sign language to communicate. This makes him seem very kind and gentle.

The film's message is to cherish your stuffed animals. I'll be snuggling with mine tonight.

In the beginning we see that Beth and her younger sister Liz wake up and rival each other in a race to use the bathroom first. As they scurry to beat each other to the bathroom they do some funny and dangerous things such as Liz catapulting herself to a ceiling fan with floss. They progress through several scenarios in which the bickering continues, and the film ends with a strong lesson in sisterhood and family values.

This film will add value to the KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals with its strong message about sisterly love, family bonding and Indonesian culture. The 2D appeal and smooth animations are wonderful to watch and enjoy. I found myself laughing throughout the film as the sisters hilariously fight so hard just to be the first to use the bathroom! Their other antics are equally funny such as when Liz throws a bath bomb into the fish tank which makes a big explosion and when Liz throws a toothbrush at Beth and Beth's eyes get all fiery. I love the animation, especially at the beginning when we are introduced to the girls' room. It looks very well thought out and is very colorful. The 2D animation is phenomenal; it is very crisp with virtually no lag in the animation. It reminds me of some Disney cartoons I have watched. The film is set in Jakarta, Indonesia and the attire of the characters represents the culture well - everything is bright-colored and representative of their culture. The backgrounds are all amazing, especially those of the house interior. They look exactly what I imagine Indonesian houses would look like and they are very detailed. Even the plants and the geckos throughout the film transport me to Indonesia. The background music is also very good. The opening scene has very calm and tranquil music but soon we are transported into a more chaotic environment with music that picks up in tempo and suspense. The visual effects are also great; for example, when Liz hits Beth with a toothbrush her eyes get all fiery. When Beth sprays Liz in the face with hairspray Liz's eyes turn bloodshot. When Liz throws the bath bomb in the fish tank it makes a big explosion. These are all executed well.

The sisters both grow tremendously in the short time of the film. They start out as both being very selfish and not caring for the other. However, by the end, both Liz and Beth transform into caring sisters that appreciate each other's faults and strengths. Love for each other is ultimately what brings them back together. I have to commend the two directors, Isabelle Maria Tumboimbela and Daisha Lin Sherman for their excellent work; the animation, direction, and storyboarding shine in this film. My favorite part is when Liz gets some floss that she sees on the floor and grabs it so she can catapult onto the ceiling fan to swing to the bathroom. However, she ends up swinging back and forth until Beth turns up the fan speed. Then she starts swinging out of control!

The film's message is that, even though family members sometimes get into skirmishes there will eventually be something that grounds you to make you realize how much you truly love each other. Note that it does show kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. The scene where Liz is sprayed by the hairspray could easily be replicated.

This short animated video focuses on the concept of raising awareness in children about kindness and doing good deeds. The protagonist, Tyrion, practices kindness in a variety of situations and we see how it affects the lives around her, making Tyrion an "everyday hero."

The video demonstrates various acts of kindness in the lyrics and the visuals. It is very simple 2D animation and works well for this presentation. The idea is augmented with a lively music track by Diane Baumann, who is also the writer, director and voiceover talent of the piece. The key character is a purple dog-like character that performs random acts of kindness, such as picking up a wallet for a stranger, planting and watering seeds, carrying packages for someone and being a supportive friend - all of which make the world a better place. Doing kind things makes us all an everyday hero. The opening scene introduces the concept of everyday heroes and introduces us to Tyrion. All of the animation is well executed and very colorful. The entire video has an easy-to-follow message, appropriate for younger audiences and very positive without being cheesy. I commend the animation crew, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Singh, Gurpreet Sing, for their outstanding work. Ms. Baumann's singing is also commendable. Along with the message about random acts of kindness is one about recycling. Because Tyrion is recycling, he causes a ripple effect for all of his friends to recycle as well.

The film's message is about how spreading random acts of kindness can make the world a better place.

I give Everyday Hero 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 5. By Emma O., KIDS FIRST!

The storyline follows a young girl, Isha, who excels in all subjects at school, to the bewilderment of her instructors. The other kids love her smarty pants attitude as she puts her teachers "in their place." Then, along comes a new English teacher who beats Isha at her game and meets her head on - tit for tat.

Very well produced and delivers a great and timely message. The acting is all spot on, particularly Dipannita Sharma and Suhani, who play Mrs. Khanna and Isha respectively. Also, I have to credit the narrator for his excellent commentary which fills us in on what's going on behind the scenes. The camera work and audio recording are quite good - nothing spectacular but very suitable for this short film. The one shortcoming is the background music which doesn't quite do the film justice - it's rather bland and stock feeling. If I could make one change, it would be to use music that is a bit more contemporary and hip. I love the use of the third wall when the students directly address the camera and make comments about Isha, or the new English teacher, Mrs. Khanna. The script is cleverly written and definitely held my attention as I wondered how Isha was going to maneuver her way around Mrs. Khanna and then how Mrs. Khanna was going to maneuver her way around Isha as they dueled for control. When the script flips and Isha becomes the teacher just desserts are delivered as she learns that teachers don't go home when the bell rings and have to correct the students' work in the evening after school is out, things she never thought about before. When she becomes overwhelmed with work and shows up to class late and her classmates humiliate her, Isha's willingness to be such a smart aleck takes yet another fall.

The film's message is pretty straightforward - reminding us how hard teachers work and how under appreciated they are at time, especially by smarty pants students.

In Harold and the Purple Crayon, grown-up Harold (Zachary Levi) steps out of his book and into the real world, bringing his magical purple crayon with him. This crayon allows him to create anything he can imagine simply by drawing it. However, Harold soon discovers that life outside the pages is more complex and challenging than he ever expected. As the power of his crayon attracts the attention of those with less pure intentions, Harold and his friends must use their creativity and wits to protect both their magical world and the real one from impending chaos.

One of the standout aspects of Harold and the Purple Crayon is its stunning animation, which brings Harold's drawings to life with vivid colors and fluid movements. The film masterfully blends whimsical drawings with real-world settings, creating a seamless and enchanting visual experience. The storyline is engaging, striking a perfect balance between humor and heartwarming moments as Harold navigates his new reality. The voice acting is superb, with each character adding depth and personality to their roles, enhancing the overall viewing experience. The film's pace is excellent, keeping me hooked from start to finish, with each scene building anticipation and excitement. The creativity displayed in solving problems with the crayon is both amusing and inspiring, showing that imagination knows no bounds.

At its core, Harold and the Purple Crayon teaches us that creativity and imagination are powerful tools that can solve even the most challenging problems.

I give Harold and the Purple Crayon 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 through 12, plus adults. This film releases in theaters on August 2, 2024. Be sure to check it out.

By Ari S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I love Harold and the Purple Crayon. It's a great family movie and one that really drew me in. This film is inspired by the beloved 1955 children's book that has captivated young readers for decades. The film had me laughing out loud and imagining what it would be like to create something with my own magic purple crayon.

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. When he grows up, Harold draws himself off of the book's pages and into the physical world with his pals, Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds), where they meet a widowed mom named Terry (Zooey Deschanel) and her still-grieving son, Mel (Benjamin Bottani). Harold discovers that he has a lot to learn about real life and when the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it takes all of Harold and his friends' creativity to save both the real world and his own.

This movie is tons of fun and filled with hilarious hijinks making the impossible possible. I love the comedy, the heartfelt story, the family values and the endless imagination. I really love how they took the book and stretched it out and made it into something amusing and cinematic at the same time. I love watching Harold draw so many things throughout the movie that come to life on the big screen, like a plane, pies, a bike, a tire, and so many other things. Also, there is so much chemistry with all of the characters that you can feel it through the big screen, like when they all work together to help Harold find his dad. There are so many adventures they go on during the film. I love the scene when Harold and Moose go to Terry's workplace and things get out of hand when Harold starts drawing whatever people are looking for. This film has something for everyone - it is a family movie, with layers that adults will enjoy as much as kids.

The film's message is to believe in yourself, never stop imagining and explore your creativity no matter your age.

I give Harold and the Purple Crayon 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Harold and the Purple Crayon beginning August 2, 2024.

The storyline follows Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence) and her friend SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) while they go on an adventure in Galveston, Texas to save their home, Bikini Bottom, and all their friends. An evil scientist (Wanda Sykes) captures their ocean companions including Squidward (Roger Bumpass) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke) to clone them and sell them as pets. Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob face many obstacles such as rattlesnakes and dogs while they rescue their friends.

This film brings all the laughs! Being from south Texas, myself, I found it hilarious how Galveston is portrayed. It looks like there is sand, rattlesnakes, rolling hills and cacti everywhere which is not quite the case. I also found it funny how the scientists wear cowboy hats and boots instead of normal lab coats. Every Texas stereotype is used, including their language. You hear, "I reckon and Dagnamit," and everyone is riding a horse. Sandy Cheeks shows her love for her hometown in a big way. I love how they introduce Sandy Cheeks' family. I did not expect a secret whistle to call everyone together. I also enjoy how Sandy Cheek's family supports what Sandy wants to do since she doesn't want to be in the circus and continue in the family business.

The film's messages are about using teamwork to accomplish important tasks and a reminder that sometimes your friends are a part of your family.

I give Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. This film releases on Netflix Aug 2, 2024.

Certainly, imagination can be fun and there are some clever titles and lyrics here. The artist seems a bit more interested in the groove than the message. The structure, continuity and style of this collection come from a specific genre that the artist is familiar with, which is fine, but it lacks variety in terms of different influences musically.

I had a hard time getting drawn into the content of this album. Though the album is named Imagination Time and includes songs named for werewolves, zombies, dinosaurs and pizza, I wonder how well it connects with the target audience, but let's let the youth reviewers decide. I am curious to see what our younger reviewers have to say to this point.

Many of the lyrics feel somewhat shoe-horned into the verses. The vocalist does not have a lot of range which is not a bad thing but you have to adjust accordingly. There are certainly musical chops evident here, but knowing when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em is critical.

I give Imagination Time With Patrick 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, just because I think younger ones might find things like werewolves scary.