A young girl Kiki has finally saved up enough money to be able to buy her favorite treat, the Kool Cup. But the Candy Lady runs out. Kiki must figure out how to get her hands on the sweet treat in a kind and effective way.
The story is simple and lends itself to a clean, animated short film. The emotions of the characters are highly relatable for young kids watching the film. The animation is a high point of this short piece. Jide Johnson's past work on Cartoon Network, the BBC and Sony Animation Pictures is evident as they craft a spellbinding story through visuals. Each frame is vibrant and clear, while also not seeming too cookie-cutterish. The backgrounds are vibrant in classic cartoon style and suit the storyline. In scenes where there's no dialogue, the music conveys the feelings of the characters and sets the pace of the film; my favorite parts of the musical score were when Kiki's worry, her happiness, and her mother's surprise were each expressed solely through rhythm. Sky Raylyn Warren plays Kiki -- she's the star of the film, despite it being named for Arnecia Ward's character, The Candy Lady. Warren commits to the role and her voiceovers fit her role as a young, spunky girl. Ward's minimal screen time doesn't mean she has any less of an impact; as the only other named character, she drives the action for much of the short film. The animator deserves all the praise in the world, as does Taylor Walker who directs and produced this piece. The execution is clean and flawless! I love the ending scene with Kiki and The Candy Lady -- I won't spoil it for you, but it's really charming and heartwarming.
The film's message is that kindness and patience both pay off!
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!
A young girl Kiki has finally saved up enough money to be able to buy her favorite treat, the Kool Cup. But the Candy Lady runs out. Kiki must figure out how to get her hands on the sweet treat in a kind and effective way.
The story is simple and lends itself to a clean, animated short film. The emotions of the characters are highly relatable for young kids watching the film. The animation is a high point of this short piece. Jide Johnson's past work on Cartoon Network, the BBC and Sony Animation Pictures is evident as they craft a spellbinding story through visuals. Each frame is vibrant and clear, while also not seeming too cookie-cutterish. The backgrounds are vibrant in classic cartoon style and suit the storyline. In scenes where there's no dialogue, the music conveys the feelings of the characters and sets the pace of the film; my favorite parts of the musical score were when Kiki's worry, her happiness, and her mother's surprise were each expressed solely through rhythm. Sky Raylyn Warren plays Kiki -- she's the star of the film, despite it being named for Arnecia Ward's character, The Candy Lady. Warren commits to the role and her voiceovers fit her role as a young, spunky girl. Ward's minimal screen time doesn't mean she has any less of an impact; as the only other named character, she drives the action for much of the short film. The animator deserves all the praise in the world, as does Taylor Walker who directs and produced this piece. The execution is clean and flawless! I love the ending scene with Kiki and The Candy Lady -- I won't spoil it for you, but it's really charming and heartwarming.
The film's message is that kindness and patience both pay off!
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!
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