Watch Kids' Reviews of
CHIMALMANIMALS

ChimalmAnimals is a captivating Mexican short film consisting of five musical pieces inspired by real and imaginary animals. Performed beautifully by Trio Chimalma and accompanied by the poetry of Amaranta Caballero Prado, this multi-national collaboration--featuring composers from Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and the United States--uses acoustic music, puppetry, and a rich sonic universe to introduce contemporary classical music to younger audiences. The dialogue is in Spanish with English subtitles.

The film is well-produced, featuring excellent camerawork, crisp audio recording, and delightful animal puppets that appear whenever music is played. The pacing is full of wonderful surprises; after showcasing brilliant musical performances, the film transitions into tutorials demonstrating how each instrument is played. I was thoroughly impressed by how these accomplished musicians could imitate animal sounds through their instruments, like recreating the sounds of birds or dragonflies.

Director Carlo Olmos Carrillo (from Guanajuato, Mexico) deserves immense credit for creating such an innovative, visionary project. A true highlight is when Heather plays the clarinet to perfectly mimic a dragonfly. The setting shifts gracefully between Mexico and a modern Broadway stage, keeping the visual backdrop engaging and inspiring.

The film's message is that music has the power to connect and bring people together.

I give ChimalmAnimals 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Hafsa H., KIDS FIRST!

ChimalmAnimals is a captivating Mexican short film consisting of five musical pieces inspired by real and imaginary animals. Performed beautifully by Trio Chimalma and accompanied by the poetry of Amaranta Caballero Prado, this multi-national collaboration--featuring composers from Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and the United States--uses acoustic music, puppetry, and a rich sonic universe to introduce contemporary classical music to younger audiences. The dialogue is in Spanish with English subtitles.

The film is well-produced, featuring excellent camerawork, crisp audio recording, and delightful animal puppets that appear whenever music is played. The pacing is full of wonderful surprises; after showcasing brilliant musical performances, the film transitions into tutorials demonstrating how each instrument is played. I was thoroughly impressed by how these accomplished musicians could imitate animal sounds through their instruments, like recreating the sounds of birds or dragonflies.

Director Carlo Olmos Carrillo (from Guanajuato, Mexico) deserves immense credit for creating such an innovative, visionary project. A true highlight is when Heather plays the clarinet to perfectly mimic a dragonfly. The setting shifts gracefully between Mexico and a modern Broadway stage, keeping the visual backdrop engaging and inspiring.

The film's message is that music has the power to connect and bring people together.

I give ChimalmAnimals 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Hafsa H., KIDS FIRST!

ChimalmaAnimals is a Mexican interdisciplinary short film for young audiences featuring five musical pieces inspired by real and imaginary animals. Performed by Trío Chimalma and accompanied by the poetry of Amaranta Caballero Prado, these multi-national compositions explore play, sound, and imagination. Through acoustic instruments, puppetry, and a rich sonic universe, the film effectively brings contemporary classical music to a brand-new generation.