KIDS FIRST!
35 Most Recent Endorsements

The storyline follows California surfer Leah (Charity Rose) who must move to the dreary small town of Carterville, where she makes friends with fellow outcasts Marshy (Sean Jay) and Tessa (Amelia Salazar) to solve the town's hundreds of years' old mystery and find the lost treasure that comes with it. When the trio uncovers the truth behind the treasure's Halloween curse, they must outsmart the high school troublemakers before an evil spirit is accidentally released.

This storyline is very enjoyable - the whole concept of this mystery is very entertaining. The fact that the three underdogs work together makes it even cooler! As the trio tries to solve the mystery and find the treasure they form a truly amazing bond and each one develops their own strengths. For example, in the beginning, Marshy is a typical geek who's always scared, but by the end he helps solve the mystery and has lots of fun doing it. He learns to face his fears and this sends an awesome message to viewers. Something that really makes this film stand out is the quality. The audio is perfect; you can hear the snap of a branch. And the video is crystal clear - the quality is so coherent that it really heightens your experience and you can truly feel each scene like it's happening right before your eyes. The acting in this film is extraordinary. Charity Rose, as Leah, is perfectly cast. Charity's strong facial features really accentuate Leah's determined attitude and confident demeanor. Her acting is also incredible - there is one scene where there are spirits overtaking her, and her expressions look so haunted and out of this world, which makes that scene even better. When it comes to the plot, I can only say how much I enjoyed it from the heartfelt scenes to the action, every one hits home. There are some parts that are a bit drawn out, which make the film a bit lengthy; for example, one of the scenes displaying a search for a clue seems rather long. On the other hand, the sets are astounding; in one cave scene, there are stalagmites and stalactites that look so real. There is even lava. The lava really blew me away because it looks super life-like.

The film's message is that when you work with people you love by your side, you can do anything. Be aware that there are some dark themes in this film such as dark magic, ghosts, and evil spirits, which may frighten younger viewers.

I rate Treasure Trackers 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. Treasure Trackers will be available to purchase on Digital platforms starting October 1, 2024, just in time of the Halloween season.

By Sofia T., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I really love the film Treasure Trackers because it is a detective mystery film that leads you on a complex treasure hunt that leaves you guessing what the next clue may be or how they will get out of the next predicament.

The storyline follows a girl named Leah (Charity Rose) who is forced to move from coastal California to a small country town named Carterville. Upon starting school, she learns of the town's legendary gold hoard hidden by its founder, Silas Carter, hundreds of years earlier. She is intrigued by this legend and decides to search for the gold with her two new friends Tessa (Amelia Salazar) and Marshy (Sean Jay). The story follows this trio of middle schoolers on their quest in which they face numerous obstacles.

Early in the film, the diary of Silas Carter is stolen from the school library. This is how Leah learns about the legend and that the diary may provide clues to the location of the buried gold. This inspires her to figure out who stole the diary and to join forces with Tessa and Marshy. During their journey in search of the gold, they face many obstacles -- another group searching for the gold, others stealing their clues, and various dead ends. One of my favorite parts is when the trio ends up in a cave with a lava pit and Leah must walk along the cliff or risk dying. It's very suspenseful part that made me hold my breath. My favorite character is Tessa because she is fearless, daring, and willing to try anything. The country setting is beautiful which contrasts well with the scary scenes. The special effects are very realistic including the flowing lava and the talking raven. The spooky music definitely kept me on edge of my seat.

The film's message is "life is a blessing in disguise." In other words, although things may not seem desirable at first, they have a way of becoming exactly what you need. This film deals with aggressive behavior such as bullying which may be disturbing for younger children.

I give Treasure Trackers 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. Treasure Trackers will be available on VOD beginning October 1, 2024.

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.

When a shipping container is lost at sea during a typhoon, Roz the Robot (Lupita Nyong'o), emerges as the sole survivor on an island with nothing but wildlife. Programmed to complete a task, she has to learn to understand and interact with the animals there and she struggles with connecting and acceptance. Her journey takes a turn when she assists an orphaned goose, Brightbill, (Kit Connor) and gets help from a fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal). Every new and confusing experience shifts Roz's programming as she experiences things she was never programmed to imagine and finds a new way to live.

I enjoyed the humor of this film from DreamWorks Animation. The writing is great. The absurd, yet accurately dark humor, parental comments from Pinktail, a mother opossum, (Catherine O'Hara) are so relatable. Her shocking statements make her character so enjoyable. The animators illustrate the emotional reactions of island animals to perfection. Roz's help initially causes more chaos than assistance. When Roz sees a beaver building a damn, rather than help build it, her programming tells her it's an obstacle and she destroys it. The beaver's response is priceless. The confusion and disbelief when Roz provides a sticker communicating that the task is complete is hysterical. These moments contribute to the humor and build on the character development of The Wild Robot as we watch her struggle to connect with the animals on the island. Her adventures with Fink and Brightbill create bonding moments and we see how belonging, acceptance and connection can be influenced by kindness.

The Wild Robot provides an uplifting message of how belonging and acceptance come from one's heart. It successfully shows how kindness and caring are valued by all. Parents and viewers should be aware there are flashing and strobe lighting effects, loud noises and dark humor, which may be unsuitable for some viewers.

I give The Wild Robot 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. The Wild Robot releases in theatres on September 27,, 2024.

Emma O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I love The Wild Robot. It is beautifully animated, heartwarming and has powerful messages about stepping out of your comfort zone, being brave, kind, and showing compassion for others.

From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown's beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot. The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot named Roz, that is shipwrecked on an island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.

This movie is amazing. I really love that it explores the importance of self-discovery, the bridge between technology and nature and the question of what it means to be alive and connected to all living things. The film has the most beautiful animation I have ever seen. The colors of the island and forest look so realistic and I like the way the animals talk. I appreciate the scene when Roz is teaching the orphaned gosling how to fly. The music goes so well with this particular scene and clearly emphasizes the idea of learning how to soar on your own and doing things you did not think were possible. The Wild Robot stars Lupita Nyong'o as Roz the robot. It's remarkable how she is able to change her voice to sound like a robot, but with feeling and so much emotion. Pedro Pascal voices Fink the fox and he is devious and incredibly loving. Catherine O' Hara voices an opossum, Pinktail and she mothers with a sense of humor. Kit Connor voices BrightBill, the gosling who is adorable and so funny.

The Wild Robot is full of comedy, heart, bravery and incredible animation. It is a heartwarming movie with powerful messages about trying new things, showing compassion for others and how a mother's love is unconditional.

I give The Wild Robot 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. This film has something for everyone. It made me leave the theater with a smile on my face and wanting to see it again immediately. You can watch The Wild Robot in theaters September 27, 2024.

By Carter P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The beloved award-winning children's book, The Wild Robot, comes to life in a visually stunning feature film. The Wild Robot movie highlights what it really means to be alive and connected to others in a family and in a greater community. This animated drama is sure to become a classic in the family genre and appeals to young and old alike.

The Wild Robot is an animated drama that tells the tale of Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), a robot who finds itself stranded on a remote island inhabited only by animals as Roz searches to find a purpose. Roz is programmed to find a task, and without humans to direct it, activates "learning mode" so the animals or organisms in that environment can be understood. Along the journey of self-discovery, Roz becomes the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling (Kit Connor). In accepting the task to take care of the gosling "unit," Brightbill, Roz connects with both predators and prey in the island eco-system and, in turn, finds the home where she belongs. Even though Roz doesn't have the programming to be a mother, she learns that there is no manual or predetermined path to nurture another life.

DreamWorks Animation has done it again, adapting a wonderful book to the big screen. There are many fun and delightful characters which bring to life the humorous situations that develop in this story. I really enjoyed the interaction between Roz and her new fox friend, Fink (Pedro Pascal). The cleverness in their developing relationship is shown by both Lupita and Pedro, along with other talented cast members including opossum Pinktail (Catherine O'Hara), goose Longneck (Bill Nighy) and my favorite, the curmudgeon beaver Paddler (Matt Berry). My favorite scenes and ensemble cast interaction is when Roz teaches Brightbill how to fly and when the diverse animals work together on the island. The voice contributions of the entire cast match the quality of the animation in this production and that is praise indeed. The Wild Robot is written and directed by Chris Sanders and he really builds the emotion and characters as he masterfully creates this memorable film. The film's production is really beautiful - I would be remiss if I did not mention the Art Direction by Ritchie Sacilioc as well as everyone who contributed to the art, sound, music, animation and visual effects in this movie.

The film's message is that kindness is a survival skill; and isn't that a timely message. Roz becomes more than what she was programmed to be; after all she was not meant to ever feel anything. The Wild Robot is an interesting exploration about the adaptation of technology in the natural world and how life evolves through adaptation. Roz discovers love and a sense of community which helps Roz truly find her way home.

I give The Wild Robot 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18 and, of course, adults will enjoy the message and storyline as well. It is available in theaters September 27, 2024, so don't miss this heart-warming tale!

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.

The plot follows a boy named Oke who meets an elderly fairy and travels through time on a journey that impacts his view of life. Oke is given the responsibility to save his culture from being forgotten in the technology-filled future. Humans have destroyed nature by building large skyscrapers on top of the native land and Oke develops a sense of knowing what is to come and tries to stop it. He helps the fairy find her children and, along the way, her children give Oke gifts that will help him in the future.

I found the story line very engaging and entertaining. There isn't a dull moment! The story takes a regular boy on a journey with divine beings, while relating to Filipino culture. It's adventurous, cultural, funny, and visually appealing. The animation is incredible with a very unique style that I have never seen before. The backgrounds are suited to Filipino culture. The architecture is traditional, such as the nipa huts. They are often blurred in order to focus our attention on the character speaking in the foreground. One captivating scene is when Oke visits the modern day world and the background zooms out but the focus zooms in on Oke. This sets an emotional focus. Nature plays a significant role in the film, including tropical forests and rice paddies, which were found in that area historically. The color of the sets changes depending on the scene. For instance, when Oke visits the modern day city, everything is dark with splashes of bright pinks and blues. However, in Oke's day, the colors are golden and natural. The difference of the colors contrasts the time difference very well. The costumes suit the culture and the story -- the girls wearing baro't saya and balintawak, which are Filipino dresses. At some points Oke wears a salakot, a traditional Filipino hat. The background music helps enhance the mood, switching from exciting to daunting depending on what's needed.

The main voice actors are Sigmund Roy Pecho (Oke), Margie Moran Floirendo (Impong Grayat), and Adrienne Vergara (Lola Basyang). The writer, Christine Bellen-Ang, has created a script that goes back in time but still relates to every one today. She captures the true meaning of the film through her clever writing but also doesn't fail to keep it entertaining. Kudos to her. My favorite part of the film is the animation. It's so unique, vibrant, and detailed. The animation really sets the film apart. It emphasizes the character's expressions and also supports the storyline by spotlighting certain scenes. The animation is carefully and has a lot of attention to detail. I really appreciate how the film recognizes Filipino culture with an invoking message.

The film's message is about respecting the environment, honoring your culture and working hard for what you believe in. It is demonstrated in Oke who helps save the land, works very hard every day, and respects his elders and his heritage.

The story follows a young girl who moves in with her grandmother and soon discovers a tiny boy living in the basement, no bigger than a finger. The boy possesses a magical amulet, which sets them off on an extraordinary adventure that alters both their lives in unexpected ways. Together, they explore new worlds, confront challenges, and form a strong bond, all while unraveling the amulet's powers. Their journey is filled with magic, friendship, and personal growth.

The film is a bit odd, but its unique animation style and cinematography would appeal to younger creatives. What I like most about the film is how the storyline blends elements of whimsy and magic, reminding me of movies like Thumbelina and the Arthur series. The idea of a tiny boy living in the basement with a magical amulet adds an adventurous and fantastical layer to an otherwise simple premise. I also appreciate how the story focuses on the bond between the girl and the boy, making their journey not just about external challenges, but also about their emotional growth and friendship.

The animation style is cool and unique, making it appealing to younger audiences. The animation stands out with its distinctive use of paper figures and vibrant colors, creating a visually engaging experience. The one aspect that is a drawback is the lack of movement of the characters for the most part and also, that their mouths don't move when they speak. I do like that the animators use stop-motion techniques to make the characters move at times, with a charming, handcrafted feel. Their facial expressions are similar to classic anime, adding emotional depth and humor, especially during key moments like when the tiny boy discovers the amulet's powers.

The costumes are simple and basic, fitting well with the minimalist design of the characters. Since the characters are made of paper, their attire is represented through vibrant colors rather than intricate details. For example, the young girl wears a plain dress in bright colors, which helps her stand out against the simple backgrounds. The boy's tiny, finger-sized appearance is matched with equally straightforward attire, emphasizing his small size and magical nature. While the costumes don't carry elaborate designs, they suit the whimsical and magical tone of the story perfectly. The backgrounds are simple yet effective, with minimal detail, allowing the focus to remain on the characters and their magical journey. The lighting is particularly well done, enhancing the vibrant colors and giving a soft, glowing feel to scenes like when they first activate the amulet. The background music plays a significant role in setting the magical and adventurous tone, but at times it overshadows other audio elements like dialogue and sound effects. For example, during the first encounter between the girl and the tiny boy, the music swells in a way that distracts from their dialogue, reducing the impact of their initial bond. While the music fits the mood, better balance would enhance the overall experience.

The characters in this animated film are brought to life with distinct personalities and emotional depth, thanks to the voice acting of Anja H�vik Str�msted, who plays several key roles, including Blossomele, Wahkeen-Lee, Grandma, The Hare, The Neighbor, and Baddle-Bart. The voice acting on some level is odd, as each character has a different personality that needs to be embodied by one person. The behind-the-scenes contributors of this animated film have made notable contributions that elevate its unique style and storytelling. The director stands out with the way they blend various animation techniques, like paper animation and stop-motion, to create a visually distinct world that feels fresh and engaging. The decision to use vibrant colors and exaggerated facial expressions to enhance character emotions is a testament to their creative vision, helping to make the film appealing to younger audiences. My favorite part of the film is the scene where Blossomele and Wahkeen-Lee first activate the magical amulet and are transported to a vibrant, mystical world.

The film's message is about the power of friendship and self-discovery. Through Blossomele and Wahkeen-Lee's journey with the magical amulet, the story highlights how forming connections with others can lead to personal growth and reveal new possibilities. It emphasizes that, even in the midst of seemingly ordinary circumstances, there is magic to be found when we embrace new experiences and build meaningful relationships.

The storyline follows a young girl, Jaz (Leah Park), who doesn't want her step dad, Lloyd (Garfield Wilson) to join her family so she tries to make her friends steal some of his stuff - but they end up not going along with it and actually liking him.

The plot is a bit confusing. It is a story about the child of divorced parents who doesn't want change in her life. Although the film doesn't offer anything new in terms of blended families, the story plays out well and is well developed from writing to execution. Plus, I love their very diverse group of cast and crew. The production values are quite good. I particularly enjoyed the varied camera angles, showing different points of view from the girl, her friends and the stepdad. The lighting is exceptionally well done, which is a challenge with so many indoor shots. I like the quirky movements like when the girls do cartwheels in the hall to move from one room to another. And the props are fun and slightly goofy also. The background music works - although I found it annoying at times. Jaz (Leah Park) shows noticeable growth. At the beginning she is abrupt, irate and whiney. She just wants to get rid of her stepdad - even to the point of planning to violently attack him - though her friends are terrified at that idea. As the film develops, and her friends tell her that the guy is cool, she finally manages to accept that her step dad is now part of her family and discovers that change may not be so horrible after all. The best part of the film is how they switch from young girls to adults and portray themselves as secret agents.

The film's message is that not all change is bad. It can be exciting and beneficial. It can still be hard though.

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 film is about the untold origin of Optimus Prime and Megatron. We now know that the now sworn enemies were once like brothers and their differences would create strife in their relationship. This change will forever impact Cybertron.

Going into this film I was excited but had low expectations because of the complex history of Transformers media. Transformers films in the past have often deviated from the original story that I love, however this film is unlike all the others, rooted in the origins of the Cybertron universe. I left the theater speechless at how excellent the film was. It has numerous perfectly executed moments with well paced moments. The movie introduces the lore of Transformers to new audiences rather quickly while keeping it simple, which helps someone understand everything if they are new to Transformers, while keeping long-time fans like myself happy.

The animation style is just breathtaking, I thought it would take me a while to get used to the new style but I was blown away at how colorful a planet made of metal looks. Of all the standout elements, the best part of this film is the third act, because the whole film builds up to it effortlessly, and by the time the second act ended and the third act started to kick in I was glued to my seat with my eyes locked on to the screen, excited at every moment. It had me smiling the whole way through. The hardest part for me were the voice overs, which might be a concern for long-time fans who are used to Peter Collin voicing Optimus Prime. It was a challenge for me to get to hear Chris Hemsworth's performance as Optimus Prime. While he doesn't sound like the voice we are used to, his interpretation adds a unique flare to the younger version of the character. For those of us who are concerned about the voice of Megatron by Brian Tyree Henry, there is nothing to be worried about - he kills it! I was blown away by how well he adds a new tone of voice to the character while keeping it classic. All in all, it's phenomenal casting and an amazing performance by Henry, especially in the third act. These are a few minor concerns I had. The writers, directors, and animation team knew what was best for the Transformers franchise because this film is possibly the best film of the summer, if not the best animation film of the year. It keeps what we love about Transformers while adding new elements to be excited about.

The theme in Transformers One is about how we change as individuals whether it is through ourselves or the situations we are put in. This is demonstrated by Megatron and Optimus Prime and is portrayed so well because we all know Megatron and Optimus Prime become enemies, which makes it even more engaging to find out how that happened for the very first time. The theme is touching, emotional, and impactful. You might walk out of the film feeling a little bit different after watching it.

I give Transformers One 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. This film releases in theaters September 20, 2024

By Rayce S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Gear up and roll out! I love Transformers One. It is fun, laugh-out-loud funny, has some heartfelt moments, and the chemistry between the transformers is outstanding. The film definitely kept me entertained from beginning to end. There is lots of action, incredible animation and the battle scenes are so cool.

Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, who are sworn enemies, but once were friends, bonded like brothers and changed the fate of Cybertron forever. The film is definitely inspiring. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.

Transformers One is incredibly well animated. I love how it makes the Transformers feel very human-like. The expressions on their faces are realistic and you can feel the emotions through the big screen. It made me feel like each one has a mind and heart of its own. The soundtrack, in some of scenes, brings out the right atmosphere and emotion. I love the songs during the battle scenes, especially when B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) is taking down the bad guys. This animated version features great voice actors. All of them are great, but Keegan-Michael Key steals the show! His comedy is fantastic. He kept me laughing throughout the entire movie. I also liked learning how Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry) once were friends and what happened to make them enemies. They are so good on screen together.

This film's message is about believing in yourself and doing what is right. It is very family friendly and, for fans of Transformers, this is a must watch, but even newcomers can enjoy it.

I give Transformers One 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Transformers One in theaters on September 20, 2024.

By Carter P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I love the new animated film Transformers One! It captures the excitement and action of the Transformers movies in a new light. The film allows both long-time fans and newcomers to experience its expressive animation and engaging storyline.

The plot travels back in time to the origin story of Cybertron and the beginning of the Autobots and Decepticons. Four miner bots stumble upon the greatest secret of their time. Optimus Prime and Megatron--who are current rivals--are best friends until power puts their friendship to the test. The war that becomes all or nothing is on the horizon.

The main characters are Orion Pax/Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth), Megatron/D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), Elita (Scarlett Johansson), Bumblebee/ B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key), and Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm). These actors exquisitely bring life to their characters through their voices. The beloved characters are brought into a new perspective that expresses their backstory. Before Optimus Prime and Megatron become enemies, they were best friends that worked together all the time. This part of the story is explained throughout the film and it's very intriguing. Transformers One heled me understand the origin of the Transformers. Before, I wasn't as interested in the franchise because I was confused about their mission and purpose. However, this film changes the game for me. The pacing is excellent; it's neither too fast nor too slow. The film kick starts with the lives of the miners, which is contrary to the heroic figures we've seen them as. Optimus Prime is hiding in a trashcan - can you believe it? Right off the bat, I became invested in the plot line because it shows the heroes from another point of view. Two generations can experience the joy of this fandom in different ways. In addition, the animation is breathtaking. It's realistic yet creative, bringing the out-of-this-world imagination to life in a way that wasn't possible before. The attention to detail in the animation allows the bots to show lifelike emotions. For instance, Elita's feelings of anger and awe are very recognizable. This helps connect the audience to the plot. My favorite part is when Alpha Trion shows the group what happened during the Cybertronian War. In this scene, there's a huge plot twist that affects the whole storyline.

The film's message is to be loyal to your friends and always do what is right. Optimus Prime consistently chooses the path that will benefit his friends. Leadership is another central theme. If you're given the opportunity to lead, how would you approach it? In reality, I'm not going to be a leader of Cybertron, but I am the leader of my own life. The Transformers need to learn to choose the right direction, which is an important lesson throughout the film.

I give Transformers One 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Transformers One releases in theaters on September 20, 2024.

The plot follows the magician Augustus Semprini (Cory Philips) as he performs one of his magic acts. Desperate for money, he steals a golden pin from a woman named Gertrude Cambellton (Ashton Leigh). She approaches him after the show, asking if he stole her broach. He denies her accusations, causing her to harness her witch powers and trap him inside his raincoat. The only way he can free himself is to return it. Almost 86 years pass and we meet Jack, a simple high schooler. Jack (Jake Alexander William) and his siblings come across the raincoat in their grandmother's attic. The raincoat possesses the ability to turn the wearer into the spitting image of Augustus Semprini. A seemingly normal, but mean middle school teacher, Mrs Weaver (Laura Shatkus) is not that normal after all. She is a witch, and also after the raincoat!

The humor in this movie is what I am most impressed with. My favorite scene where this is shown is when Mrs Weaver's cat puts on the raincoat and is turned into Semprini. The actor's performance really convinced me that he was a cat, just in a human body. I also love that this movie has amazing actors that can really make these scenes come to life. Along with the acting, the graphics, costumes and sets of this movie are amazing. When the setting is in the 1900s, there are fitting sets and costumes that make this film come to life. The background music is always extremely fitting. When Mrs Weaver fights Jack, there is suspenseful music to match it. And when there are happy scenes, there is jolly, happy music.

The theme of The Magician's Raincoat is that not everything is always as it seems. Augustus seems like a perfectly reasonable man, but he steals just to get money. Mrs Weaver seems like a normal teacher, but she turns out to be a witch.

I give The Magician's Raincoat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It is available for streaming beginning September 3, 2024.

By Zoey F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

What a spectacular film! The Magician's Raincoat is a magical and fantastical journey. The special effects are on point and look very realistic. The plot, sets, and script are all spectacular and organized in a way that ties the storyline together.

This story begins with a magician (Cory Phillips) performing his show in the late 1920s. He doesn't have the money to stay in the magic business so he pickpockets his attendees for money. Then, one of his victims turns his life into a disaster. So 86 years later, in present time, three siblings work together to help save the magician from an eternity of tragedy.

This film is high quality, and the plot is creative and fun. What stands out most are the camera work, acting, and storyline. The camera work is excellent and provides a variety of angles perfect for the scenes themselves. For example, when the kids are riding their bikes, the camera provides a bird's eye view that follows them on their journey. The acting is exceptional and the actors are well cast and their portrayals are believable. Olivia (Taylor Bedford) is brilliant and the actor who plays her shows this during a discussion with her science teacher (Laura Shatkus). I also like the part when the cat puts on the raincoat and "becomes" the magician; Cory Philips, who portrays him, is excellent. The story is clear, enjoyable, innovative and intriguing, providing for the overall excellent experience. My favorite part is when Jack (Jake Alexander Williams) tries to talk to his crush, Kristy (Jenna Thaxton) and is not successful, which makes for a hilariously embarrassing scene.

The film's message is that, over time, comes forgiveness, and eventually desperation. There are also strong themes of the importance of family.

I give The Magician's Raincoat 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It is available for streaming beginning September 3 2024.

This documentary covers the highlights of Gandhi's life, and his impact on the world.

This film gives a good overview of Gandhi's life and is sensitively created, using archival images and video, two live speakers (Yohuru Williams and one not identified) and narration. Daniel Taylor is not only the director, writer and producer; he is also the narrator of this film. The images are well selected, as are the speakers. The narration leaves something to be desired as it is read rather quickly without any emotion - very disappointing since the other aspects of the film are so good. The editing is quite good and the background music is inspiring. However, setting that aside, Gandhi remains one of the significant influencers of the 20th century.

The film is a reminder of Mahatma Gandhi's impact on civil rights and the influence of nonviolence resistance.

This silent film follows two middle school boys that are competing for the same girl.

Good storyline that is told without any dialogue, but we all get what's going on and can relate to it. The two boys really steal the show here, although the "girl" definitely holds her own as well. The location, at a school, works well and is something that kids will definitely relate to. This would play well at a student film festival or as an interstitial at a family film festival. It's well made - from the camera work, to the background music and the editing.

The film's message is to never presume you know what's going on with someone else, particular a classmate.

The storyline follows a kid who leads a group of other kids in attaching a Jewish boy in their class. Eventually, the kids realize how wrong this is and turn on the leader, refusing to participate.

Anti-Semitism is a form of racism that has no place in the world we live in today. As someone who has a number of Jewish friends, I was appalled at the first part of this film, watching the kids beat up on an innocent kids from their class. Fortunately, they have a wake up call and turn on the leader and refuse to participate in a subsequent hate act against this kid. The production is well shot and edited and definitely makes an important statement. This belongs in a youth film festival.

The film's message is that hate violence is just wrong.

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.

The storyline follows a young teenage girl, Newton, whose parents are dissatisfied with her grades at school in several subjects. They hire special tutors and insist that she hunker down and get A+ in those subjects instead of the B's that she was getting. Trying to please them, she does what they ask for, but her other subjects suffer as does her mental health. Finally, with some outside guidance, Newton realizes that her parents' fixation is overshadowing her own happiness.

This short film from India offers up a topic not uncommon among families, when parents put their own goals and desires ahead of their own child's. We see a father who doesn't want to take responsibility for pressuring his young daughter and a mother who doesn't stand up for her daughter. The production values are excellent, from the camera work to the audio recording, the sets and locations - all are excellent and appropriate. The plot development feels real and unravels at a comfortable pace. The only thing that made me chuckle is the hair styles of most of the women, from Newton and her mom to others. All the women have two little knots on top of their head, which reminds me of a child's fairytale book. Other than that, all the costumes and makeup are spot on.

The film's message is to talk with your family members about the stresses in their lives and accept that your child's happiness isn't based on the same things that you, as a parent, are.

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 story follows a girl who likes a boy and wants to go to the boy's pool party. She asks her mother if she can go buy a bathing suit but her mother refuses because that is her day to paint and watch trees. The girl goes to the party anyway with one of her sister's swimming suits and discovers that the guy has a girlfriend. She blames it on her mom and her mom feels so bad that she gets her a swim suite and goes to the pool with her daughter.

I really enjoyed this movie. It is cute and I think both kids and parents will enjoy it. What I like most is the development of the relationship between the mom and daughter; they have an argument at the beginning but ultimately end up happy and swimming together. I like this and it made me happy. The camera work is quite good, thanks to Jason Chiu, director of photography. One of my favorite scenes is when the girl is dancing with the bear (it's not a real bear, but a costumed character of a bear) but it shows a boy. Then, it faces the sister, but when it burns back, it's just the bear again. I really enjoyed the costumes; they match the time period and the storyline quite well. I specifically like the older sister's outfit and the bathing suit that her sister wears. I really enjoyed the locations, especially the pool at the boy's house. It contributes to the story really well. I also enjoyed the music, especially the piece when she is dancing with the boy. However, we discover that there is no music and it's not the boy, it's just the bear. It helps the audience realize that she likes the boy and then it stops when her sister sees her. The characters that develop during the course of the film are Alyssa (Reese Farley) and Joan (Jill Oliver); they go from having a lot of arguments to understanding each other and being happy. I really like the costume design by Amy Odiene, and the outfits she created. I also admire the production designer, Mariah Bennett, and particularly the pool visual at the end. My favorite part is the scene at the pool with Alyssa and Joan. Their mother / daughter bonding is heartwarming.

The film's message is that boys come and go but family is forever. It also reminds us that parent / child bonding is the best bond there is; even though you may have an argument it is always great to come together and understand each other's feelings. Be aware that it has a smoking scene at one point and the kids talk badly to their parents a bit, but nothing major.

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 story follows Franz (Jossi Jantschitsch), as summer holidays are starting. But, his two best friends don't speak to each other anymore. They have had an argument and they want him to choose sides. When his friends discover that he was hanging out with both of them at the same time they get mad at him. He conjures a plan that is based on a lie to try to bring their friend group back together, which doesn't work so well.

I really like the plot - specifically how the friends stop being friends until Franz lies to them to try to resolve their differences but ultimately, learns that honesty is the best policy. The filmmaking is pretty good; I really like the closeups with the blue light in the beginning. I also like how the camera angles vary so much when they were on the spy mission.

The sets worked really well, particularly the one in the theater. I like that one because, along with the dark lighting, it matches the song that is sung by the person Franz lied about. The background music is well selected also. While they are trying the catch the "burglar" there is a lot of spy music. Another song that stands out is at the end. It made me happy because she finally got her chance to sing in an opera. Franz's friends Eberhard (Leo Wacha) and Gabi (Nora Reidinger) have the biggest character development, as they go from always arguing to becoming good friends. Franz also develops throughout the film; he goes from being a liar and afraid to speak up for himself to being honest and speaking up for what he thinks is wrong. I commend the director, Johannes Schmid, for his work. His choice of cast members is spot on. I also like the costume designers' work. Leonie Zykan costume designs are superb, especially the burglars' outfits. My favorite scene is the one at the pool. It is really funny and stands out to me. It is also where Franz's friends catch him and get so mad at him.

The film's message is about that you should always be honest; it would save you a lot of trouble. Be aware that it contains some mild profanity and shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. I don't think it's inappropriate, but the kids sneak out of the house, go to places they don't know to catch the burglar, and that is risky behavior that kids might imitate.

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 is about differences. It follows David (uncredited), the brother of a disabled sister, whose main wish is to celebrate his birthday with a big party. He learns quickly the importance of friendship and acceptance through encounters with real and imaginary friends.

This storyline is very creative. David has a big imagination. He constantly visualizes himself having a huge birthday party with cartoon paper airplanes that would send him happy experiences. The scene transitions into his imagination are sometimes difficult to follow. I would wonder why he is wearing a cowboy hat all of a sudden. I finally realized that the paper airplanes are a clue to when the scene is no longer real life. The cinematography is well executed and creates a nice contrast between David's real and imaginary lives. His real life is dull and normal. In these scenes, he is all alone or being bullied. His imaginary life feels like a color bomb exploded on the screen. In these scenes, the camera follows the paper airplanes to an exciting party full of friends. The costumes also emphasize the differences between David's multiple lives. In his everyday life he wears a school uniform. When he transitions into his imagination, his uniform stays the same, but everyone else is colorful. He sometimes gets fun accessories like a party hat or glasses. The location is set in England, which is a perfect background for David's story. The city where he lives is quaint and paints the picture of a small town life where everyone knows everybody. The background sounds are natural noises with instrumental music playing during some transitions. There are jazzy sounds for his daydreaming that make those scenes come alive. I love when Ethan plays the harmonica and his music blends in with the background music. There is a lot of fun sound play. There are a few special effects, such as cartoon paper airplanes and the animation over real life characters. It helps to show how David imagines his perfect birthday. It also points out their differences and celebrates them. For example, Ethan's eyelashes flash at the end of the story.

The protagonist, David, struggles with feeling needed. He wishes that his mother and father would spend more time with him. David shows the roller coaster of feelings that he goes through throughout the film. His sister, Leanne (uncredited), has a disability, and David is an outcast because of it. Ethan (uncredited) becomes David's friend almost immediately in the film. He also has a hard time being accepted, but he is more outspoken about it. Ethan expresses how different he is perfectly - he wears painted nails and is expelled from school for wearing mascara. However, he doesn't seem to let it bother him. Instead, he stands up for his and David's differences. Both actors playing these roles compliment their similarities and differences.

Keeley Gainey is the writer, director and producer of this film and also plays the role of the mother. The script is inspiring and shows the importance of accepting others, even when they are different. I enjoyed the excerpts at the beginning and the end explaining why the story was created. The film also starts with a meaningful quote printed on a store balloon, "The strongest hearts have the most scars," which sets an emotional tone for the story. The imaginary birthday scenes are my favorite. For example, in one of the scenes David finds a party horn lying on the street. He picks it up, blows into it, and the scene is immediately filled with happiness.

The film's message is to accept others' differences. Each character here has something unusual about them, whether it is noticeable or not, which reminds us that everyone is different and that is something to be celebrated.

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.

The Magic Cave is about a 9-year-old boy named David (David Benni) who goes to stay with his aunt during the summer holidays. While he is there, three local boys bully him and dare him to take a test of courage and go into a "magic cave" to retrieve an object. The story follows his adventure going into the cave, why he decides to do it, and a magical encounter he has that turns the tables. This short film is from Italy with dialogue in Italian and English subtitles.

This is a bit of a coming-of-age story. The story line jumps around a bit and has a few awkward transitions, but the main theme, of David choosing to go into the cave which is rumored to have monsters that devour children, in order to preserve his identity with the bullies, is clear. The cinematography is excellent; I especially like the scenes inside the cave and those during his dream. The acting, particularly by David and Noah (Mariano Arena), is quite good. They are both adorable and believable. David is the responsible and courageous older one and Noah, who lives locally, is younger and the voice of reason mixed with fear. David starts out upset and somewhat depressed, but by the end of the movie, he becomes more confident because he has accomplished what others thought to be a courageous task.

Kudos to the film's writer and director Flavia Coffari. The production has great qualities in terms of background music by Mirko Boroni, which is well selected, especially at the beginning. It really makes you curious about what is going to happen. And the location is superb. The cave is very intriguing and the perfect place for this tale to be told. My favorite part is when David goes into the cave and finds a girl there. I also like the ending, when the bullies show up with T-shirts for everyone. It's an indication of the truce and of David and Noah being accepted by them.

The film's messages are about not being afraid and how courage will get you through difficult times.

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.

The storyline is about a turkey named Pinky Pants who wants to show people how to tame a bull. We watch how Pinky Pants unsuccessfully "tames" the bull and what happens after he is knocked out of the arena by the bull.

This is a funny, entertaining, and interesting film with a great plot and excellent animation. I really enjoyed the funny plot and every opportunity is grabbed to make the audience laugh. For example, the bull won't behave for Pinky Pants, the expert, but easily behaves for the spectators. The animation is incredible and quality is right up there with theatrical releases. The animated characters are really funny because normal features are exaggerated. For example, the gobbler hangs off to the side like a mustache. The background is perfect; it looks hot and desert-like and since the story is supposed to take place in a bull arena, it makes sense. The background music is exciting; I especially enjoyed the funny music during the funny scenes. Turkey Pinky Pants goes from believing he is the most important figure in town, but later thinks he isn't important because he can't perform his chosen skill. My hat's off to the animators, Shiva Prakash, Adithya Susila, Pothala Balaji, for their high quality animation. My favorite part is Turkey Pinky Pants' reaction to everyone else being able to control the bull when he couldn't.

The film's message is that "things are not always as easy as they seem."

This storyline is about a very organized girl who struggles adapting to change. While Abby (Maame Aadae) is getting ready for a job interview she overhears her mom on the phone and suddenly, what was supposed to be a simple interview takes a massive turn. Abby needs to babysit a young boy named Kevin (Carter Husbands) and that's where things go south. She ends up helping him learn how to manage his bullies and learns how to manage her own at the same time.

The plot is about Abby, trying to be on time as always, and now, she has to deal with an unexpected babysitting gig. Her reactions to her day are classic. I especially love the character interactions. For instance, Abby, during Kevin's training sequence, she says, "life those knees." When Abby and her mother argue about Abby having to babysit, her Mom makes it clear that Abby owes her.

The locations all look like typical middle class rooms in a home and a playground, which is suitable for the film. It begins in her bedroom, which is covered in certificates, medals, prizes, trophies, and all kinds of rewards that acknowledge her for being on time and participating. The camera quality is quite good; both interior and exterior shots are well lit and clear. The plot is the best part of the film and it's filled with humor as well as serious overtones. One scene in particular made me laugh really hard. Abby arrives at the house where she is going to babysit Kevin. As she walks through the door, Kevin freezes. She and Kevin glare at each other, like a Wild West showdown. Abby's character arc is the strong one in the film. In the beginning, Abby seems self-confident as prepares for the interview but the babysitting gets her off track. After that we watch her as she has moments of anger and strikes out at Kevin verbally, even crushing his roach. When she's faced with being interviewed by a guy who is condescending, she manages to intervene on her own behalf as he tries to bully her. By the end, her more empathetic side comes out, and she helps Kevin deal with his bully.

I want to give credit to the production team for great writing. The plot is written well and the makeup is natural to the point that I didn't even realize the actors are wearing makeup. My favorite part of the film is the montage, which is an exaggerated compilation of images showing Kevin preparing to face a bully. Kevin does pull ups on monkey bars and runs around. During this scene, Abby teaches Kevin how to roast, but it goes horribly wrong when she ends up getting offended.

The film's message is about how you should always be prepared for the worst, and that everyone makes mistakes, but it's always okay if you do so.

John Marston narrates, leading us through his process in carving a canoe and having it put on display at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. He tells us the story of the Thunderbird and the Killer Whale and shares some history from his culture as well as his personal life, revealing that he painted the Thunderbird and the Killer Whale on his canoe to honor Simon Charlie, who had done the same years earlier.

Thunderbird and Killer Whale is a wonderfully informative film with lots to offer in terms of history. The documentary centers around how a First Nations person connects with his culture. I like the way the documentary follows a chronological order of events, which makes it more like an immersive experience than an informational video. It begins with the carving of the canoe and, in the opening scene, we see a photo of a young John Marston in the middle of carving. The canoe is finished, displayed to an elementary school, and then painted once Marston comes up with the idea to paint the Thunderbird and Killer Whale. The cinematography is impeccable. The close-up shots allow the viewer to see exactly how the carving is performed, slowly chipping away at the wood using a chisel. It made me realize just how much work went into making this canoe and I definitely appreciate it more after getting to watch snippets of the long process. During breaks of the narrative, breathtaking images of crystal-clear lakes, rivers and lush green forests are displayed. These are images of Canada, Marston's place of origin. There are also close-up shots of the carving process, as well as the finished product. The quality is very clear and definitely suitable for exhibition. The background music stands out during the short spaces when there is no narrative. It is calming and soft, true to the peaceful nature of the film. Combined with the images of trees and still lakes, the music produces a very relaxing effect, like a deep breath of fresh air. I felt grounded and even more connected with nature. John Marston is an engaging speaker. He keeps an easygoing and conversational approach, especially when he is narrating the story of the Thunderbird and Killer Whale. He is a natural educator who definitely piqued my curiosity, encouraging me to learn more on my own.

My favorite part of the film is the story of the Thunderbird and Killer Whale. According to the legend, the Killer Whale lived at the mouth of a river and was swallowing up all the villagers' food and resources. The villagers called for help, and the Thunderbird swooped in and rescued them by moving the Killer Whale away from the river. Hearing the story behind the paintings on Marston's canoe gives them significance, reminding me how these images mean something and are not simply meaningless art.

The film's message is that embracing culture looks different for everyone. You may want to take part in rituals that your ancestors practiced, cook their favorite traditional meals or even interview a family member to immerse yourself in their lives. The way you connect with your past is unique, so take the lead and do what feels right to you.