ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
As much as I enjoy my job here at the paper, I fully admit there are days that end up being busier and/or more difficult than typical, and on those days, I want to do nothing more than collapse in my chair at home and find something to watch that will help me unwind from everything.
For whatever reason(s), animated shows and movies in particular help with that and in the past few years, there are some particular animated gems I’ve discovered I felt have absolutely not gotten the full attention they deserve. I’ve included movies and shows, and as always, if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to send them to me!
“Nimona”
Released by Netflix in 2023 by Annapurna Pictures, “Nimona” follows knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) who was framed for a tragic crime and ultimately teams with scrappy, shape-shifting teen Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) to prove his innocence. This movie kept showing up under the suggestions on Netflix and a few months ago, I finally decided to click on it and give it a watch. I ultimately ended up being completely blown away by the overall story, the animation (particularly in the scenes when Nimona shape-shifts) and the rock-inspired musical score. The voice work from everyone involved is also amazing, and I felt the chemistry and fun between the two leads, with Moretz in particular showing off her acting chops. If you’re looking for something a little more quirky, “Nimona” is definitely one to cue up.
“Ducktales” (2017 reboot)
This is probably the most mainstream of the entries on this list and is a reboot of the 1987 series and focuses on the lives of Scrooge McDuck and his family as they go on adventures around the world and in their home city of Duckburg. I told my family over dinner once I could probably write an entire set of essays about why I love this reboot so much, but I’ll try to pare down my reasons to fit into a newspaper column. The storylines/writing are absolutely amazing (the story of what happened to Donald Duck’s sister, Della, in particular causing a bit of heartbreak, and all of season 3 is fantastic), and the voice acting from everyone involved is top notch. David Tennant makes for an amazing Scrooge McDuck (so much so that his voice is now the only one I hear when I think of the character), and I also really enjoy Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz and Bobby Moynihan as Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck because not only do they have the comedic chops, they also give each of the triplets his own personality/identity. Kate Micucci is also wonderfully wacky as the triplets’ friend Webby Vanderquack, and I could also say the same about Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack. For some reason, this show only got three seasons, and I felt it deserved at least a couple more, because there were SO many other stories that could have been told. Overall though, if you’re looking for a good series to binge on Disney+ over a weekend, the 2017 “Ducktales” reboot should definitely be on the list.
“Kubo and the Two Strings”
Released in 2016 by Laika (the studio also behind “Coraline,” “Corpse Bride” and multiple other films), the film revolves around Kubo (Art Parkinson), a young boy who wields a magical shamisen. Accompanied by an anthropomorphic snow monkey (Charlize Theron) and a human/stag beetle hybrid (Matthew McConaughey), he must embark on a quest to defeat his mother's evil twin sisters and equally evil grandfather, the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes). I vaguely remember seeing the preview for another movie and not being entirely impressed (this is why good marketing is important!), but it later came to Netflix and I was absolutely blown away. The animation is absolutely stunning throughout the entire film (particularly the nighttime scenes), the voice work is top notch (particularly from Matthew McConaughey), and the musical score is absolutely gorgeous. Laika has yet to put out a film I ultimately didn’t enjoy, and honestly, I feel like Laika would be giving Disney a run for its money if it had those types of resources. If you’re a fan of Laika’s other films, you’d definitely like “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
“Vivo”
Released in 2021, this movie follows Vivo (Lin-Manuel Miranda), a music-loving kinkajou, who embarks on the journey of a lifetime to deliver a love song to Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), a retiring singer, with the help of a new friend, Gabi (Ynairaly Simo). I actually reviewed this movie after it was released on Netflix, and I ended up absolutely adoring it. I feel like Lin-Manuel Miranda was absolutely born to do voice work, and he also contributed to the music, so I knew that aspect would be good, and his chemistry with Ynairaly Simo is off the charts. The animation is also gorgeous throughout, and I felt almost every emotion under the sun with this movie – I laughed, I cried (particularly at the end), I felt hopeful, etc. It’s an absolutely fun movie with some great, catchy songs, and if you’re a fan of any other Sony Pictures Animation movies, “Vivo” is a good one to cue up.
“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”
Released in 2018 on Netflix, this show tells the story of Adora (Aimee Carrero), a young woman who can transform into the heroine She-Ra and leads a group of other magical princesses in a rebellion against the evil Lord Hordak and his Horde. The writing and story are really well done, particularly the relationship between Adora and her best friend-turned-archenemy Catra (AJ Michalka), and in terms of voice work, there is absolutely no weak link. The animation is also gorgeous throughout, and the theme song is also one I catch myself thinking about every so often. If you’re looking for something more fantastical, this would be a good one to cue up.
