‘The school of magical animals’: family fun

Family cinema is usually associated with American or British productions, especially those of a fantastic nature, such as the magnificent ‘Matilda’, the ‘Harry Potter’ saga or the iconic ‘The Disastrous Witch’ series. But European production is no less an example there have been several German hits that have managed to be blockbusters in their hometown and that have hit the international market turned into titles to enjoy with the family on weekendsa new example is ‘The school of magical animals’which adapts the famous literary saga of Margit Auer.

‘The school of magical animals’ begins by inviting the public to meet its protagonists. After a quick introduction, the film shows how the top secret fantastic pet store invites children to join the school, where they will encounter a variety of creatures that, while looking like ordinary birds or foxes, can talk. Undoubtedly, a start that may remind you of another well-known franchise about a wizard boy with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

However, the similarities remain there, despite the fact that the Winterstein school is a Baroque construction. Furthermore, it can be said that, in reality, “The school of magical animals” tries to differentiate itself from other successful Germanic sagas such as “Bibi, the little witch” or “Krabat and the mill of the devil” and it is closer to the tone of “super witch Kika”, because it has a completely familiar tone, away from any dark elements, with animals being the main magical factor.

An adventure that recovers family cinema for the big screen

Though the film has a mysterious plotin which students and their loquacious loquacious companions must find the thief who is causing problems at school, the truth is that the film directed by Gregor Schnitzler, which sees Viola Schmidt and John Chambers as the screenwriters of the adaptation of the first novel of the saga, surprises by introducing musical numbers that no one, a priori, would have imagined in a fantastic proposal. The fact that he opted for that tone makes the proposal different, even if, at times, it is not entirely clear what he wants to convey with these sequences.

But, in general, the film works well, especially because his family spirit is very clear and he knows how to dose the mystery to maintain a certain intrigue in the plot, without forgetting the charisma of both its leading actress, Emilia Maier, and the cast of adults and children. Perhaps where the film falters most is in its technical section, in relation to visual effects, which show how complicated it is in European live-action productions to introduce some elements of fantasy cinema.

With a following already released in Germany and Austria, ‘The School of Magical Animals’ is a fair proposition for the whole family, one of those titles that remind us how important it is for films like this to arrive on the big screenfar from the big Hollywood franchises or from the hyper-realistic animations of North American factories that tell captivating stories with a soul about simple cinema entertainment.

Note: 6

The best: The charisma of its characters.

Worse: Its digital effects don’t help get into the fantasy element.