‘Strange World’: a family adventure that awakens the exploratory spirit

Walt Disney Animation Studios puts princesses and musicals to rest and sets off on an adventure with a story about parents and children. ‘Strange World’ is the new film by Don Hall (‘Raya and the Last Dragon’, ‘Moana’, ‘Big Hero 6’) and Qui Nguyen (‘Raya and the Last Dragon’), and the big bet of the studio of the cinemas for family audiences this Christmas (at least until they, in principle, destroy everything with ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’). His animation study comes from ‘Encanto’, which, although it meant a drop in the box office compared to previous recent Disney classics, has become a cultural phenomenon, a trend on TikTok and the most scathing soundtrack in recent years. ‘Strange world’ pretends no such ambition, but has enough good ideas behind it to make the journey to the borders beyond Avalonia worthwhile.

The story introduces us to Searcher Clade, son of Jaeger Clade, the most famous adventurer of Avalonia. Jaeger disappeared when he was a teenager and, although his father wanted him to follow in his footsteps, he decided to settle on a farm, where he lives happily with his wife, Meridian, and his son, Ethan. But adventure knocks again on their door because the future of Avalonia depends on them, and so they will end up in an unknown land, full of dangers… and someone he hasn’t seen in a long time.

‘Strange world’ is first and foremost distinguished by its spectacular visual design, a waste of color and sensory imagination. From the color palette to the alien textures that evoke exotic, mysterious, perhaps dangerous but certainly very captivating places. From the moment we see the characters leap across the spongy textures, we definitely want to walk across the screen and join them. The film is very much about exploration and we go if you feel like exploring. What has been seen in the trailers is only a part of what the settings hide, the best that this title has. And not only is the ‘Weird World’ once again Walt Disney Animation at the highest level, the city of Avalonia is also a very interesting city, a sort of classic mansion with touches of futuristic technology that could be straight out of a ‘Final Fantasy’ .

Speaking of video games, the core of the film really looks like an RPG or a platform game in which the protagonists overcome gymkhanas and monstrous enemies to pass the level, learning together how to deal with the different obstacles that bring them closer to the final screen. This part, while having some very exciting moments, is very conventional. It’s a fun journey, and it has a strange twist that is quite surprising and rewarding for those who have followed the clues. But from a studio that has managed to give us some of the most impressive adventures in recent years in animation, we have to ask for excellence and not a “Journey to the Center of the Earth” with charming characters..

A big part of the problem is that its main storyline, the relationship between grandfather, father and son, is very tender but also very followed. The film tries to send the message to parents that they need to let their children find their own way, which may or may not be the same as theirs. Resolution takes no chances or twists, such as turning Granny into the story’s “villain” due to the pressure she exerts around her as in “Charm” or facing its protagonist with a personal dilemma as strong as Elsa. The Clades are a tremendously charismatic family, but their story has already been told to us. Nonetheless, it is an important lesson, supported by a film capable of entertaining parents and children together thanks to its clear inspiration from classics such as Jules Verne and films such as Indiana Jones, but told with a topical rhythm and, again, characters who are captivating. From the self-absorbed Jaeger to the charming Ethan, who is written as a modern day child and represents a giant leap for Disney in terms of representing the current world with all naturalness and diversity, no matter who can.

The Splat and Legend Show

The secondary ones are also excellent. Meridien, Ethan’s mom, will be a favorite of hers because she steals nearly every scene she’s in. And I wish I’d seen a little more of Callisto, leader of Avalonia. But the real kings of ‘Strange World’ are Legend, Clade’s dog, and Splat, the blue flubber who will make the slimy masses in schools trendy again. Both are hilarious, their toys will end up in letters to Kings or Santa Claus of many boys and girls. A new triumph for those with the mouse, creating secondaries that may not be able to speak, but are extremely expressive.

In addition to talking about generations, and leaving each one free to find their own path and the support of the previous generation, ‘Strange world’ contains interesting lessons about the environment and humanity’s role in an ecosystem. Some of the best movie ideas are here. And speaking of the ecosystem, in addition to the environments, the creature designs, which fit very organically into the environment, are also truly remarkable.

While it may fall short of many of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest titles, “Weird World” is still a great and light-hearted animated film that awakens the exploratory spirit that we carry within, invites us to escape to unknown lands, stimulates curiosity and entertains beautifully, leaving reflections on family, the environment and sustainability. All with an overwhelming technical, visual and sound section (the soundtrack by Henry Jackman is fantastic). I can’t wait to see it in streaming because this adventure must be lived on the big screen.

Previews of ‘Strange World’ in theaters November 25.

Note: 7

The best: the visual section, especially the drawings of the “Strange world” and its creatures. The charisma of the characters. Legend and Splat. Ethan Clade: Disney, yes.

Worse: The story of fathers and sons isn’t groundbreaking, and the adventure doesn’t have a truly amazing development nearly to the end.