Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
 "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2")
When Foodimals Became Part of Popular Culture Although the first Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs came out in 2009, it may have skipped some audiences, and the released sequel (while being a massive hit), Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013), really opened the world to the character of Flint Lockwood, a rather […]
Penguins of Madagascar
When Four Penguins Took Over an Entire Spy Adventure Fourteen years after their debut in Penguins of Madagascar, the iconic quartet of Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private took to the screen once again oozing the gleeful chaos they have always embodied. The quartet had earned an entire movie after stealing the show in the Madagascar […]
The Book of Life
A Colorful and Spirited World When The Book of Life first began to garner attention, and the previews began to be made available, the previews resembled a moving mural of Mexico \u2014 colorful, whimsical, and deeply emotional. People began to appreciate and admire the fact that this film sought to do what had not been […]
The Boxtrolls
Prior to the Trolls Crawled Out: The Whispers of Curiosity When The Boxtrolls was announced, the excitement was nothing like the overwhelmingly packed, ear-splitting excitement of the event like modern superhero films get. Instead, it was a low buzz, the kind that only LAIKA films get, the kind that cinephiles, the animation community, and critics […]
ParaNorman
When a Quiet Boy Became the Heart of a Loud World Children’s ability to spot the unnoticeable by adults is a trait of great value, yet to this day it is often overlooked, as is the case with the Indian skill of storytelling where families speak of children noticing invisible supernatural children. The family friendly […]
Kubo and the Two Strings
When a Tale of Magic Mirrors the Lives Behind It Some films are a visual treat, while others are a visual treat and make you feel things, and Kubo and the Two Strings is one of those stories. Laika’s epic stop-motion animation is ostensibly a story for children, but the emotional weight of the story […]
Tomorrowland
The World Beyond the Present: Entering Tomorrowland When Disney released Tomorrowland in 2015, audiences were offered more than a sci-fi adventure; they were invited into a reflection on hope, innovation, and the human potential to shape the future. Directed by Brad Bird, the film centers on Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), a bright, curious teenager with […]
Finding ‘Ohana
The Real and Reel Journey of Finding ‘Ohana: The Treasure Beneath The Waves When Finding ‘Ohana was released on Netflix in early 2021, viewers assumed it would be a Hawaiian-themed version of The Goonies, a simple kid-friendly adventure. What audiences got was wonderfully unexpected: a modern-day treasure story intertwined with deeper sentiments of heritage, family, […]
Puff: Wonders of the Reef
Puff: Wonders of the Reef — A Small Creature, A Big Reflection of Life Though without much fanfare, Puff: Wonders of the Reef quietly made its way onto Netflix in late 2021. There was no franchise-sized marketing push, no red-carpet premiere, and no blockbuster release. Rather, it was a soft, luminous whisper from the ocean […]