I saw this film after coming across it on Wizart's YouTube channel... which I later learned that this film was NOT created by them in any way. Instead by a studio called Melnitsa. (Wizart has no credits in the film)
Following the comments on theTrailer post I came into this film with already low expectations. I also prepared myself for a film that was flawed, but I liked anyways (which was my history with Wizart's films). Despite that, what I saw was a quality much higher than that of anything that Wizart had ever come out with, which raised my suspicion that they had any involvement.
I watched the film once with hesitation, not sure what to think of the film. I knew my feeling of the film wasn't a bad experience, I just wasn't sure how to critically assess what I had just seen, so I watched it again looking for specifics.
What I concluded after the second time is that this film had a better relationship with older classic Walt Disney films than it did with anything modern.
A classic fairy tale story: A true Hero, A true Villain... simple linear story. (may disappoint people looking for a film with a "surprise twist") However, with such a simple story kids (especially younger children) will find following along in this adventure to be easy to pick up.
Characters were simple yet well developed including many of the side characters. Many of these characters including the classic characters are easily memorable and lovable (even the villain Urfin and his sidekicks) I don't consider this a spoiler, but my favorite personality was the ogre character. And nothing quite as entertaining as watching the silliness of the wooden soldiers.
Animation was done in mostly 3DCG and clearly had a good team behind the design and motion of the characters and the choices that were made like how the trees in OZ all looked like pompoms whereas the trees in the real world were modeled a little less cartoon-like (yet still stylized for the animation). Various little touches made in this film were actually quite impressive.
Music was well-paced and adventurous. Nothing specifically special, but it did make the film more enjoyable.
Voice acting, English Dub, the VAs did a great job translating this film from it's original Russian language. Dubbed by many voice actors heard in a good number of Japanese anime, it seemed that the casting for this film actually fit the characters very well. Although the lipsync wasn't perfect, it is clear that the actors did the best they could to make the character match (most of the time it isn't really noticeable.) This is commendable since many anime-dubs end up proving to be quite unbearable to listen to.
Other than a few continuity flaws that occur throughout the film, most are subtle, but one or two more noticeable, the film really does come off as an overall fun, friendly, and adventurous film that leaves you feeling wanting to watch it again. Also, with some clever writing, some of the lines in the film come off as easily quotable, which is something that I haven't had in a film for some time.
I don't know that everyone is going to find this film as enjoyable as I did, and again, I DID go into it expecting a bad film... however, seeing this film (at the time of writing this review) being listed as a 4.8/10 I really had to wonder why would this film, as crazy, simple, and so well crafted as it is earn such a low score.
Maybe it is I who am crazy.....
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