The offer is large again: children’s films during the Christmas holidays

Sweet, simple, musical, Studio 100-inspired children’s film for the very youngis set on the farm of Farmer Hector (Glenn Coenen) in Peru. Alpacas Lea, Luisand Leo – three cheerful dolls – live peacefully together here. But when it’sLuis’ birthday and the other two want to organize a party, everythingthreatens to go wrong. This mediocre film lasts an hour. Ideal for theintended target group and for a short but refreshing nap.

Director: Rik Sinkeldam and Andy van Veen. Length: 73 mins.

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oops! Kids overboard

Very average digital animation film about herbivore Finny and carnivore Leahwho fall off Noah’s Ark during a storm and end up on a deserted island. Themakers of this ‘Europudding’ are blatantly borrowing from successful examplessuch as the Madagascar series, Finding Nemo and Ice Age. Their lifelessstory only appeals to the youngest, if all goes well.

Directed by: Toby Genkel and Sean McCormack. Length: 85 minutes.

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Want the crocodile

Cheerful American children’s film about a singing crocodile with a high cuddlyfactor who hopes to overcome his stage fright in New York. The scaly anti-herofinds a soulmate in adolescent Josh, who also malfunctions due to numerousphobias and accidentally finds crocodile Wil in his attic. For adults,especially the scenes with smirking Javier Bardem (as Wil’s owner) are veryenjoyable.

Directed by: Josh Gordon and Will Speck. Length: 106 mins.

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Puss in Boots: The last wish

For the first time in a long time another successful film from the DreamworksAnimation stable, and the first installment in the Shrek series in ten years.Antihero Puss in Boots goes in search of a magical wishing star after his ninelives have run out. Director Joel Crawford proves that the contrary view ofthe sweet fairytale world that made the first two Shrek films so successfulcan still work out: physical jokes for the kids and many winks foraccompanying parents and clever references to pop culture.

Directed by: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. Length: 105 mins.

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Ernest & Celestine: on an adventure in Babbleland

Captivating, timeless, beautifully animated cartoon – partly computer, partlyhandcrafted with watercolor – about the timid bear Ernest and the mouseCelestine. To have Ernest’s broken violin repaired, they have to go toBabbleland, where the bear originally comes from. When it turns out that musicis now forbidden here, they decide to protest against this injustice. Now thethird part in an infectious, idiosyncratic French series, based on the picturebooks by Gabrielle Vincent, published in the Netherlands as Brammert & Tissie.

Directed by: Julien Chheng and Jean-Christophe Roger. Length: 79 mins.

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Yuku and the Himalayan flower

Sparkling Belgian-French animation film about little mouse Yuku, who prefersto accompany her grandmother on the ukulele when she tells fairy tales to thewhole family. When Grandmother senses her end is approaching, Yuku decides tosearch for the magical Himalayan flower that may extend her life. Thesometimes almost abstract animations are wonderful, just like the inventivesongs and the story that advocates listening to each other more and seekingconnection – the ultimate Christmas spirit.

Directed by: Arnaud Demuynck and Remi Durin. Length 65 mins.

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Strange World

Beautifully animated, remarkably serious Disney story with Jules Verne vibesbecame a zeper elsewhere: completely unjustified. A family of explorersembarks on a journey through the earth as pando, an important crop thatprovides energy for the utopian land of Avalonia, is in danger of dying out.During the mission, grandfather and his son argue about what good parentingis. The ‘fear’ icon of the Kijkwijzer is justified; children under 6 have_Strange World_ little to look for. Furthermore, the film is remarkablyinclusive, with a mixed marriage, a queer son and a family dog with adisability.

Directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen. Length: 104 mins

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oink

This home-grown stop-motion gem is still playing in twenty theaters afteralmost six months. The excellent tableau of voice actors gives color to eventhe smallest role. And no scene lasts longer than necessary to drag the viewerinto the moving and topical story about Babs, a bespectacled teenage girl whobefriends the cute little pig Knor. The film teaches us not so much thateating meat is bad, but that excessive consumption has a high price. Submittedfor the Oscars.