Me and My Moulton
A 7-year-old girl, whose parents are unconventional modernists, want her family to be like other Norwegian families in the 1960s. This causes problems the summer she asks her parents for a bike.
Film Tag: Animation
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos
Two friends on a mission to fulfill their life-long dream of flying in the cosmos together…
Slaves of the Rave
Whether it’s a rock concert, an opera, a jazz performance, or an electronic show, we’re all just slaves to the rave!
World of Tomorrow
Oscar nominee! This tale of a little girl who is taken on a mind-bending tour of her distant future comes from acclaimed filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, SXSW, and AFI Festival.
Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas and Others
On the heels of his first feature (and Festival 2015 Opening Night premiere), comes Shaun the Sheep’s latest special! At the Country Fair, Shaun steals away with the Farmer and his canine companion, Bitzer. When he spies three crafty Llams making trouble at an auction, he knows his next great prank will be convincing the Farmer to buy them. But when the new Llama roommates get a bit too comfortable in their new home, things spiral out of control and Shaun is forced to oust the intruders and save the farm.
Molly Monster
Molly Monster is the beloved daughter of Popo and Etna Monster, best friend to windup toy Edison, and is about to add “Big Sister” to the list. But in all the excitement of a monster-on-the-way, her parents forgot to bring the hat she knit for the baby to Egg Island, where all the new monsters are born. With Edison by her side, Molly travels through a technicolor dreamland with an endless assortment of Seussical, friendly monsters, unexpected challenges, and even some very whimsical singing. Capturing the inventive, colorful world of Ted Sieger’s popular German TV series, Molly Monster is one big adventure that’s perfect for the littlest Festival-goers.
Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins
Perfect for our youngest audiences, Academy Award winning director Torill Kove’s first feature film is a refreshingly warm and intimate tale based on beloved children’s book character Alfie Atkins. Seven-year-old Alfie dreams of owning a dog, but his father insists that he is too small for such a big responsibility. Undaunted, Alfie finds an unlikely ally in George, a kindly magician who performs tricks for the neighborhood kids and has just adopted a puppy of his own. If magic can make things appear and disappear, maybe it can help to make his dream come true! But it turns out, magic is not as easy as Alfie thinks, and when his dream finally does come true, it is in a most unexpected manner. Lovingly animated with thoughtful, honest character interactions, Hocus Pocus offers an emotionally and visually rich cinema experience for young moviegoers and their parents.
Beyond Beyond
Inspired by Scandinavia folktales, Beyond Beyond spans epic worlds as it follows young hare Johan on a quest to find his mother after she passes from his world and into the land of the elusive Feather King. To keep them safe from the King’s reach, Johan’s father has ordered them to life on the high-seas. But when a rocky storm separates them, Johan uses the opportunity to venture to the kingdom in an attempt to bring back his mother. Along the way, he teams up with some unlikely conspirators, and discovers the connections between the world he knows and the one he’s always questioned. Artful landscapes and exquisitely detailed characters give wonderful dimension to Beyond Beyond, but it’s the profound tale of love and loss that guides this ship home.
Moomins on the Riviera
Sixty years ago, when Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson launched the Moomin comic strip, little did she know it would reach 20 million daily readers in more than 40 countries. In celebration of her 100th birthday, French director Xavier Picard brings Jansson’s carefree and adventurous Moomin family to life, with delicately animated characters set within beautifully designed and colored backgrounds, and the comic’s traipsing storylines translated to the screen with just the right amount of absurdity and humor. As the story opens, disruptions in the tranquil world of Moominvalley prompt the Moomins to take a trip to the French Riviera for some much needed rest. Upon their arrival, they are introduced as “De Moomin” and taken to the fanciest hotel in town, where they are treated like royalty. Exposed to the luxurious life for the first time, Moomintroll’s beloved Snork Maiden becomes seduced by the lure of fashion and celebrity, while Moominpappa begins to hobnob with high-society art collectors. But the rest of the family seems less impressed by this superficial world and longs to return home.
Long Way North
Though she is being groomed for proper Russian aristocracy, Sasha would much rather embark on adventures than attend fancy galas. When her grandfather disappears on his quest to conquer the North Pole, he becomes the laughing stock of St. Petersburg, and Sasha makes it her mission to restore the family legacy. Setting out on her own into uncharted waters, she joins a group of sailors as chilly as the icebergs that surround them. Together they face treacherous terrain and harsh conditions in order to find what’s been lost at sea. With unwavering courage and devotion, Sasha honors the path of those that came before her without losing the will to forge her own.
Satellite Girl and Milk Cow
Festival award-winning Wolf Daddy director Chang Hyung-yun has created a wholly original, exuberantly outrageous, sci-fi love story unlike anything before it. An orbiting, out-of-commission female satellite picks up a lovelorn pop song on its radio antenna and descends to Earth to try to discover who could be the source of such heartfelt emotions. On the way, it is transformed into the titular Satellite Girl, complete with Astroboy-like rocket shoes and weapon-firing limbs, while the balladeer in question — a loser twenty-something playing at an open mic in a coffee shop — meets the fate that befalls all broken-hearted lovers: he is turned into a farm animal (albeit one who can walk around in a poorly-fitting human suit). There is more: a wizard in the form of a roll of toilet paper, an all-consuming incinerator monster, a pig witch. But as crazy as this sounds, it all comes together into a heartfelt and wildly entertaining commentary on the possibility for human connection in the crazy, mixed up, semi-random, post-modern world we live in.
Wolfy, the Incredible Secret
Though they’re from opposite ends of the food chain, Wolfy and Tom (a wolf and rabbit, respectively) are best friends. Wolfy has always believed he was an orphan, until one day a gypsy tells him that his mother is still alive and a person of importance in the distant dynasty of Wolfenberg, Land of the Wolves. Despite his fear of “the fanged ones,” Tom agrees to accompany his friend as they venture far from their peaceful countryside home. They arrive in the midst of Carne Festival — a grand meeting of the world’s most renowned carnivores — and Wolfy’s quest for self-discovery quickly turns into Tom’s quest for survival. This beautifully animated film is based on the wildly popular French children’s book series LouLou from writer and director Gregoire Solotareff, who also brought us our 2007 opening night film U.
Mune
Plunge into a world of wonder, magic and mythology in this sumptuously animated CGI adventure about a land divided between the realms of day and night. As legend has it, the first Guardian of the Sun threw a harpoon into the cosmos and roped the sun to bring light and warmth to all of humanity. Then the Guardian of the Moon lured the moon to the Land of Darkness to provide a balance to the sun and supply the world with dreams. At a momentous ceremony to appoint the two new guardians, an accident seems to occur; the heir apparent is passed over, and the title Guardian of the Moon is bestowed on the waif-like Mune, a small and frightened forest faun who seems wholly unprepared to take on such a weighty responsibility. This news excites Necross, the nefarious ruler of the Underworld, a corrupted ex-guardian who decides to take advantage of Mune’s weakness and steal back the sun for himself. Now it is up to unlikely hero Mune and his friend Glim — a headstrong young girl with wax for skin — to save the sun and restore order to the world.
Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet
The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran, is among the most popular volumes of poetry ever written, selling over 100 million copies in forty languages since its publication in 1923. The timeless verses have been given enchanting new form in this painterly cinematic adventure about freedom and the power of human expression. Written and directed by Roger Allers (The Lion King), the film intersperses Gibran’s elegant verses with stunning animated sequences by Festival favorite filmmakers Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells), Nina Paley (Sita Sings the Blues), Bill Plympton (Guide Dog), and a host of award-winning animators from around the world. Set in a Mediterranean sea-side village, Kamila cleans house for exiled artist and poet Mustafa, but the more difficult job is keeping her free-spirited young daughter, Almitra, out of trouble. The three embark on a journey meant to end with Mustafa’s return home — but first they must evade the authorities who fear the truth in his words.
Phantom Boy
From the directors of Festival 2011 favorite A Cat in Paris comes a new crime thriller set in — well, above — the streets of New York City. Leo has a secret. While most believe his serious illness has confined him to the hospital, he has the power to leave his body and go on urban escapes as a ghostly apparition. Recuperating on the floor below is Alex, a police officer injured while apprehending the Man With the Broken Face, a nefarious bandit who has taken control of the city’s power. Together, they must combine detective skills and supernatural powers to stop destruction. A mix of film noir and superhero fantasy, Phantom Boy is both heart-warming and heart-thumping, taking the action to new heights, making Leo a welcome addition to our iconic skyline.
Shaun the Sheep the Movie
Shaun the Sheep, the woolly stop-motion star whose vocal range is limited to bleats and baas, first appeared in Nick Park’s 1999 Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit adventure A Close Shave and went on to become the UK’s most beloved cartoon character. In his first feature film, Shaun tires of the everyday routine on Mossy Bottom Farm and concocts a plan to lead his flock in rebellion. But be careful what you wish for. Events rapidly escalate out of control and Shaun’s mischief inadvertently leads to the hapless Farmer getting taken away to the Big City, where a bop on the head renders him an amnesiac. Fortunately, muscle memory has kept the Farmer’s shearing skills intact, so he is able to find a new life has a celebrity hair stylist. But Shaun is intent on bringing him back to the farm where he belongs — if only he can escape the clutches of the fearsome animal catcher!
Adama
When his headstrong older brother definitely leaves their West African village and vanishes into the unknown, 12-year-old Adama impulsively decides to chase after him. Adama’s bold spirit guides him on a journey that takes him across oceans and borders, eventually finding himself in the midst of World War I’s infamous Battle of Verdun. Innovative animation makes use of sand, clay and sculpture to match the mystical elements of the story’s magical realism. Seamlessly combining the action with the rarely-seen, fascinating moment in history, Adama injects the classic journey story with high stakes, giving our hero more to overcome and even more to discover.
The King and the Mockingbird
A pompous, cross-eyed king is in love with a painting of a shepherdess. But she has eyes for the dashing young chimney sweep in the next painting over — and so the two decide to elope, stepping out of their frames and into Grimault’s endlessly inventive and bizarre castle town, where elevators are beetles attached to telescoping antennas, buildings hang like barnacles from gargantuan Roman pillars, and the King gives chase in a throne-turned bumper car. This French animated gem originally began production in the late 1940s, but wasn’t completed until 1980.
That is Not a Good Idea
A devious spin on a classic tale of a hungry fox and plump goose. Complete with a chorus of concerned little chicks!
Tigers Tied Up in One Rope
An extremely lazy young boy is harassed by his mother who cannot bear to see him eat and sleep all day long, day after day. He eventually decides to get to work and shows unexpected imagination, creativity and tenacity.
The Evening Her Mind Jumped Out of Her Head
One cold winter’s evening, a serious woman is forced to lighten up when her mind jumps out of her head.
The Story of Percival Pilts
After his first walk on stilts, Percival Pilts declared not just that he’ll never again let his feet touch the ground, but that he’ll go as high as he can. True to his word, his ascent reaches uncharted territory.
Lilou
Lilou, shy and curious, has rare insight into other people’s pasts. When she crosses paths with a strange man, she experiences an unexpected resolution.
The Little Cousteau
A boy escapes his snow-covered city through dreams of deep-sea adventures like his hero, the legendary Jacques Cousteau.
Amelia & Duarte
Explore the archive of Amelia and Duarte’s relationship from first sight to final good-bye.
Elephant and the Bicycle
An elephant lives in a town among people and works as a street cleaner. One day, he sees a billboard advertising a bicycle. It seems the perfect size for him!
Me…Jane
Jane Goodall is renowned for her work with apes in the jungle, but as Patrick McDonnell’s heartwarming tale shows, her curiosity, spirit, and sense of adventure started long ago with a toy chimpanzee called Jubilee.
Coda
Death grants a man his last request, taking him on one final journey.
Faded Finery (Oripeaux)
In a remote village, a little girl befriends a pack of coyotes. But the villagers brutally put an end to this relationship, unaware of the revolution that awaits.
The Trumpeter
Despite obstacles, a trumpet player finds his inner voice. In doing so, he creates a wild, colorful freedom for his fellow musicians.