Anina

There is an oddly comforting charm about Anina, a quirky, warm, simply-but-beautifully animated picture with a look that seems hand crafted from materials gently worn and loved. The title character is endearing, with her bright ruddy red hair, striped leggings, and big head. Her name is a palindrome — mean- ing it reads the same both backwards and forwards — and it causes her grief from taunting classmates. She in turn takes it out on another girl, Yisel, and an ensuing tussle lands the two of them in the principal’s office. There, they are each handed a black wax-sealed envelope and told they must carry it around for a full week, seal unbroken, before returning to discover the punishment inside. The curiosity and temptation become too much for Anina, and she begins having “Heffalumps and Woozles” type nightmare fantasies about the unknown punishment, complete with flying headmistresses and cackling teachers. Itching for an answer, she follows Yisel in hopes of sneaking a look at her envelope — only to discover that they have more in common than an uncommon punishment.