Blogcritics Category: Video: Animation

Movie Review: Ponyo on the Cliff

moviejohn — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:16:55 EST

With his latest film, the master animator Hayao Miyazaki immerses himself completely into the mind of a five-year-old.
It is often said that older people start to return to a more youthful, childlike state and so it is for 67-year-old master animator, Hayao Miyazaki with his latest film, Ponyo on the Cliff. After making numerous movies that have presented a more mature depth in presenting childhood as in My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, this time he immerses...

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Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:16:55 EST

DVD Review: Hunter x Hunter - Volume One

Bill Sherman — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 02:32:46 EST

The first fifteen episodes of the anime action fantasy get a boxed set release.
To begin with the "x" in Hunter x Hunter does not appear to be spoken aloud -- as either "ex" or as "times," which is how I first read it. But from the way, the voice artist playing Gon reads each "x"-strewn chapter ("Encounter x Hesitation x Departure," for instance) on the first boxed set of...

TV Review: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - "Ambush"

Tim Girard — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:05:02 EST

Gettin' clunky with the Clones on Cartoon Network.
I know I have not been the only one to be critical of the all-hallowed George Lucas and his nuclear missile-proof franchise. One cannot deny, though, the man is a juggernaut, a veritable 800 pound gorilla. And where does an 800 pound gorilla sit? Wherever he wants. Mr. Lucas inspires toadyism! I swear, when he sneezes surely all the Star Wars...

DVD Review: Resident Evil: Degeneration

Derek Fleek — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:16:50 EST

About the best you can say regarding this all show and no go feature is, hey, it could've been worse.
Are you the type of video-gamer who skips through introductions and storyboards to get right into the action? Are you the type of movie-goer who enjoys an interesting line of characters and compelling story to accompany a film's marvelous animation? If so, then you'll probably have a hard time getting into Resident Evil: Degeneration. Seven...

DVD Review: The Little Mermaid II - Return to the Sea (Special Edition)

Sombrero Grande — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:17:44 EST

I�m not ready to write off this direct-to-DVD sequel just yet...
Written by Muchacha Motorista.Fresh on the heels of the surprisingly decent Ariel’s Beginning comes the Special Edition DVD re-release of The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. In my review of the former film, I’d suggested that the movie was “worth a viewing for grown-up Little Mermaid fans, and for the next generation of...

DVD Review: Unstable Fables: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Show

Fitz — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:14:04 EST

Look out, Ty Pennington, Goldilocks is shooting for your job!
Watch as the Jim Henson Company presents a new take on an old story. Goldilocks and the 3 Bears takes the traditional story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and gives it an animated, reality-TV spin.Mac Bear runs a fish shack in the land of fairy tales, who is in steep competition with a new sushi restaurant crowding into his...

DVD Review: Horton Hears a Who! (2008) - Two-Disc Special Edition

Dusty Somers — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:04:02 EST

"A person's a person, no matter how small."
While the story depth and animation quality don’t quite rival the masterpieces Pixar cranks out on a regular basis, Horton Hears a Who! is a first-rate animated flick that’s one of the best of 2008. Certainly, Wall-E will take home the Oscar for best animated film, but in a lesser, non-Pixar year, it’s not too hard to imagine...

Movie Review: Delgo

A.J. Hakari — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:57:03 EST

The cinema serves up another mediocre animated adventure.
I've come to the conclusion that Pixar is both the best and worst thing that happened to the world of animation. With their computer-generated creations, Pixar revolutionized the art of cartoon features, opening up the genre both visually and thematically. On the downside, it allowed legions of cut-rate imitators to pour through the floodgates,...

DVD Review: Resident Evil - Degeneration

Fitz — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:53:36 EST

Who knew CGI characters had subtle facial expressions?
As a fan of the Resident Evil movie franchise, I was very curious to see what Resident Evil: Degeneration looked like. Completely done as computer generated animation, this movie picks up seven years after Raccoon City was destroyed.For those of you unfamiliar with the Resident Evil backstory, let me provide some context. In 1996, Resident Evil...

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Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:53:36 EST

DVD Review: Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Gerry Weaver — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:49:38 EST

Naruto, Sakura, Rock Lee and Sensei Kakashi protect some spoiled royals with solid ninja action but unexciting storytelling.
Viz Media has a treat for the manga-loving youngster on your Christmas list: Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom was released on DVD for the North American market on November 11, 2008. This entry is the third movie based on the Naruto television series by Masashi Kishimoto. The target audience is children and for that age...