No matter your opinion of this past year’s cinematic crop, one thing is certain:
2024 was a banner year for animation.
That might be because technology has continued to become more advanced and more accessible, making it easier than ever for the most creative visual storytellers to access and realize what’s in their minds.
Or maybe it’s just because animated projects could continue production even as the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike shut down all live-action filming until late in that year.
Either way, there’s been no shortage of remarkably creative, eye-popping animated features in theaters recently, and it’s not showing any signs of slowing as some major animated offerings are set to carry the box office into the new year.
From big singalong sequels to mile-a-minute action and from photo-real Hollywood animals to some stylized, European art-movie ones, these feature animations are set to draw audiences into OKC theaters over the next weeks.
‘Moana 2’ – Now Playing
Believe it or not, you’d actually be mistaken to assume that “Wicked” is the biggest movie in theaters right now.
In fact, that distinction goes to Disney’s massive-grossing “Moana 2,” the long-awaited sequel to their 2016 smash about a Polynesian girl chosen by the sea itself to bring peace to the goddess of creation.
Well, that oceanic hero has returned, this time answering a vision that calls her to reconnect the disparate peoples and cultures of the island nations that once lived in harmony.
The sweeping, seafaring setting, new songs by “Hamilton” mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda, and that classic-style Disney mojo have all helped the sequel to make some giant waves at the box office, already topping $800 million worldwide.
If it keeps delivering over this week while kids are still out of school, “Moana 2” has a real shot at joining 2024’s surprisingly scant billion-dollar club.
“Moana 2” is now playing.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ – Now Playing
From a long-awaited and hotly anticipated Disney sequel to one that practically no one asked for, Disney also dropped the “Lion King” prequel “Mufasa” just before Christmas.
Featuring an inspired voice cast and its own Lin-Manuel Miranda-penned soundtrack, this is the story of the previous generation of lions, following a young, orphaned Mufasa many years before he’d grow to father Simba of the first “Lion King.”
Notably, this unexpected prequel is directed by the acclaimed Barry Jenkins, the man behind Oscar-winner Moonlight. The consensus is that he does an admirable enough job of conveying something poignant and powerful in this story of jealousy and brothers torn apart.
But the photorealistic animation still only serves to make the characters less emotive and less capable of capturing hearts and imaginations, just like in Disney’s previous CGI “Lion King,” leading to the question of just who exactly wanted this film.
Sidenote: Few things in cinema have been as annoying in the past few years as hearing these referred to as “live-action” films just because the animation is photo-real. They’re not. They’re beautifully rendered, computer-animated films, but they’re still animated films nonetheless.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” is now playing.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ – Now Playing
It feels safe to say that no one really foresaw the runaway success of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies before the first’s release in 2020, but here it is just four years and three films later with a full-blown hit franchise.
This video game adaptation seems to thread the needle perfectly between appealing to young kids with lightning-fast action and over-the-top animated heroes and appealing to the ceaseless 90s nostalgia of their parents.
But what these movies clearly get right is their commitment to not taking themselves too seriously and remembering to just be fun, ridiculous popcorn flicks instead of trying to impress everyone with some ill-advised seriousness like so many other adaptations.
So the series is already fun and funny, but now you can throw Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves into the mix as well. What more could you want?
And yes, I know that the “Sonic” movies aren’t fully animated films, as they feature mostly live-action sets and real human co-stars. But the appeal of these films is the animated heroes and villains and Jim Carrey counts as a cartoon character even when he’s live-action, so come on.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is now playing.
‘Flow’ – Oklahoma City Museum of Art – Opens January 10th
If you prefer your animated films with a bit more art-house prestige, then this is the one to watch this month.
Hailing from Latvia, “Flow” has been making waves of its own across theaters, festivals, and “best of” lists all year, and its recent Golden Globe recognition bodes well for its shot at an Oscar nomination.
Some of that can be credited to the film’s commitment to remaining wordless. Forgoing the appeal of talking animals, it instead tells a story of animals navigating a flooded, devastated world entirely through its striking, expressionistic animation style.
The result is thrilling and deeply stirring, able to cross any barrier of language or culture and aim straight for the heart anywhere in the world.
With some major animated players like “Inside Out 2,” “The Wild Robot,” and “Moana 2,” it’s like to face some stiff Oscar competition, but you should still expect to see “Flow” nominated right alongside them.
“Flow” screens at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art from January 10th through January 19th.
Catch Brett Fieldcamp’s film column weekly for information and insights into the world of film in the Oklahoma City metro and Oklahoma. | Brought to you by the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
