“Luca” Review: Endearing, but also Generic & Plotless

Luca [2021] – ★★1/2 Disney-Pixar’s Luca is an Italian Riviera-set animation that tells a story of a merman Luca and his family living underwater and having a hostile relationship with people living on land. Luca is a boy curious about the outside world, though, and soon becomes very interested in the “land” people. He meets…

“Soul” Review: Fun & Touching, even if a tad Random

Soul [2020] – ★★★★1/2 🎹 A hectic, but wonderful celebration of life, and a moving animated ode to New York City’s jazz scene. This new animation comes from the creators of Inside Out (2015), and is about a music teacher and aspiring jazz pianist, Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) who dies by falling into New York…

“Tekkonkinkreet” (“Treasure Town”) Review: Wondrous & Hard-Hitting

Tekkonkinkreet [2006] – ★★★★1/2 🛒Grim realism collides with childhood innocence in a striking, kaleidoscopic artwork. Based on a manga Tekkon kinkurito (1993) by Taiyo Matsumoto, Treasure Town is a well-made animation about two orphaned boys: street-wise and brave Kuro (Black), and lovable and innocent Shiro (White). Street-raised “Yin and Yang” of the cruel world around…