Verbal Diorama

Shrek and Fiona, fresh off their 'happily ever after', are invited to a Royal Ball in celebration of their marriage. It's being held, far far away in the kingdom of Far Far Away, by Fiona's parents, the King and Queen of Far Far Away, aka Mum and Dad. But hold on to your boots (Puss), because Shrek, being an actual ogre, faces a bit of a challenge fitting in with the royal family—especially when they expected the dashing Prince Charming, instead of a swamp-dwelling ogre.

Shrek 2 builds on its predecessor, exploring themes of self-acceptance and the chaos of familial relationships, giving us more depth, elaborating on the story we’ve seen, and carrying it on naturally. He’s married the princess, now he has to meet the parents.

Shrek 2 is seen by many as a perfect sequel. Not a perfect movie, but a perfect sequel. This is also a movie with heart, with a great central villain who’s clearly been in it for the long run, and all Fairy Godmother wants is her boy on the throne. Shrek getting a sequel was obvious, but wait, isn't this series making fun of Disney constantly churning out mediocre sequels? It's a good job this one is actually decent, right?

But really, aren't we all just here for Puss in Boots? Just look at him, in his little boots! Awwwww!

And where have all the good men gone?

I would love to hear your thoughts on Shrek 2 !

In 1992, US President George H.W. Bush famously remarked, during a speech at the Annual Convention of the National Religious Broadcasters, that the American family needs to be “a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like the Simpsons.”

The longest-running American animated series, longest-running American sitcom, and the longest-running American scripted primetime television series, both in seasons and individual episodes. The Simpsons is, quite frankly, a phenomenon, and the long-awaited The Simpsons Movie took nearly two decades to come to fruition, as fans eagerly anticipated a feature film adaptation of their beloved show.

But despite being a long-running, beloved show, the making of the movie wasn't easy, and it faced numerous rewrites, with the script being revised over a hundred times before its release. Many iconic characters from the series made appearances, with a total of over 320 characters included throughout the movie, with creator Matt Groening aiming to create a cinematic experience that would appeal to both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise.

But appealing to newcomers led to many fan-favourite characters being omitted from the script, and somehow Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rainier Wolfcastle exist within the same universe? But who copied whom? I guess we'll never truly know...

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Simpsons Movie (2007) !

Speaking of a family with gifts, young Norman Babcock happens to be able to speak to the dead, making him a social outcast to humans, but also probably the only person who can stop zombies rising from their graves...

ParaNorman's unique approach to horror allows it to explore serious societal issues through animation, and creatively blends animated horror with heartfelt themes of acceptance and understanding.

Laika Studios have never been one to follow the leader, and while other studios were focusing on CG animation, Laika removed it's CG department purely for stop-motion. Developing groundbreaking techniques first used on Coraline, enhanced further for ParaNorman, including colour 3D printing, to create over 31,000 props.

ParaNorman, which also features the first openly gay character in an American animated film, emphasizes the importance of communication and empathy in overcoming fear and prejudice. This is a movie that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the past, with historical references shaping ParaNorman’s story, particularly the Salem witch trials

Like Norman’s Grandma says when Norman tells her the zombie eats brains… “he’s going to ruin his dinner. I’m sure if they just bothered to sit down and talk it through, it would be a different story”.

I would love to hear your thoughts on ParaNorman !

Welcome to The Family Madrigal, and the Surface Pressure hiding underneath the perfect façade of a magical family with wonderful gifts - everyone except Mirabel. Who probably wonders "What Else Can I Do?" on the regular, when her Abuela seems to blame her for everything.

All Of You probably know the intergenerational trauma this movie perfectly depicts, but it's also a movie that took the time to show deep love and respect for Colombia, mi encanto. By having a Colombian Cultural Trust, and directors willing to take on suggestions and ideas, to make Encanto diverse and representative of real Colombian life, traditions and culture.

Tuns out, Stephanie Beatriz was also Waiting on a Miracle, while recording that exact song.

We Don't Talk About Bruno, except we do. Because Bruno is one of the most complex and interesting characters in this movie. And while Abuela has suffered great loss, become a refugee and a single parent to triplets in the space of one day, beautifully encapsulated by the Academy Award-nominated Dos Orugitas, she's also making her entire family suffer through her own anxiety and trauma.

Basically Encanto is pretty special, and it's one of Disney's greatest modern animated films because of it.

And that's why coffee's for grown-ups!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Encanto !

There's Nobody Like U, Turning Red.

Turning Red is a ground-breaking animated film, rightfully kicking off Animation Season 2025 in style, with magical puberty front and centre, that addresses the universal struggles of adolescence through the story of Mei Lee, a 13-year-old girl caught between her familial obligations and her burgeoning independence.

Domee Shi's feature-length directorial debut represents a significant milestone as Pixar's first solo female director and first female director of colour, as well as having the first all-female lead team, and a unique animation style influenced by anime and traditional Chinese culture, enhancing its visual storytelling.

And Red Panda Mei is SO FLUFFY!

It's also a deft exploration of cultural identity reflecting the immigrant experience, of balancing family expectations with personal desires, as well as tackling periods; a subject that remains taboo in most situations, encouraging open conversations about menstruation. It captures the awkwardness and excitement of teenage life—particularly for girls who feel the weight of both cultural and familial expectations.

Critically acclaimed yet hugely financially underperforming, Turning Red highlights the challenges faced by diverse narratives in mainstream cinema. It's more than just a children's movie; it is a celebration of the regular, normal, everyday experiences that shape us all. Let's relive our awkward teen experiences together!

4*Town 4 EVER!!!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Turning Red !