My Father's Dragon may not reach the dazzling heights of Tomm Moore's Irish folklore trilogy, but this is a good movie to watch for younger children and may even entertain older viewers thanks to the gorgeous visuals. The story may be a bit to basic for some people, but it is still a worthwhile watch just for the visuals alone. I don't know why, but Nora Twomey's storytelling just doesn't work for me. I feel like she doesn't do a good job at producing book-to-film adaptations. Maybe she should try writing her own stories instead of adapting someone else's intellectual property and hard work into a different medium.

From the brilliant minds at Cartoon Saloon comes their next endeavor in fantasy adventure storytelling through the art of animation, My Father's Dragon. Based on the children's book of the same name by Ruth Stiles Gannett, the film has been released on Netflix as of this month and has garnered a highly positive reception from critics and audiences. Although purists of Cartoon Saloon's filmography deem this feature to be the studio's most conventional and mainstream work to date, there is still a lot to enjoy from what is meant to be a cute childlike tale of overcoming your fears in solving problems.

The film tells the story of a young boy named Elmer Elevator, who faces struggling debt after moving with his mom to the city. After Elmer runs away in search of a solution, he is sent to the mysterious Wild Island by means of rescuing a young dragon from a pack of ferocious beasts. The best way to summarize the story of this film adaptation is the closest to getting a Maurice Sendak tale on the big screen, mainly with the subtext of a horrible dilemma a young boy faces in his world until he enters a land far beyond anyone's reality. Admittedly, the first act of the feature sets up the stakes so well that one would almost wish the film would have focused a lot more on the relationship between Elmer and his struggling mother, Dela. On top of their hopes and dreams being squandered by near poverty, any optimistic thoughts Elmer has to make it are beaten down by the grueling fate of his mother's patience and the joy that any city can suck out of them. Instead, the filmmakers chose to go more in the fantasy route, which is far more imaginative and surreal than some would find appealing.

However, while the story might not have gone in the direction it probably could've gone beneficially, what we do get is a surprisingly heartfelt tale of friendship and emotional turmoil. In regards to the titular dragon, named Boris, despite being far more juvenile in nature than most dragons are thought to be, his childlike innocence and naive dreams make him far more sympathetic than most sidekicks in family friendly animated features. The added talents of Jacob Tremblay and Gaten Matarazzo make for lovable chemistry, with one being more determined than the other despite them being facing their own confused fears. On the side, the animals of Wild Island want Boris to save them all from sinking, yet they're not particularly memorable outside of their basic arcs, including the misguided wise gorilla Saiwa and the short tempered impatient macaque Kwan. That being said, their roles do provide a lot of pathos and heartbreak between Elmer and Boris needing to solve the problem without knowing the answer, all while keeping true to the film's message of staying strong in tough times.

Going back to the Sendak-like narrative, this film might be one of the few animated features to look like a children's book brought to life through animation. With the amazing talents of Cartoon Saloon's art department, the production design details a lot of lush brushstroke environments with varying color palettes depending on the setting. While the city Elmer and Dela move to is drab and gloomy, Wild Island is colorful and shiny in spite of its sea level fate. Next to the simplistic albeit broad human designs, the creatures of Wild Island offer numerous features in their basic shaped designs and minimal yet well defined movements. Arguably, the real highlight of the visuals has to be the effects work, demonstrating a lot of well composited water and lighting craftsmanship that enable the stakes just as much as the desperation all the characters face in solving their own crisis. With the help of a beautifully enchanting score from the Danna brothers, the film is truly a fascinating adventure from the mind of a child who wants to do what's right without properly knowing the answer.

While it might've benefited a bit better with its firmly established premise, My Father's Dragon is still a high soaring adventure that people of all ages can gravitate towards. Thanks to its honest childlike sensitivity, charming lead characters and gorgeous art direction, this can easily be one of the few films aimed at children that actually looks like a story intended for such an audience. Regardless if you have children or not, this film is definitely worth at least viewing, especially for Cartoon Saloon completists. It might not be as strong as their more well known films, but it's still easy to befriend.

Well, anything could happen. I wasn't expecting anything bad, in fact, considering that Wolfwalkers and Breadwinner are some of the best animated movies of the decade, I had a lot of hope for My Father Dragon. Not everything is bad, things like the animation or the soundtrack continue to meet the high expectations that we all have towards Cartoon Saloon. As for the story... ug... well, it's not bad at all, but I feel like they didn't understand the phrase the one that covers a lot, little squeezes (and in this movie it could also be translated to the fact that it last less than it should), that and in addition to feeling rushed (I don't know if Netflix will have something to do with it). The movie first begins MAGNIFICENTLY, telling you about the financial problems of her mother and her son, and she lies to him that she doesn't worry that they will be able to save up and have the store back so as not to disappoint him. The film not only makes you very motivated in this part and worried about what might happen to it, but it also tells you a very good message... but... here the problems begin. The movie after Elmer finds the cat, from here becomes fantasy, and dont get me wrong, I wouldn't have a problem with this kind of movie, but the transition from "real" to "fantasy" feels very forced. They never explain to us why no one found the island, why these animals exist in the town or anything. I feel that it is very wasted in that sense. Then when Elmer goes to the island, it's not that everything is bad, since the realistic messages are still there and I really like the artstyle, although here everything begins to decay... The dragon that accompanies the protagonist is... frankly annoying. It's really irritating to have to see him stumble and do nothing over and over again, it's not until the end that he suddenly plucks up the courage and does what he has to do (go to know how he found out, although at least again, they deliver a good message). The two monkeys as antagonists work very well, and the movie, as I already said, picks up a bit near the end, but ugg, it does show something rushed. There are many things that don't matter, and the conflict at the beginning is resolved as if by magic.

Although after all that has been said it may seem strange that I give it a 7, the truth is that I enjoyed it to a certain extent, mostly because of the super original animation that seems to be taken from a children's book (in a good way), in that way we dont have to worry; Cartoon Saloon will never disappoint us, but in history? I think this movie is the weakest of the studio... And for them who came so well with a good run of masterpieces, it's disappointing...