It might be odd for anyone who knew me growing up to hear that animation is one of the film genres I struggle with. Having spent most of my childhood drawing various Transformers and Star Wars characters before transitioning to recreations of Michael Jordan and more “grown up” subject matter in high school, I definitely have an appreciation for the artistry and craft of animation, but as far as movies are concerned, it’s never been my “thing.”
Nevertheless, the annual UFCA ballot always calls for a selection of animated features, so at some point I have to take a look at the films that seem to be stirring up some attention. Here are four of 2025’s more notable entries:
1. Little Amelie
Set in Japan around 20 years after the end of World War II, “Little Amelie” is a creative story about a young child who suddenly comes rushing into a confusing and wondrous world after spending the first two-and-a-half years of her life in a near comatose state. Amelie is the third child of Belgian parents, living in Japan on diplomatic assignment. After spending more than two years catatonic and unresponsive, the young girl suddenly springs to life after her paternal grandmother offers her some Belgian chocolate. (Never underestimate the power of a good bar of chocolate!) What follows is a thoughtful story that sees the little girl rush to make up for lost time, and learning to reconcile love and loss as she tries to understand the harsh realities of mortality. Like “Godzilla Minus One,” “Little Amelie” also examines the state of post-war Japan, through Amelie’s landlady and nanny. Of all the animated features I’ve reviewed to prepare for my ballot, this would be my easiest recommendation.
2. Lost in Starlight
Set in South Korea twenty-five years into the future, “Lost in Starlight” is a romantic drama about a fledgling musician and an astronaut on a collision course with destiny. Nan-young (Kim Tae-ri) is the daughter of a famous astronaut who died in a martian earthquake on the second mission to Mars, now an accomplished scientist hoping to join the upcoming fourth mission to finish her mother’s work. Jay (Hong Kyung) is a talented but listless musician who runs into Nan-young outside a repair shop and promises to fix her vintage record player. Their quickly blossoming romance is tested when Nan-young is accepted on the Mars mission, and the couple faces the challenge of a future where traveling to our distant neighbor still requires a 6-month one-way voyage, not to mention the mortal dangers that await on the Red Planet. “Lost in Starlight” has some weak spots, like some clumsy use of slow-motion and the lingering suspicion that live action actors might have better communicated the nuance of its romance, but a poignant ending leaves you with a satisfying experience overall.
3. Arco
“Arco” is the story of a time-traveling journey from the distant future to the not-quite-as-distant future. A young boy named Arco is from a future civilization that lives in the clouds, kind of like if Cloud City from “The Empire Strikes Back” if it were a vast collection of tree houses. The civilization was born of necessity because of environmental catastrophe on the Earth’s surface, and because of their circumstances, residents use magic rainbow suits to fly among the clouds, and even travel through time if they go fast enough. Arco (Oscar Tresanini) isn’t old enough to fly yet, but of course this doesn’t stop him from stealing his sister’s rainbow suit anyway and setting out on a voyage that eventually lands him on Earth just before everything went bad. Here he meets a disgruntled young girl named Iris (Margo Ringard Oldra), who is tasked with getting Arco back home while trying to make sense of the disintegration of the world around her. I found “Arco” to be a little less memorable than the other animated movies I screened for this year’s ballot, though it also struck me as something more dedicated animation fans would really appreciate. So…not really my thing, but possibly yours?
4. K-Pop: Demon Hunters
You don’t have to be “into” animation to have heard about the “K-Pop: Demon Hunters” phenomenon, so the day before Thanksgiving I teamed up with a couple of my nieces to have the full experience. (Well, not the “full” experience; I know there is–or was–a singalong option. I guess my efforts to be the World’s Greatest Uncle have their limits.) For those even more out of the loop than me, “K-Pop” follows a trio of Korean pop stars who live double lives as, yes, demon hunters. They are the latest in a long line of performers who use their platform as a strategic means of protecting society from a wicked overlord and his nefarious demon underlings. This time around, the demons come in the form of a K-Pop boy band, whose infectious moves are matched only by their hypnotic powers over their young fans…and even the demon hunters themselves. This would be challenging enough if one of the demon hunters wasn’t hiding a secret that could upend the whole operation. Like a lot of teen and pre-teen media these days, “K-Pop” leans hard into themes of identity while presenting a dazzling show of color and admittedly sharp animation. It also has a pretty clever sense of humor, which helps to offset the regular musical numbers that will remind at least one middle-aged reviewer that he is anything but the intended audience for this particular bit of pop culture. By the end of “K-Pop: Demon Hunters,” I could see why fans are hoping for future installments, but I definitely won’t be downloading anything from the soundtrack.
5. Zootopia 2
As Disney animation goes, the first “Zootopia” was a fun movie that will probably get lost in the shuffle when discussing the studio’s best efforts. Likewise, “Zootopia 2” is a fun animated movie that will probably get lost in the shuffle when put up against its 2025 competitors. The sequel picks up the concept of a walking, talking animal kingdom with a rookie cop bunny named Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) working alongside a fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). The plot revolves around their investigation into an important journal that concerns the founding of the Zootopia community, and though it takes a while for the story to really get up to speed, it does have a nice finish. The better part is noting all the fun details along the way: a company called “Legitimate Purse Co.” that is an obvious front for organized crime, a parody of the movie poster for “Alien” called “Platypus,” etc. “Zootopia 2” can get a little preachy at times with its messaging about inter-species harmony, but it’s still a reliable go-to as a family option.