The Willoughbys Review
The Willoughbys is an animated adaptation of Lois Lowry's book of the same name with animation done by Bron Animation Studios and is directed by Kris Pearn (who've worked on shows like 6Teen, Max & Ruby, Jacob Two-Two, as well as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2). It follows the adventures of the Willoughby children as they attempt to dispose of their selfish, neglectful parents for a chance at freedom and autonomy. This movie was a very pleasant surprise that came out of no where with very little fanfare.
First and foremost, the animation and direction itself is spectacular and are reminiscent of recent tent-pole animated movies like The Lego Movie, and Into the Spider-Verse. It's made to look like stop-motion and leans heavily in its arts and craft aesthetic like yarn being used as hair, cotton being used as smoke and so on. This mixed with Craig Kellman's distinct character designs and a genuinely great message about adoptive found families makes it nearly impossible to deny The Willoughbys immediately infectious charm. The movie tackles a lot during its hour and a half and at times, it feels like it bites off more than it can chew. Not all characters feel completely fleshed out like Commander Melanoff (Terry Crews), and the Willoughby twins (Seán Cullen). They're important to its eccentric cast of characters and those heavier moments would've really hit more if their roles weren't so heavily reduced. There's also a narrating cat voiced by Ricky Gervais who's just kind of there for some reason. That being said, the other characters like Will Forte's Tim Willoughby, Alessia Cara's Jane Willoughby, and Maya Rudolph's sweet nanny character, Linda, have an organic chemistry and bond between them and it manages to be the heart of the story.
The Willoughbys is full of charm, its animation is gorgeous and inventive, and it also has an important message for families both biological and found. It's a hidden gem that deserves your attention and is an animation nerd's paradise.