Avis des utilisateurs

Set in the once magical city of Baltese, the city has lost its magic and wonder following a great war with the city now in the shadow of eternally unmoving clouds. A young boy named Peter (Noah Jupe) is an orphan from the war who is raised by an old soldier Vilna Lutz (Mandy Patinkin) who found him. When Peter comes across a Fortune Teller (Natasia Demetriou) who offers him a question for a coin, she tells Peter that his presumably dead sister is in fact alive and he will find her by following an elephant. In another part of the city, a clumsy Magician (Benedict Wong) tries to inspire a jaded crowd with his magic only to inadvertently cause an elephant to fall from the sky an cripple wealthy Dowager Madam LaVaughn (Miranda Richardson). Upon learning of the elephant, Peter sees this as a sign that the fortune was true and enlists the help of his neighbor Leo Matieene (Brian Tyree Henry) to use his position as Captain of the Guards to get him an audiences with The Countess (Kirby Lauryen Dockery), who holds the elephant in her home, so he can see about getting the elephant. The funloving King (Asaif Mandvi) hears of the elephant decides to visit Baltese to see and bears witness to Peter calling down the elephant when she is thrown into a state distress. Peter pleads his case for the elephant and the king agrees to give it to him provided he can complete three impossible tasks.

The Magician's Elephant is an adaptation of the 2009 illustrated children's novel written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to the novel in 2009 with Martin Hynes adapting the novel and produced by Julia Pistor, but the project languished in development hell and like many other in-development projects at Fox fell victim to the Disney-Fox merger. In 2020, Pistor was able to shop the project elsewhere and took it to Netflix who acquired the rights and Hynes' screenplay and partnered with Animal Logic to produce the animation. Now arriving on Netflix I'm pleased to say The Magician's Elephant is a charming animated feature that captures the charm of its story.

The movie features a great ensemble cast with Noah Jupe of the A Quiet Place films very strong as our lead Peter, and the supporting cast is made up of reliable actors giving strong performances such as Mandy Patinkin, Miranda Richardson, Benedict Wong, Aasif Mandvi, and Brian Tyree Henry providing reliable and likable voice talents to the ensemble. While I haven't read the book the film is based on, Martin Hynes' screenplay is very charming and largely avoids the pitfalls of many modern day animated fantasy films that feel the need to "contemporize" their dialogue in ways that take you out of the story. It reminded me a bit of how The Sea Beast handled its dialogue and characters to a degree. Another point that really stuck out for me was how there's no villain in the film and while there is conflict it feels fairly organic while still fitting within the confines of fairy tale tropes without being overly glib about them as Shrek and its various imitators have, though we still do have some amusing exchanges such as "you've ruined a perfectly good killing machine" that made me smile, and Mandy Patinkin gets some strong comedic moments intermixed with the dramatic ones.

There are some sticking points to the movie. While the animation is good and did grow on me, there was something about the character models that felt a little off at first. The movie is animated by Animal Logic a noted and reliable Australian visual effects house, and while they have worked on animated films such as Happy Feet, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, and DC's League of Super-Pets, they don't typically animate films with prominent human characters and you can kind of tell with this film as the Elephant animated fantastically while the humans have some issues in how certain elements of their faces looked (primarily in the eyes and mouth) and I also felt the texturing on the models was a little off to a degree, but it was something I noticed less and less as the movie went on.

I rather liked The Magician's Elephant. While the animation does have some rough spots to it, I did like the story and characters and feel it's a charming movie with decent showcase of Animal Logic's prowess as an animation house outside movies with animal protagonists (even if their human character models could use some more polish).

First off, the plot is predictable, and you can guess where the tale is headed, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing because this film is meant to make you feel happy and heartfelt. That caused us to marvel and enjoy the journey, and there were a number of things that contributed to my enjoyment of the journey. First, the directing was excellent; I was astounded by how, in some essential scenes, the camera switched to the character's point of view, giving me the impression that I was a part of the setting they were in. Second, the sound effects and visuals did a lot to make me enjoy the film; for example,the stunning sound effects inspired awe and wonder and were so calming and uplifting that it seemed as though the characters were in the room because of how expressive and lifelike their voices sounded. The character movements were fluent and natural, giving a lifelike experience, and the character animation was so lifelike and detailed that it felt like they were real. The brilliant and fascinating colors of the film made for an exciting and immersive experience. The unpleasant aspects of the movie are kind of concealed, so there aren't many of them. I believe they have discovered the recipe for the ideal animated feature.

A young orphan "Peter" has been brought up by a disciplinarian former-soldier, but longs to find his long-lost sister from whom he was parted at the height of war. Out for the daily shopping (stale bread and fish), he espies a tent in which a fortune teller offers to tell his future. It seems that he might be reconciled with his sibling - but for that he has to follow the elephant, and there hasn't been one in his town for an age. Meantime, a rather hapless magician is trying to entertain the great and the good in the town's theatre when - low and behold - he conjures up... The king arrives in the town to inspect this magically contrived and noisy pachyderm and decrees that if "Peter" can carry out three impossible tasks, he can keep it! The three impossible tasks are quite entertaining, as is the whole film. The story is all a little predictable and it does stray into sentimentality just a bit too often, but it's an engaging family drama with some fun characters and colourful scenarios. Maybe a bit too wordy and probably fifteen minutes too long - it takes an age to get going - it is still a gently entertaining watch that imbues the lead character with some imagination and legerdemain and one that I quite enjoyed on a big screen.

Director: "Looks really good! Just one thing, have you ever seen a cloud before?" Animator: "No." Director: "Me neither. I'm sure it's fine."

This one's got quite great deal of tender, genuinely moving scenes. And for the most part the animation looks striking and original despite the obviously lower budget.

(Aside from the clouds, which I know are supposed to look odd but they're just...so obviously not clouds.)

The compelling story is unfortunately often dampened by poor dialogue. It's unbearably contrived and stilted, too often clumsily telling us what has already been expressed visually just in case we're too dumb to pick up on characters' emotions on our own.

But there's so much vibrant content and heartwarming elements that it's impossible to disregard this film, or even dislike it, entirely.

Amidst a whimsical city, orphaned Leo learns his missing family might be found through a mystical elephant's appearance, setting him on a spellbinding quest. Guided by a quirky ensemble of characters, Leo navigates a world woven with wonder and peril. As the enigmatic magician reveals the elephant's powers, Leo's determination grows, and a heartwarming odyssey begins. Through mesmerizing landscapes and breathtaking feats, Leo discovers the true magic of belief, leading to an emotional reunion that defies imagination. This film unveils a tapestry of emotions, celebrating family, hope, and the extraordinary in the ordinary.

The Magician's Elephant is an exceptional film that also provides a very important, valuable life lesson and it is a perfect movie to watch with family or close friends.

The story follows an orphan boy named Peter (Noah Jupe) who loses his sister at a very young age. Peter has always wanted to meet again with his sister but she has been lost since a newborn. Both of his parents passed away in a war and, ever since then, a strict and old soldier has taken care of Peter. On one special day Peter goes to the market to buy a small fish and stale bread, as that is what Peter and the soldier have for dinner every night, but instead of Peter buying dinner Peter spends his money on a fortune teller to answer his lifelong question. He asks, "Where can I find my sister?" and the fortune teller's response is "Follow the Elephant..."

I absolutely recommend watching this astounding film! The Magician's Elephant is so well-done that it made me and my whole family get very emotional. The animation of this film is wondrous; the visual effects are glorious, beautiful and realistic. The special effects are extraordinary -- I love how all the colors and scenes match the storyline so incredibly well. My favorite scene is when the magician (Benedict Wong) brings the elephant back to the animal's habitat and we realize that Peter is also helping another family get back together. This shows that Peter is not selfish at all. Peter is a kind-hearted soul who deserves to be reunited with his sister. He wants to find his sister so badly and so he obeys whatever the fortune teller tells him to do like, follow the Elephant, which he does. To get to the elephant Peter has to complete three impossible tasks given to him by the King. If Peter completes the three tasks he will earn the right to have the elephant and that will lead him to his dream. You will have to watch to see if Peter's dream comes true!

The film's message is to always care and love your family because, if you don't have them, then who do you have to love? Another message is to always have hope for whatever you do or believe.

I give The Magician's Elephant 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It is available in theaters now and releases on Netflix March 17, 2023. By Keila V., KIDS FIRST!

Another animation film gone straight to streaming, which is such a shame.

The film is very beautiful visually, showing us different and unique places, and in a style that is very pleasing.

The story is interesting, although perhaps not as daring as other recent animated films and at times felt a little too simple. Some themes needed more depth, but the plot is entertaining. As much as it was not as creatively original as say the Spider-man Spider-Verse films, it was a pleasant experience and left an extremely positive balance.

I did enjoy that the moral lesson is very well crafted, always reminding us how we must never lose hope, regardless of the challenge.

Started off great w a good premise, captivating animation.

... then the plot absurdities start to plonk in one by one until there's such a deluge of nonsense that all sense of connection to the plot or the characters are gone.

Yet AGAIN another animation which throws all its budget on the visual graphics and a tiny tiny pittance on good writers who can flesh out a viable plot with characters that can hold the viewers interest.

But here we have rubbish plot, rubbish dialogue, characters which held early promise all plonked down the tunnel of showy absurdity.

Good visual animation but the nonsense plotting is for animation trash heap.

I really don't get the amount of dislike for this movie it was really really good and enjoyable, i didn't get bored even a second, the movie is really good. And the story is amazing the message they're trying to spread is amazing, the characters, the visuals, the plot, overall amazing, and the story felt rich everything was clear and not confusing. Its also makes you slightly emotional. Like i said before the movie doesn't bore you every second of it is fun and exciting. Not gonna lie i'm kinda surprised that a netflix original animation was good( there are good ones but its rare), and it also has deep meanings.

Peter is an orphan living in a magical town, and is being raised by Vilna, a soldier who rescued him during the war. Vilna has always been telling Peter his sister died at birth, but Peter is convinced she is alive and determined to find her.

To be sure, Peter decides to ask a fortune teller, who allows him one question for one coin. When he asks her how he could find his sister, she replies "Follow the elephant." Although this proves to Peter she is in fact alive still, there are no elephants in his town.

Well, not until a magician makes an elephant appear during one of his magic shows. Fearing the elephant might endanger her people, the Countess wants to get rid of the elephant. However, when Peter insists he needs the elephant to find his sister, the King agrees to give him the elephant providing he can complete three impossible tasks.

And so Peter's adventure begins. He first has to find a way to accomplish the tasks, and then find his sister. 'The Magician's Elephant' is not as funny as most animated films are. It has a far more serious undertone with a heartfelt story and a positive underlying message.

I really enjoyed the characters and rooted for Peter every step of the way. I also enjoyed the fact there were no annoying comic relief characters. The animation is absolutely stunning and this film looks incredible on screen. I loved it.

A very complete story. The movie is wholesome and fun and lovely. It's never slow and holds you captive from the first scene. This movie will make your heart beat with suspense, and then make you swoon with its sentiment. The animators, designers, and compositors draw you right into the quaint European town full of beautiful scenery and dramatically diverse towns folk. The characters and their relationships are well developed. There are no wholes in the plot. Each piece fits together and each character plays perfectly in his/her place. The transitions are seamless And the movie simply makes sense.

From my experience, this movie lacks a storyline, and motive, and other than the animation it was so dull. It should've been shorter and the ending they were dragging it. In my opinion it was a little boring and slow paced and stuff were just randomly placed out of nowhere and The fact the town is small and they Lived in the same Town and your telling me they never bumped into each other even once!? Yeah right Horrible movie.

This movie is so over postive. And now a days life is not like this where evil and fall doesnt exist so only for children who are age from 1 to 8 yrs. Nothing shown impossible here except Hope and positive vibes. Not recommended.

This animated feature is absolutely stunning in terms of animation. I could see myself getting lost in this highly detailed world. With its beautiful animation and timeless themes of hope, this animated feature deserves all the love it is getting. There is a lot we can learn from Peter. Moreover, I love the subtle humor in this movie. The timing on the jokes are all great, showing that this movie is one that can be enjoyed by the whole family and not only young children. Though this movie is sure to captivate any kid, it even captivates those who may find heartfelt movies irritating. Relax, get some popcorn, and watch this movie. You will not regret it.

Absurd storyline! Not even funny anymore. Something wit a boy, an elephant from Africa, a book, a sister, a soldier. Really impossible to tell coherently what the synopsis is. There's a magician in the story as well and he knows real magic, no tricks. Despite this he's not loved by his audience, so that's why he summons an elephant from the sky, which falls on an old lady and that is start of a relationship with the magician. Then the boy starts a fight with a knight. I really don't understand why everybody is very cheerful about this because the knight tries to kill the boy, but then the boy remembers he has a fairytale book with the knight's name in it. So the fight is halted when the boy shows jp with the book...

Firstly the movie has a lot of magic to the point that the viewer can be fed up. Secondly the plot Is way too complicated for children and makes the movie boring very quickly. One feels like the writers didn't really know when the main action was going to kick in.

While the scenery is interesting and a mix of European scenery with a glimpse of Asian, the general population is too much Netflix friendly (I guess the many ones who know, know what I am taking about). In fact as I am writing this, we could say this is the cast of Bridgerton mixed up with the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

In terms of visual, it is really well done with a few scenes that could be inspired by IMF or Matrix (slow mo).

From a humor point of view, nothing is really funny.

Imagine you are scrolling thru Facebook and some dreadful animation pops up. You are given a choice; watch the 100 minute movie or be on your merry way. FAIL TRY AGAIN.

A magician does a magic show without using magic, because reasons? They try to give reasons that people forgot magic or something... But why would people ever forget actual magic?

The dialogue leaves one wandering if the actors where kept seperate or if they read their lines a single time in amazement of how bad the lines were and they kept it. Now to be fair children will not notice nor care so I give it that. STRICTLY CHILDRENS MOVIE. But kids don't leave reviews.

If you love the fantasy world of the late author Roald Dahl, you will feel right at home with this animated feature.

The story is a simple one: it is about a boy called Peter who searching for his lost sister. There are a lot of lovable characters: a magician whose magic tricks backfire on him, an eccentric and old war veteran who is wheelchair-bound and is the guardian of Peter, a princess who has lost the ability to laugh and smile since her brother died in the war and lastly the King who is ever the optimist and always in a jolly mood.

With these characters the tale told is a colorful one. The C. G. I. Animation is very good, the voice-acting is spot on and the script and direction flawless. I was engrossed till the final scene of the film and would highly recommend to anyone.

Watched it at home with the kids and loved it. The graphics, the characters, the storyline, the courage, the heart wrenching war imagery, the air of mystery and the suspense- what's not to like?

But I guess, most of all, I loved the ending, which features their family as complete.

What makes this really spectacular, I think, is the video-game-like graphics. It all reminds me a bit of CG shows like Lost in Oz.

They should make more movies like this. I wasn't aware of the book the movie is based on prior to watching this. I hope to read it some day and to find that the movie did it justice. It's refreshing to see such complex European characters born from the pen of an American writer.

I'm not sure why this movie has bad reviews. The animation is beautiful. The story is unique and heartwarming. Someone said it's like frozen but I can't even see a correlation between the two movies other than there's a character that's a sister. I have a hard time finding movies I enjoy watching with my 8 year old but this one is a new favorite. There's a couple side stories that are actually fully developed, which is rare in movies anymore. It's just a cute movie about a boy trying to find his family and a town trying to find happiness again after a war. The animation and story make you feel like you've been transported to another time and place. It's just an all around good movie and I'm shocked it doesn't have better ratings or more people talking about it. It was a great find on a cold snowy night.