rannynm

Eyes of Wakanda is a gorgeous and incredibly investing show with incredibly well written characters and storylines. Every episode shines in its own unique way, leading to an engaging and shocking experience.

The storyline follows War Dogs, a group of Wakandan soldiers whose goal is to retrieve stolen artifacts, with each episode having a Wakanda artifact found by a different War Dog at different times. However, the War Dogs deal with challenges when retrieving each one, from physical to mental.

The animation is phenomenal; everything is stunning, especially the backgrounds. For example, the intro of each episode is uniquely executed and visually appealing in its sketchy look. I also enjoy the look of the weapons and how creative their designs are. This is complimented by the amazing fight choreography that takes advantage of the area each character is in such as when Noni (Winnie Harlow) uses the curtains of the ship in episode one. The score is terrific and enhances the action and emotion of each scene. Another technical aspect worth mentioning is the costuming and how they incorporate not only the characters' personalities, but also their culture. One that I particularly like is The Lion's (Cress Williams) outfit, as it shows not only his power but his confidence. Each character is extremely well written, with each having great character arcs both individually and overlapping with others. The characters feel so believable which made me feel empathetic towards them. I was constantly excited to see how everything would play out, or what characters we would follow next. The story is wonderfully written and fits perfectly into a TV show format. It takes advantage of individual episodes, with each character having its own story, while managing to tell a comprehensive story that's easy to follow.

The show's message is to follow your own path and not the one that others want you to. Be forewarned that there are some intense scenes including blood and death.

I give Eyes of Wakanda 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases on Disney+ on August 1, 2025. By Isabella V., KIDS FIRST!

The Secret of Butterflies is an enjoyable, fun-to-watch movie with good animation and voice acting.

This storyline follows an adventurous insect named Ryan (Ryan Bartley) whose wish is to become a butterfly so that he can fly. Ryan hears rumors of a mysterious white spider called Liam who has the magical ability of transforming insects into butterflies and ventures off with his friend on a journey to make his dreams come true only to learn that this devious white spider isn't all that he seems. Ryan and his friends must battle through an army of little bugs to save innocent butterflies and defeat Liam once and for all.

While this film isn't really my cup of tea, it tells a good story and is perfect for younger children. This film was originally made in Iran by Ali Tanhaee, who directed the dubbing for this English version. To his credit, the voice actors fit the characters perfectly. The animation is a highlight of the film; the colors are vibrant when appropriate and the foliage stands out. The characters are quite well illustrated - their eyes stand out, as they are deep and realistic looking. However, they feel a bit rigid and unnatural, and the core designs of the characters are very redundant. While I like the story, at times the dialogue seems unnaturally translated from the original, like when Liam says, "I always love when things happen, especially when I am the one who makes everything happen." What this film lacks in character portrayal, it makes up for in the movements of elements such as fire, wind, and water. My favorite part is the classic moment where good triumphs over evil, and Liam is defeated.

The film's message is to be careful who you trust and don't believe everything you hear. It also reminds us that we are great just the way we are, and don't let your own ambitions cloud your judgment. Note that it contains mild violence and fighting, but nothing too extreme.

I give The Secret of Butterflies 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. You can find this film on VOD and digital platforms beginning August 5, 2025.

By Ivyjoy C., KIDS FIRST!

DreamWorks continue their hot streak with a caper that doubles down on the charm and intrigue of the first. I loved the humor, heart, and high-octane thrills in The Bad Guys. Even if the film doesn't completely transcend the first, it's enjoyable to watch.

The Bad Guys have become the newly reformed Good Guys and they meet their greatest challenge yet, making it through job interviews with their reputation preceding them. After failure repeatedly dawns upon the group, the leader, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) suggests that they use their skills to stop a squad of criminals, dubbed the Bad Girls, from stealing a prized wrestling belt. What should have been a simple job quickly turns into an orchestrated cat-and-mouse game with the Bad Girls that has immense repercussions - fortunately, this is just the job for the Good Guys.

The animation is on another level compared to the first - the fast-paced action feels electrifying while the emotions on the characters look real. It's a testament to the gold standard of animation that DreamWorks offers. Notably, a sequence involving a space station is tastefully over-the-top with breathtaking visuals that had me in awe. One shortcoming is that some of the jokes didn't land as well as others. The fart jokes felt excessive, and there's a heap of self-referential humor that broke my immersion. But, most of the humor is thoughtfully hilarious. The cast delivers unique vocal performances that will join the roster of memorable DreamWorks' characters. Sam Rockwell, as Mr. Wolf, is the heart of the film. You root for him to not only get a job with the crew, but also to get together with Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) with whom he shares chemistry. This time, Foxington has a kick to her as the governor of Los Angeles, while maintaining her elusive identity as the Crimson Paw when it comes to fighting the Bad Girls. The other "Bad" Guys join Mr. Wolf on the path for redemption with Anthony Ramos, as Mr. Piranha, being a comedic standout. Awkwafina, as Ms. Tarantula, offers the brains of the operation. Unfortunately, Mark Maron, as Mr. Snake, takes a back seat with his love life, although he still cracks some safes. Fans might be disappointed by the lack of camaraderie between Mr. Wolf and Mr. Snake - after all, the franchise started with them. On the flip side, the Bad Girls offer complementary foils to the protagonists. Danielle Brookes, as Kitty Kat, is a compelling antagonist whose motives aren't generically evil, but ultimately you understand why she must stop. The other Bad Girls are well performed and offer surprises that I can't spoil.

The film's message is about change. The Breformation of the Bad Guys proves that, with the right attitude and people, anyone can genuinely become their best self. The film contains some mild violence and profanity.

The Bad Guys 2 gets 4 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The film releases in theaters on August 1, 2025. By Arjun N., KIDS FIRST!