Animation Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Animation

Two cartoon characters - a pink-haired, blue-flowered girl and a serious-looking, grey-skinned troll man - with expressive faces against a dark background.
Review

Trolls

by Alexia Stam

Could this be the most annoyingly cheery animated feature of all time? Almost, but not quite.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Colourful cartoon characters in a lively nightclub setting, with a smiling hot dog and a female figure with exaggerated eyelashes.
Review

Sausage Party

by Adam Woodward

It’s the animated, existentially-inclined talking junk food comedy the world has been waiting for.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A helmeted figure wielding a sword, against a dark, atmospheric background with a glowing sun-like symbol above.
Review

Kubo and the Two Strings

by Charlie Theobald

Laika Studios may have delivered their masterpiece with this staggering stop-motion fable.

3
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Lush, verdant foliage with red berries arching overhead; a young boy in green clothes and a red fox on a path through the idyllic scene.
Review

The Little Prince

by Wilbur Charles-Roberts

Animator Mark Osbourne puts a contemporary twist on this much adored children’s classic.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Animated character with pointy ears, grinning teeth, and a purple flower in its hand against a dark background.
Review

Ice Age: Collision Course

by David Jenkins

Very vanilla fourth sequel to the original animated smash with a major fetish for toilet humour.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two black sea lions basking on a rock with a pier in the background, two small orange fish in the water below.
Review

Finding Dory

by Anton Bitel

Pixar’s latest transoceanic odyssey is a pixel-perfect comedy about learning to overcome adversity and disability.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Plush toy bird in bright yellow and green colours, perched on a gaming controller on a cluttered desk.
Review

The Secret Life of Pets

by Adam Woodward

This animated adventure from the makers of Minions fails to live up to its initial promise.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Stylised illustration of a crowd, featuring a woman with blonde hair at the centre.
Review

Long Way North

by Sophie Yapp

This visually lustrous animated adventure film is hamstrung by its simplistic central story.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A traditional Japanese house with blue-framed windows, surrounded by lush greenery and a stone wall. A child stands in the foreground, facing the house.
Review

When Marnie Was There

by Michael Leader

A magical coming-of-age story by one of Studio Ghibli’s most talented filmmakers.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two young students, a boy and a girl, sitting together in a school hallway.
Review

Only Yesterday (1991)

by David Jenkins

A vital re-release of Isao Takahata’s serene slice of rustic nostalgia with a new English language voice dub.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect