The Lorax
2012 · Directed by Chris Renaud
Original language: English
- animation
- family
The story
A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated animation in candy colours: Truffula trees in pinks, oranges and sherbet greens against a lurid, slightly artificial sky, with the town of Thneedville rendered as a glossy, over-clean grey-white plastic world under permanent blue lighting. The camera moves in fast, bouncy swoops and musical-number choreography, with rapid cuts and bursts of slapstick colour that keep the eye busy. The score is a loud, upbeat pop-musical mix with big ensemble numbers, and the sound design leans into squeaks, whooshes and cartoon crashes. Vibe: cheerful, boisterous, faintly satirical, with a sharp edge about artifice. It suits a weekend afternoon with kids, a light family movie night, or a comfort watch when you want something loud and bright. The pacing is brisk, the register playful with a serious undertone, and the arc follows a sulky, lovelorn boy who gradually learns to care about something larger than himself. Intensity is mild: some peril and a few tense moments, no gore, no sexual content, and the villainy stays comic and cartoonish. Made for families and young children, and for adults who enjoy a bright, chatty animated musical with an environmental message.
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