The Willoughbys
Directed by Kris Pearn
- adventure
- animation
- comedy
- family
- fantasy
The story
When the four Willoughby children are abandoned by their selfish parents, they must learn how to adapt their Old-Fashioned values to the contemporary world in order to create something new: The Modern Family.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated 3D animation with storybook exaggeration: bold primary colours, cartoonishly oversized props and houses, and a slightly storybook-plasticky sheen that makes every room look like a pop-up page. Camera moves are quick and playful, with swooping crane shots and snappy cuts that suit the chaotic energy of the household, while the scenes of the children's quiet, orderly home are rendered in tidy pastels that feel wistfully old-fashioned. The sound is busy and cheeky, a bouncy orchestral score with jaunty pizzicato and comic sound effects, and the vibe is brisk, witty and warm, with a mischievous streak. It suits a lazy afternoon, a family movie night, or a light comfort watch when you want something cheerful and quick. The pacing is zippy and the tone is sardonic yet tender, following a set of orphaned siblings who slowly learn to trust one another and build something unconventional together. Intensity is low: some slapstick peril, mild menace from the villainous adults, and no gore or sexual content. It is for families, animation fans, and anyone who enjoys dry, knowing humour wrapped in a big, colourful package.
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