Review of Abominable (2019) by Healingtoolbox — 25 Oct 2019

Contrary to some pro critics, I found this far LESS COMMERCIAL than 95% of feature animation. As the third of three yeti animated films in production at about the same time, the plot can't avoid many familiar tropes.

Still the tropes and plot holes keep things moving between unusually inspiring and sometimes unique scenes of uplifting visual poetry. For me the high point is right before act three, where they meet the Buddha.

This scene is not even mentioned in any pro review I've read so far. The movie is also blessed with the pleasures of ultra-realistic Nature animation, including water movement animation, a beloved staple of Chinese animation and CGI efforts.

On the other hand the movie is saddled with being--I think--a trial balloon to see if Chinese audiences respond to a Pixar-level effort tailored to Chinese cultural tropes, sensibilities and tastes. On the plus side again, the apparently female-led, female-dominated creators of Abominable demonstrate amazing collaborative skills getting this made, at a high level of quality, given its brief to straddle both Western and Chinese sensibilities.