Review of The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012) by Chantal B — 09 Feb 2014

Off-beat, and very likable. The animation is beautifully fluid and the nameless characters are defined mostly by their individual animation style. (It's unfortunate they don't get slightly more screentime).

The largest problems are portraying Charles Darwin as a nerdy girl-hungry monkey-abuser and Queen Victoria as a psychopathic dual-sword wielding tyrant - wait, what I'm I saying - that last one was amazing! But seriously, A devious Darwin? Maybe if it had been more over the top, but for the most part he's played as a straight sub-villain.

For that matter, there is some humour I'd say is a little too adult, with problematic undertones (Scientists building a balloon expressly to look down women's shirts, the one female pirate captain being the object of the Pirate Captain's romantic fantasy).

However, I love the mostly subtle humour, visual gags, and easy, flowing story. Thank the nondenominational god that we are not saving the world this time - we are saving a Dodo, and that is actually much more entertaining and important.