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JULIÁN explores childhood as a place where the real and imagined worlds are never far apart. An apartment can become a treasure hunt, a Brooklyn block can open toward fascination, and a child’s dream can grow large enough to reshape an entire summer. Adapted from Jessica Love’s beloved picture book JULIÁN IS A MERMAID, Louise Bagnall’s animated feature takes a story known for its tenderness and expands it without losing the emotion that made the original resonate. It’s a film about gender expression, family, Caribbean heritage, and self-discovery, but it never reduces Julián to anything less. He’s allowed to be a child first. He’s curious, watchful, imaginative, nervous, enchanted, and ready to become something he doesn’t yet have a way to explain.

This was one of the most innovative and unique “animated” films I’ve seen recently. DIPLODOCUS invites viewers on a visually stunning journey through the imaginative realms crafted by a lesser-known yet profoundly talented comic book artist, Ted (Piotr Polak.) This feature, directed by Wojtek Wawszczyk, stands out in the animated landscape for its inventive storytelling and dynamic visual style. Ted’s artistry is the foundation upon which the young dinosaur, Diplodocus (voiced by Mikołaj Wachowski,) seeks the truth behind their parents' mysterious disappearance, propelling the entire cast through a series of enchanting and sometimes perilous comic book worlds.

LIVING LARGE is a vibrant exploration of adolescence, threading together a tale of resilience and self-discovery. We follow this journey with Ben, a young boy who faces a rough phase as he steps into the bewildering world of puberty at 12 years old. His increasing weight draws unnecessary attention, making him a target for ridicule at school and concern at home, compelling him to take drastic measures. By deciding to go on a diet, he aims not just for a personal transformation but also to catch Claire's eye, his school crush.

THE GLASSWORKER signals a seismic shift in the global animation landscape as Pakistan unveils its first-ever hand-drawn feature. Directed by the visionary Usman Riaz, this film combines the grace of traditional anime with a powerful narrative, promising to dazzle viewers. While taking clear inspiration from other works in hand-drawn animation, the film works to establish its style and story. The only knock on the film would be that I would have liked to have seen a little more heart to the story. There were moments when I saw the potential, but it didn’t seem consistent.

SPERMAGEDDON arrives with a splash in a true “coming” of age story, offering a refreshing and audacious twist on animation that caters to a grown-up audience. Directors Tommy Wirkola and Rasmus A. Sivertzen navigate this quirky Norwegian comedy through the less charted waters of life's very beginnings, setting the stage inside the unexplored microcosm of a teenager's body, all to a score that hits every note from humorous to heartwarming. The entire time I watched the film, I couldn’t help but imagine the ridiculous outrage that a certain demographic in the US would have with a movie like this. Their lack of security within themselves would have made this film out to be this horrid monster instead of the warmer tale of growing up that it was.