In 1928, Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in "Steamboat Willie", marking the beginning of anthropomorphized animals as an important branch of Hollywood animation.
"Steamboat Willie" is also significant for being one of the first synchronized sound cartoons, although not the first animated film with sound. Subsequent classics like "Dumbo", "Winnie the Pooh" and "The Lion King" have all been included in this genre, with Disney dominating.
After the 1990s, with the rise of DreamWorks Animation, Blue Sky Studios, Illumination Entertainment and Pixar Animation Studios, we were treated to a series of great films such as "Madagascar", "Kung Fu Panda", "Ice Age", "Rio", "The Secret Life of Pets" and "Finding Nemo".
In the 21st century, the character design of animals in animated films has evolved towards more realistic or relatable portrayals compared to earlier eras. Previously, anthropomorphized animals often possessed distinct features that depicted either extreme innocence and kindness or portrayed great evil. An illustrative instance can be found in "The Lion King", adapted from "Hamlet", showcasing characters like the brave and benevolent Simba, the comedic duo Timon and Pumbaa, and the primary antagonist Scar.
In the new century, animated films more often reflect the portrayal of human society in real-life settings. This is evident in Illumination Entertainment's "Sing" with characters like a jazz-era playboy mouse, a housewife pig, an African American elephant, and a Latin American gangster gorilla.
Illumination Entertainment is quite skilled in creating animated films with animal themes, showcasing the challenges faced by human society, accompanied by the contrast brought about by animal attributes, resulting in comedic effects. Prior to "Migration", the "Sing" and "The Secret Life of Pets" series have received positive reviews and achieved success.
In all honesty, while Illumination Entertainment's blockbuster franchises like "Minions" and "Despicable Me" have achieved significant success at the box office, some might perceive their style as somewhat "commercial" or, to be frank, "vulgar" from an artistic standpoint.
In the "Minions" series, cuteness and absurdity are taken to extreme levels. Although the character design has been successful in the realm of entertaining commercial films, some perceive it as lacking in originality. There have been rumors suggesting that the distinctive design of the Minions characters might have been influenced by a desire to cut costs on special effects.
However, Illumination Entertainment's animal-themed films bring a relatively refreshing style. In their animations, we can see family values, cultural conflicts, social issues, gender topics, feminism, and various cultures from around the world. They reflect a real society, real "characters", real conflicts, and the struggles of those "characters" within society. In simple terms, the highest level of animal animations is to create an animal version of "Kramer vs. Kramer".
"Migration" is more like "Vacation" compared to "Kramer vs. Kramer" - a middle-class road comedy that highlights family bonds through humorous incidents during the journey, ultimately conveying the film's core values of family relationships, growth and understanding. There is a younger sister and a younger brother, there are silly and vulgar elements, but despite the ups and downs, it can still be considered as a family film.
The film itself can be described as "fantastic"! Whether it's the story structure, creative ideas, filmmaking techniques, animation quality, this film surpasses Illumination Entertainment's previous blockbuster series like "Despicable Me" and "Minions".
The movie centers on a wild duck family of four, leading a tranquil life in a pond. However, an accidental event involving the elder brother's crush prompts the family to embark on a migration journey. Each family member possesses a unique personality: a careful father, an adventurous mother, a daring elder brother, and a sweet and innocent younger sister. The narrative predominantly follows the father as the main character, guiding the family through a journey filled with unexpected challenges. Throughout the journey, the father showcases his bravery, the mother reveals her vulnerability, the elder brother undergoes personal growth, while the younger sister remains consistently naive and endearing.
During the journey, they experience a terrifying night in the marsh, a roller coaster ride in New York, and a butcher's pursuit on the beach. They encounter various birds, such as a pigeon with a New York accent (voiced by Awkwafina), a romantic Jamaican parrot, a "witch" heron living in the New Jersey marshes, and a silly "uncle" - who is also a duck.
The movie depicts the birds' actions, smiles, and thoughts as if they were human, creating an uncanny resemblance to individuals one might encounter in real life. Even as the birds become increasingly anthropomorphic, the creators ensure to retain their inherent bird-like traits. It's this balance between their human-like qualities and bird-like characteristics that generates a comedic and engaging atmosphere in the film.
Of course, for a company that created “Minions” and "Despicable Me", being commercial is unavoidable. There are a lot of lines in the film, which not only help to depict the bird characters but also have a preaching quality. The human characters in the film are mostly portrayed as villains, and they don't have a single line of dialogue. They are deaf and mute, which is quite amusing.
In the past, folks watched cartoons to get away from real life. Back in the early 1900s, this wish wasn't just for animated movies but for all Hollywood films—a way to escape reality. Today, being real is more important worldwide, and the urge to escape reality isn't as strong. The old favorite topics like princesses, magic, and princes aren't as trendy as they used to be.
Nowadays, people might not seek their fantasies on the cinema screen as much. Instead, they prefer seeing characters who resemble them, be it a human or a duck, sometimes goofing around and doing things in a unique way.
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