On the whole, 2016 was a banner year for animated films — be it on the massive scale with Disney’s “Zootopia,” the critical darling in Laika’s “Kubo And The Two Strings,” or small independent fare such as Studio Ghibli’s silent wonder “The Red Turtle,” it seemed that everywhere filmgoers looked, they could find an animated film worthy of their time investment. While there were some odd duds (see the bizarrely violent “The Secret Life Of Pets”), it was year full of wonder and color for the medium. On the outskirts, but popular enough to be nominated for a Golden Globe, is Claude Barras’s “My Life As A Zucchini,” which debuted at Cannes in 2016.
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Starring an English voice cast that includes Will Forte, Ellen Page, Nick Offerman and the always amazing and always underrated Amy Sedaris, the film centers on the title character, Zucchini, who is befriended by a police officer after his mother’s sudden death, and who learns how to live his life to the fullest again once he begins searching for a new family of his own. Here’s the official synopsis:
After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home, filled with other orphans his age. At first he struggles to find his place in this at times strange and hostile environment.
But with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own. Brought to life through striking character designs and expressive stop-motion animation, the story soars with laughter, sorrow, and joy, and stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart.
Visually expressive and utilizing Claymation stylings for their utmost effect, if the title alone doesn’t deter the viewer from the film, then the charm of its protagonist, the quirky animation and the coming-of-age narrative should be enough to draw them in.
“My Life As A Zucchini,” distributed by GKIDS, will be released in the U.S. on February 24th.
