Introduction
Hello there, fellow adventurers! Blaziker has returned for yet another animated movie adventure, and we’ve got eight more animated movies to cover before the business end of the year that is November, so let’s get started on what we are exploring today!
The first movie, A Magnificent Life, chronicles the life of legendary French novelist and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol as he recounts his childhood and how his love for writing and film-making ended up shaping his future. It has been many, many years since legendary French director Sylvian Chomet produced an iconic French animated movie in The Triplets of Belleville, showcasing a gritty animation style not commonly seen in the animation scene at that time. Will his return be worth the wait?
The second movie, Curious Tales of a Temple, is an animated anthology movie about stories taking place in a single temple throughout different timelines. Light Chaser has become one of my go-to animation studios for bringing Chinese animation to the forefront, and this time, Light Chaser embarks on their most ambitious movie yet. Will their high-risk approach succeed?
The third movie, Maya, Give Me a Title, showcases stories based on director Michel Gondry’s conversations with his daughter Maya. Michel Gondry is one of the most creative producers and director alive, having been responsible for many iconic movies (such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and music videos (including the Lego stop-motion music video for The White Stripes’ “Fell in Love with a Girl”), but he has yet to produce his own animated movie until now. How will his animated movie debut fare?
The fourth movie, Lesbian Space Princess, is an Australian animated movie that’s half sci-fi, half LGBTQ pride about a space princess forced out of her comfort zone as she travels on a galactic quest to save her ex-girlfriend from the evil Straight White Maliens. Yeah, the title is a dead giveaway, but most importantly, the concept alone sold me, given it’s not everyday you see movies with plots like this. With it getting rave reviews across various festivals, including the Annecy Film Festival, is Lesbian Space Princess that great?
The fifth movie, The Twits, is a Roald Dahl animated movie adaptation about Mr and Mrs Twit, the meanest, smelliest and nastiest people with the world who owns an amusement park face-to-face with two orphans and a family of magical animals who are tired of their shenanigans. While Netflix has been producing and distributing animated movies that are worth seeing such as K-Pop Demon Hunters this year, they still have committed some faults with their other, less desirable animated movies, and it seems The Twits is one of them. With basically no promotion and not even a trailer, there are worrying signs The Twits is really bad and Netflix wanted to bury it from existence. Is this such a movie?
The sixth movie, The Songbird’s Secret, is about a girl spending time with her mother in her childhood place for the holidays as her mother, an archaeologist, spends the holidays excavating in the childhood place. French animation has been consistently top-tier that even their family-friendly animated movies are as great as their other great animated movies, with Chicken for Linda and Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds as some examples. Is this yet another great French family-friendly animated movie worth seeing?
The seventh movie, Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass, sees the titular characters in another movie, this time transported back in time to ancient China and being entangled with a plot to destroy Chinese civilisation. If I were to be honest, Tom and Jerry is an iconic cartoon that just simply could not work in the movie format. We had seen endless movies starring them, and most of them just do not work. With international adaptations of the franchise working out quite well, will this break the Tom and Jerry movie curse?
The eighth and final movie, 100 Metres, chronicles a story about two track running rivals meeting again years after they became friends and runners of a school track and field team. Given this was from the director who gave us On-Gaku: Our Sound, this movie already piques my interest to see how he will perform on a much bigger budget compared to the last time. Will 100 Meters be yet another worthy Annecy 2025 animated movie?
If you are ready, let us continue with this epic adventure!
A Magnificent Life
Key Information
- Director: Sylvain Chomet
- Animation Studios: What the Prod, Align, Walking the Dog, Bidibul Productions, On Animation Studios and Mediawan
- Country of Origin: Canada, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and United States of America
- Release Date: 10 October 2025 (as part of Animation Nation 2025)
Trailer
The Review
If you had seen my Annecy Film Festival 2025 article, you know I am excited to see A Magnificent Life, so you can tell my expectations for this were very high. I was fearful Chomet would not be able to meet my expectations, but man, he really did just that!
I do have some issues with this movie, such as the slower pacing of this movie and the fact that it is a biopic, so that are certain parts of the movie that felt a bit repetitive. With that said, for a movie focusing on the works of Marcel Pagnol, I was happy with what this movie presented as not just an ordinary biopic, but also a movie that felt authentic in depicting the French entertainment scene and the lengths to feel authentic and true to your beliefs.
The signature Chomet animation style has not aged one bit since his last movie in The Illusionist, and in 2025, his gritty animation style showcase the craftmanship of hand-drawn animation so well. The animation style felt alive in showcasing the life of a French entertainment legend thanks to its raw and unfiltered style full of substance. Certain animation sequences pop out when needed, and the colouring, while slightly muted, is both tasteful and well-executed.
The classic French jazz soundtrack complements Pagnol’s love for music and jazz and as for my level of enjoyment, considering this is my first ever time covering a Chomet animated movie, I am happy to report I had a fantastic time with his latest masterpiece. It’s such a great slow burner that is well needed after covering two very bad animated movies in my previous Rundown, and showcases the power of authenticity in animation.
Overall, I am satisfied with A Magnificent Life, and not only would this convince me to see some of Pagnol’s past works, but also Chomet’s other animated movies that I had yet to see. Maybe those two would be better than this, but for now, A Magnificent Life was worthy of its Annecy debut.
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
Curious Tales of a Temple
Key Information
- Directors: Xue Yuemei, Huang Heyu and Liu Yilin
- Animation Studios: Light Chaser Animation
- Country of Origin: China
- Rating: PG13
- Release date: 12 July 2025 (in China)
Trailer
The Review
I had to travel quite a bit just to see the latest Light Chaser animated movie based on the works of famed Chinese ghost story writer Pu Songling, and honestly, after seeing it, Curious Tales of a Temple was well worth the hassle, because I enjoyed it!
In the original Chinese version, Curious Tales of a Temple has five stories with a total runtime of 2.5 hours; in the international version, however, it is shorten down to just three stories and a runtime of just under two hours, and honestly, if the reason for this is to showcase just the three strongest and most cohesive stories, then it clearly worked, because even though all three stories have similar story structures, they all work together to create such a surprisingly cohesive animated movie for an anthology. It also helped you connect with the characters because the character development is well-rounded in spite of the story structure. This is especially so for the second story “Painted Skin”, which is Pu’s most iconic work by far. It’s clear why Painted Skin is an iconic work, because Light Chaser’s interpretation of it is quite powerful.
Even so, Curious Tales of a Temple is a movie that is carried more by the animation than the writing, which is par for the course of some of Light Chaser’s previous animated movies. A lot of animation sequences have fantastic composition and designs, as well as dynamic animation sequences that breathe life into the stories showcased in Curious Tales of a Temple. I love the diversity in the animation designs and styles and the great execution of them. It can be overwhelming, but this is a good type of overwhelming.
The music score is just as fantastic as the scores from previous Light Chaser animated movies, and as for my level of enjoyment, I am not surprised at how much I was enjoying it. Personally, Light Chaser is a fantastic animation studio, and once again, Curious Tales of a Temple showcases that devastating fact so well.
Overall, Curious Tales of a Temple is definitely worth travelling a bit just to see this animated anthology, and why Light Chaser is such an animation studio to look out for. I cannot wait to see what Light Chaser has in store next, especially given they are going to produce an animated movie based on the legendary Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Sign me up, Light Chaser!
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
Maya, Give Me a Title
Key Information
- Director: Michel Gondry
- Animation Studio: Partizan Films
- Country of Origin: France
- Rating: PG
- Release date: 12 October 2025 (in Singapore as part of Animation Nation 2025)
Trailer
The Review
Michel Gondry is an extremely creative and imaginative director and writer that loves to think outside of the box, and does something so different, yet so magical at the same time with his works. Here, his animated movie debut is exactly that: a very original and creative animated movie that only he can create.
There are some issues to note, especially with some of the writing. Since the stories are based on conversations with Gondry’s real-life daughter Maya (the main character of his movie), and a child’s imagination is just as wild and insanely interesting, the stories naturally do not flow with each other, and some stories are more interesting than others: with that said, this is a movie that is full of endless creativity and experimentation, with the stories ranging from plausible to the wildly insane, making such a fun and engaging movie to go through.
The creative story in this movie was also elevated with the unique cut-out stop-motion animation style, a style that is very rarely seen in even non-mainstream animated movies (although The Songbird’s Secret, which we will explore a little later), with its rough edges and authentic stop-motion feel, makes the stories come alive even more. This is not generic computer-generated boring; this is experimental art at its most fun, and I bet even the biggest detractors of family-friendly animated movies can have fun with the movie’s animation.
The score and other elements are as fun, and as for my enjoyment, I had a lot of fun with it, laughing at some of the movie’s most hilarious and absurd moments, while also feeling a connection with Gondry. It’s clear he and his team had a lot of fun with this movie, because I was vibing over the movie’s simplistic charm.
Overall, while not the most mind-blowing animated movie I had seen this year, Maya, Give Me a Title is still as fun as it could be from such a creative genius like Michel Gondry. Let’s hope his sequel to this, Maya, Give Me Another Title, is as wildly entertaining as this one.
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
Lesbian Space Princess
Key Information
- Directors: Leela Varghese, Emma Hough-Hobbs
- Animation Studio: We Made a Thing Studios
- Country of Origin: Australia
- Rating: R21
- Release date: 11 September 2025 (in Australia)
Trailer
The Review
When I saw the premise behind Lesbian Space Princess, I knew this would appeal to my out-there and experimental taste, and needless to say, this movie delivers more than what the plot was telling me in the best way possible!
There are just too many things about this fun and pride-coded sci-fi comedy that has everything, so I will keep it as brief as possible without spoiling key moments, because if you can take it, then you will have fun with Lesbian Space Princess. A fun and unpredictable space odyssey that is full of fun and hilarious moments, unpredictability in its plot and hilarious jokes of all kinds, including meta, satire and, most importantly, pride jokes that go far and beyond most animated movies this year. It also helped that the characters are as fun and unique, from the sad lesbian space princess herself Princess Saira (Shabana Azeez), Saira’s ex-girlfriend and also action badass Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel), songwriter Willow (Gemma Chua-Tran) and of course, the awesome Straight White Maliens (Zachery Ruane, Mark Bonanno and Broden Kelly) who might be one of the best villains of the year so far.
The movie also has an eccentric and fun animation style that plays to its story, being not just a colourful feast for your eyes, but also compliments the fun unpredictability in the story. There are certain animation moments that made me laugh out loud, the designs have a distinct and fun personality, and the animation quality is so amazing, it’s easy to forget this is an independent animated movie produced by relative unknowns. When the animation is as loose and exciting as the story, you know the whole experience is going to be great.
I am also shocked at how great the soundtrack was, and honestly, I would go back for the songs alone because they are not just original but also play well to the story. As for my level of enjoyment… Need I say any more about how much I loved this movie? Lesbian Space Princess is the kind of movie I had been begging animation studios to consider, to break the rules of animation and start producing animated movies for audiences outside of the usual kids and family audience while also showcasing their personality even more.
Overall, I am very happy to report how much I love Lesbian Space Princess as a queer sci-fi comedy that has it all. Not only was this worthy of its place at this year’s Annecy Film Festival, but also deserves its spot as one of the most delightful pride-themed movies I had seen, let alone pride-themed animated movies. More creative expression in animated movies, please!
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
The Songbird’s Secret
Key Information
- Director: Antoine Lanciaux
- Animation Studio: Folimage, Beast Animation
- Country of Origin: France
- Rating: PG
- Release date: 11 October 2025 (in Singapore as part of Animation Nation 2025)
Trailer
The Review
Just like Maya, Give Me a Title, The Songbird’s Secret is another cut-out stop-motion animated movie, which already makes it a huge standout compared to other family-friendly animated movies that I had covered this year based on animation style alone. However, what I thought was supposed to be a simple, fun and well-executed family-friendly animated movie that does not pander to its audience turns out to be way more meaningful than that.
In fact, I was more struck by how much I was personally invested in the story as the movie progressed. In a similar vein to My Grandfather’s Demons which I covered earlier in this year, this movie blossoms into something way deeper than its simple premise as the story progresses with a family secret, resulting in a third act that struck me way more than it should. It may be cute, but it is also fun and engaging while also showcasing a deep story that rounds up the movie very nicely. This movie is also hilarious without trying too hard when it needs to, and I absolutely adore the characters in this movie. You learnt a lot from Lucie (Lucie Leontiadis) as she explores her mother’s childhood place and understands more about her family past, seeing the story through her lens with a childhood curiousity that reminded me why France is so damn good at their family-friendly animated movies in the first place.
I also love the cut-out animation presented in this movie. Given this was a movie that took 10 years to produce, the amount of effort and attention to detail in this animation really showcases in the final version, because the animation style is very cute and well-detailed! There is an authentic charm such an animation style brings to this movie, especially with the movie’s laid-back country-style setting that resulted in such a fun visual style. It is this type of animated movie that showcases the limitations in computer-generated animation that cannot replicate this level of authentic charm.
The soothing soundtrack adds to the level of charm this movie has, and the other elements are just as great. As for my level of enjoyment, considering I did an essay talking about the problematic Americanisation of non-mainstream animated movies, I am so happy to see more non-mainstream animated movies moving away from this Americanisation and focused more on producing animated movies that just felt more authentic to their identity. This movie, alongside Chicken for Linda and Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds last year, prove that France is the current kings of the family-friendly animated movie, and for that, I am grateful more family-friendly animated movies are more fun and engaging, while also great in telling such a great story that even animation buffs like myself would not mind.
Overall, The Songbird’s Secret succeeds as a fun but authentic family-friendly animated movie that families and animation fans can enjoy together, and it goes to show you can produce a great quality family-friendly animated movie without needing to pander to the family audience. It’s great to see more family-friendly animated movies moving away from the Americanisation trend, because the more we see better quality family-friendly animated movies like The Songbird’s Secret, the better.
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass
Key Information
- Director: Zhang Gang
- Animation Studio: Original Force Animation (with Warner Bros Animation)
- Country of Origin: China
- Rating: PG
- Release date: 2 August 2025 (in China)
Trailer
The Review
Well, well, we have another Tom and Jerry theatrical animated movie, but this time, Warner Brothers got the help of China to do it for them, but honestly, a Tom and Jerry movie would not work if they are not the main stars of the movie, and unfortunately, that is exactly what happened because… they aren’t.
Seriously, I do not understand why a Tom and Jerry movie do not star the titular cat and mouse, because sure, their presence, slapstick and gags which were peppered throughout the movie are fantastic and hilarious, but once the movie returns to its main plot and its new characters, that was where the momentum stops completely. If the said main plot is not as interesting as Tom and Jerry, then it drags down the movie, which is unfortunately the case. While there are still some interesting elements that do not make it a complete snooze fest, the story and its new characters are just not interesting enough, resulting in a movie that drags for a good proportion of the movie.
With that said, it is clear the animators involved knew about the mediocre writing and tried to over-compensate for it with a more flashy and fun animation style that combines the classic shorts’ animation style with its own Chinese flair, and to a certain extent, it worked. I adore the higher quality animation style that, at least, plays to the cartoonish style of Tom and Jerry I personally enjoyed. It’s not the highest quality compared to other fantastic Chinese animated movies of this year, but for what it’s worth, the animation is great enough for me.
The minor elements are also quite fun, especially with a surprisingly decent soundtrack. As for my level of enjoyment, if I were to be honest, despite the mediocre writing, I honestly did not mind this movie. Yes, this is not a great Tom and Jerry movie, but I feel this would be the closest we will get to a good quality Tom and Jerry movie released in theatres.
Overall, it is not a great movie by any means, but at the very least, even with how mediocre the writing is for me, I still had a good amount of enjoyment with Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass thanks to its animation. I like it, but not enough for me to recommend it, unfortunately.
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
100 Metres
Key Information
- Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
- Animation Studios: Pony Canyon, Asmik Ace
- Country of Origin: Japan
- Rating: PG
- Release date: 23 October 2025 (in Singapore)
Trailer
The Review
I was looking forward to seeing 100 Meters, given this was an animated movie that was one of my picks in my Annecy Film Festival 2025 list, and needless to say, this has similarities to another Annecy Presents that over perform compared to its competition the previous year in Look Back. Needless to say, 100 Meters really deliver.
I only have one gripe about this movie, and that is regarding some parts of the writing that could have been better developed, but to be honest, this is just a minor nit-pick from mine because everything else about this movie is amazing. Despite the 100-minute plus runtime, the pacing in this movie is on point and the action is a lot of fun, so much so that the runtime goes by very fast without me realising it. This movie does not have a lot of jokes, but there are certain interactions and moments that are quite hilarious without trying too hard, which is my type of comedy, the ones that don’t really try hard to be funny. The characters are just amazing and have amazing development, and they all have equal reasons why they are into racing. Even though the story focuses on the two main leads in Togasi (Tori Matsuzaka) and Komiya (Shota Sometani) and their development are very exciting, the other characters complement this storyline so well that there is no weak link in terms of the characters.
However, it is the animation that is easily the best part of this movie. Director Kenji Iwashiwa takes the rotoscoping animation style that he showcased in his debut On-Gaku: Our Sound and turn it up with 100 Meters, especially since he has a higher budget to work on. There are certain animation sequences that left me gobsmacked, especially one particular one-take animation sequence that is so damn amazing, it is worth the admissions price for that one scene alone. In fact, this movie is just worth it for the animation alone.
The soundtrack is only one of the best, but it is also a movie that plays to the beat of the animation sequences super well and as for my level of enjoyment, I was so entertained and having fun with so many moments in this movie, I did not realise the time ran very fast. You know you did your job when I checked my watch for the first time and realised the movie is only coming to an end.
Overall, 100 Meters is yet another Annecy Film Festival movie worthy of its spot there, and if you have the chance to see it, do it! I am just happy to report another rotoscoping animated movie that punches above its weight, and is worth seeing in conclusion. You will get blown away by this masterpiece!
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
Conclusion
With so many film festival animated movies finally emerging from the surface, it finally felt like we are getting some real gems that are worthy to be talked about, and a good number of the movies in this Rundown deserve the hype.
There are still many animated movies to cover, especially with the French Film Festival Singapore and the Singapore International Film Festival, so tune in next time as we are getting towards the business end of animated movies for 2025. Until next time, see you on the next adventure!
