EPIC

US, 2013, 103 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Jason Sudeikis, Christoph Walz, Beyonce Knowles, Chris O’ Dowd.
Directed by Chris Wedge.

A brightly animated film that combines a modern story with a fairy tale – and has an environmental message.

As with a number of animation films, it is often hard to gauge just who is the target audience. Is it for children (well, yes, but what age)? Is it for boys and girls? Will adults enjoy it as they take their children and grandchildren?

With Epic, and its female central character, it looks as though it might appeal to pre-teenage girls. While the male character is not really a wimp, he has to work hard to impress. A boys’ audience might have to be a little tolerant. For teens? Maybe. But they might be saying that they have grown out of this kind of thing.

But, what do we have? First, the most nerdish, absent-minded and clumsy professor-father in a long time. He has been investigating his theory that there are little people in the forests. When his daughter, Mary Katherine, MK as she wants to be called, is drawn into the world of the Leaf People, he eventually is happy that he had been right.

But a lot of adventures before that.

It is a special time for renewal in the forest and the powers of darkness, an ugly lot who fire arrows which give kinds of boils to everyone and everything, are preparing an onslaught to prevent the moon from shining on the flower which must bloom to ensure the queen of the forest will continue her reign of light. While that may sound sweet, there are a lot of battles, some of them in the air with the Leaf Men warriors flying to combat the creatures of gloom. Come to think of it, quite a lot of battles. And myriad bats blocking out the moonlight.

Nod, the young rebel wants to be a warrior without curbs, despite the wise advice of the elder, Ronin, who trains him. And he wants to impress MK. There are some comic characters around, especially some wise-cracking slugs. And the queen at the beginning of the film is spoken by Beyonce. As regards the other voices: Colin Farrell is Ronin, Josh Hutcherson is Nod, the princeling, Amanda Seyfried, Mk, Jason Sudeikis the professor and Christoph Waltz the villain.

An ending when MK has to regain size and go back home? Separated forever?. Who said Skype was not a great invention and just might work in the forest! But Epic is a much too grandiose title for this fairy tale.

1. The title, tone and expectations? Its style? Target audience?

2. The style animation, drawing, layouts, the forest, characters, action sequences, the musical score? The voice cast? The blend of fairytale and modern story?

3. A message film, the environment?

4. The professor, his laboratories, his cameras in the forest, absent-minded professor, clumsy, breaking things, mess? The slapstick? His aim, search for the small people? The Leaf People? The arrival of Mary Katherine? Reunited? The memories of her mother? His dog with three legs?

5. Mary Katherine and the taxi, the driver’s comments, her arrival, sad with her father, memories of her mother, the room, the photo? Talking with her father, the relationship with her father, her not believing in his quest? Her playing with the dog?

6. The look of the forest, its beauty, threat of its being destroyed? The conflict between the forest people and the powers of destruction? Human help?

7. The dark, the images of the rite, the warriors and their fights, flying, the arrows, the boil-like destruction?

8. Nod, his age, experience, flights, awkward, accidents? His needs? His dead father? Ronin as his guardian and tutor? Training him? Nod and his independence, not wanting to be part of an organisation?

9. Life in the forest, the sequence of the race and its excitement, Nod and his participation, winning?

10. The queen, preparing for the ritual, the new blooming, light in the forest? Her death? Reappearance in the light, choosing her successor, empowering her?

11. The queen, Mary Katherine, MK and her name, being reduced, with the creatures, the encounters with Nod, with Ronin? Enjoying her time with the people?

12. Her having the bulb, it’s being enshrined, the time for the light to shine, bloom, flower? The powers of evil and sending the bats, obliterating the light of the moon?

13. The professor, sad, giving up, turning off the cameras, not seeing or hearing his daughter and her frantic messages at the camera? The dog, the alert, coming to her rescue? Finding her small? The loud sound of voices? His headgear and communication?

14. The warriors, the powers of evil, running, the commander, Nod and their flying to combat, to disperse the bats? The enemy, the chief, presence, harsh words, the fight, destruction?

15. The slugs and the bugs, the comic elementt? The flowers and plants and their being human-like?

16. The queen, her successor, the young girl, MK and her return, the farewell to Nod? Reunited with her father?

17. The tongue-in cheek-communication between MK and Nod, the Skype-like communication?