When I picture 2D animation, I think of lovely stories told through a distinctive art style that allows for greater emotional expression and clarity. Wolfwalkers comes to mind; it was among my favorite films from 2020. I anticipated Cryptozoo would follow a similar pattern, presenting bright themes about how the world treats nature, animal cruelty/exploration, excessive hunting, and of course, prejudice based on someone’s appearance. Considering all this, I wasn't prepared for such a shocking, violent, *bloody* depiction of what appeared to be a fun adventure suitable for children. Unless your kids are adults already, I really don’t suggest showing them this film. I’m not saying this in a negative way; please don’t misunderstand me. Dash Shaw develops his original concept in an unusual but fascinating manner, attempting to teach viewers through visually brutal scenes, which I feel obligated to warn sensitive people about. The social commentary is clear and significant, but it's presented so explicitly that it bothered me. Although the ending somewhat makes up for this next issue, I don’t really connect with most of the main character’s reasons for doing things. Lake Bell provides excellent voice work as Lauren Grey, as does everyone else in the cast. Still, it genuinely frustrates me that Lauren didn't understand what she was doing wrong until everything fell apart around her. I found it nearly impossible to truly support any character, aside from all the cute animals, which is actually how I’m going to end this review on a positive note. Even though the animation style can be confusing during some action sequences, it's still very engaging and one of the main reasons why I felt captivated until the very end. As someone who loves animals and firmly believes in their rights, I must show appreciation for the film’s ending, which undoubtedly conveys the best possible message about animal freedom. The final few minutes are even more powerful because they address so many other critical subjects that were developed throughout the movie, ultimately educating audiences in a straightforward way. Beautiful score by John Carroll Kirby. Cryptozoo is without question one of the most shockingly violent 2D animated movies I’ve ever seen... and I say this as both a compliment and a warning to sensitive viewers. Dash Shaw delivered what may be among Sundance's most polarizing films, due to its visuals and its story/character choices. The voice acting from the entire cast deserves recognition, especially Lake Bell, but it was difficult to support or even agree with the characters’ motivations. Despite the ending resolving this major issue, the whole movie centers around a mission and a purpose that I believe is wrong—and that the main character should have realized wouldn't work as soon as she explained it. The hand-drawn animation occasionally feels confusing, but it elevates an otherwise complicated film to analyze. I’ll carry with me the essential messages about nature, animals, and even discrimination, and I hope others will too. Rating: C+

Source on TMDB