Ni No Kuni draws inspiration from Akihiro Hino and Level 5’s game series, picking up events following Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. The film incorporates aspects of the games and possesses a visual style similar to Studio Ghibli, attributable in part to Yoshiyuki Momose's role as director—he is an animator with Ghibli experience. Although the narrative concerning alternate realities proves interesting and seems well-reasoned, how it’s presented feels lacking in substance, resulting in numerous underdeveloped aspects. The film establishes a strong base by presenting characters and their relationships in a straightforward manner; tension emerges from Kotona's danger and disagreements among the main characters. Sequences of action, encompassing battles and war scenes, offer some thrills, but the animation isn’t always consistent, particularly during larger confrontations, which detracts somewhat from the visual experience. Certain character expressions also seem to miss opportunities for emotional resonance, diminishing the power of dramatic moments and conversations. Fortunately, music and sound effects contribute positively to the storytelling, and voice performances—Mamoru Miyano's among them—bring characters to life. Nevertheless, certain important plot points remain unclear or are not explored further, such as Yu’s true identity and his family history; delving into these areas might have enriched the story considerably. Ni No Kuni is generally an enjoyable film for older audiences, but its more serious subject matter may make it unsuitable for younger viewers.

Source on TMDB