The Mermaid's Tale is a hybrid animation/live action film following a young girl, Maeve as she navigates the passing of her mother. She copes via a mermaid storybook that her mom gave her which comes to life in animated form.
I like the simplicity of the storyline and the contrast of the live action being in black and white and the animation in brilliant colors. It is easy to understand how different Maeve's reality and this storybook world are. While it feels a bit melodramatic at times, the ease to follow it triumphs. The animation is beautiful; it plays with different textures, colors and shapes to create a mermaid's sea world. The storyline develops without a hitch and is simple, yet alluring. The most memorable moments are of mermaid Maeve and her mermaid mom enjoying the sea and each other's company. You can feel the love and connection between them. The costumes in the live-action portion work, and the animated characters' attire are well put together. The locations suit the story both in live-action and animation. I'm impressed by the animation; it stands out the most for me. It's purposefully more exciting than the black and white live-action scenes. There's one song used primarily in the film and it matches the mood of the story very well. There's a somewhat heavenly quality to it, which fits the theme of loss, grief and memories. The other background music is not as noticeable, but the sound effects are terrific. The acting works, but no single actor stands out. Maeve (Tallulah Evans) feels a bit emotionless, while her father (Rupert Graves) is even more so. I imagine that the director chose to have them play those role in that way, as a means of showing their extreme grief. The character development is straightforward, going from sad to happy. Without a doubt my favorite scenes are the animated ones, particularly the scenes with Maeve and her mom in them. But, I also like the ending, when Maeve and her dad finally escape the depths of their grief and are shown in full color at last, their black and white selves falling behind. The ending tune also is very memorial.
The message of the film is that you don't ever lose anyone forever; you always have a memory of them. Be aware that at time it shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. For example, Maeve holds herself underwater at one point and we all take a jump back until she comes up for air.
I give The Mermaid's Tale 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18, plus adults. It deals with grief and recovering from the loss of a loved one, but in a very sensitive way. Reviewed by Rupeshi S. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
The Mermaid's Tale is a hybrid animation/live action film following a young girl, Maeve as she navigates the passing of her mother. She copes via a mermaid storybook that her mom gave her which comes to life in animated form.
I like the simplicity of the storyline and the contrast of the live action being in black and white and the animation in brilliant colors. It is easy to understand how different Maeve's reality and this storybook world are. While it feels a bit melodramatic at times, the ease to follow it triumphs. The animation is beautiful; it plays with different textures, colors and shapes to create a mermaid's sea world. The storyline develops without a hitch and is simple, yet alluring. The most memorable moments are of mermaid Maeve and her mermaid mom enjoying the sea and each other's company. You can feel the love and connection between them. The costumes in the live-action portion work, and the animated characters' attire are well put together. The locations suit the story both in live-action and animation. I'm impressed by the animation; it stands out the most for me. It's purposefully more exciting than the black and white live-action scenes. There's one song used primarily in the film and it matches the mood of the story very well. There's a somewhat heavenly quality to it, which fits the theme of loss, grief and memories. The other background music is not as noticeable, but the sound effects are terrific. The acting works, but no single actor stands out. Maeve (Tallulah Evans) feels a bit emotionless, while her father (Rupert Graves) is even more so. I imagine that the director chose to have them play those role in that way, as a means of showing their extreme grief. The character development is straightforward, going from sad to happy. Without a doubt my favorite scenes are the animated ones, particularly the scenes with Maeve and her mom in them. But, I also like the ending, when Maeve and her dad finally escape the depths of their grief and are shown in full color at last, their black and white selves falling behind. The ending tune also is very memorial.
The message of the film is that you don't ever lose anyone forever; you always have a memory of them. Be aware that at time it shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. For example, Maeve holds herself underwater at one point and we all take a jump back until she comes up for air.
I give The Mermaid's Tale 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18, plus adults. It deals with grief and recovering from the loss of a loved one, but in a very sensitive way. Reviewed by Rupeshi S. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
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