KIDS FIRST! News

Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family. A beloved character gets his big-screen debut in this hilarious and heartwarming story about finding connection in the smallest corners.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kyla C. comments, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an innovative and extremely moving new film. The importance of inspiring kids to make their voices heard has increased recently and nothing could do a better job of capturing this vital theme than Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.”  Madeleine H. adds, “Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is a sweet, moving and loving journey into the life of an instantly lovable seashell named Marcel (Jenny Slate). I love how this stop-motion animated film, presented as a documentary, handles life’s mysteries, dangers, grief and friendships with wisdom, grace and humor.” Mikella G. wraps it up with, “The way that Jenny Slate conveys human emotions through voicing a small shell is really outstanding. Although he is tiny, Marcel has so many different layers, and I definitely got chills throughout the film.” See their full reviews below.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
By Kyla C., Age 12, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is an innovative and extremely moving new film. The importance of inspiring kids to make their voices heard has increased recently and nothing could do a better job of capturing this vital theme than Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On has a simple yet passionate plot following Marcel (Jenny Slate), a shell. Years ago, he and his grandmother, Connie (Isabella Rossellini), were the lone survivors of an unknown disaster. Now, after being discovered as one-inch shells by Dean (Dean Fleischer-Camp), his interviews are being viewed by millions of people around the world. Dean makes a documentary about Marcel: how he’s made a life for himself using tennis balls to get around and by living in dollhouses. With this many people behind them, Marcel and Dean set out to find his family.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is everything a great movie should be: emotional, entertaining, funny and suspenseful at times. The primary focus of the film is clearly its emotional impact. Marcel is the perfect character to capture the positive point of view on everything. He makes light of bad times and comedy out of devastation. It’s no wonder he’s a YouTube star! Jenny Slate is a good match for the role in portraying the well-balanced character. The comedic elements go hand in hand with the fantastic acting and entertaining storyline to create the meaningful characters and conflicts. Marcel contributes a lot to the overall entertainment of the movie. The sets, cinematography and lighting do a lot to push the film to its best. Everything matches the mood and tone, creating the perfect atmosphere for the characters. One example of this is when Marcel is hopeful, the set is lit naturally and bright.

The message of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is to cherish family and friends, because in the blink of an eye they could be gone. The film also supports the idea that we should speak up for ourselves and support one another. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On includes many important themes that are passionately expressed throughout. This film does have scenes with fairly intense moments of sadness, but it is definitely a kid- and family-friendly film.

I give Marcel the Shell with Shoes On 4 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it for ages 6 to 18, plus adults. You can view this film in theaters beginning June 24, 2022 and on some streaming platforms beginning June 23, 2022.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
By Madeleine H. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is a sweet, moving and loving journey into the life of an instantly lovable seashell named Marcel (Jenny Slate). I love how this stop-motion animated film, presented as a documentary, handles life’s mysteries, dangers, grief and friendships with wisdom, grace and humor.

Marcel and his sassy grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini) share a big home used as an AirBnB that was once full of friends who have mysteriously disappeared. When a new guest, Dean (Dean Fleischer-Camp) arrives, he sets out to document Marcel and help discover what happened to the missing friends.  Dean films the inventive and clever ways that Marcel and Connie go about their lives as shells, from gathering food, traveling about and taking care of each other.  Marcel persuades Dean to share the mysterious loss of his community, which leads to an interview on 60 Minutes with Leslie Stahl.  All the attention and celebrity fuss prove to be too much for the aging grandmother as she does her best to convince Marcel she is healthy.  I love how Marcel takes care of Connie. 

Marcel is sweet and caring with a practical approach to solving problems.  He is inventive and optimistic.  And he has a fuzzy pet lint named Alan!  His grandmother, Connie, is at once amused and annoyed by Marcel’s overprotectiveness. They share a unique bond.  The stop-motion animation brings to life these characters in a wonderful, believable way.  They become your friends you care about quickly.  My favorite part is how Marcel travels around the big house with speed and efficiency— in a tennis ball!

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On addresses a variety of life’s challenges with gentle wisdom, quiet grace, and sly humor.  Marcel and Connie learn to adjust to the mysterious disappearance of their community, a house full of friends.  They persevere and seek help from Dean to help solve the mystery while dealing with the new found ”celebrity” attention and the disruption to their peaceful existence.  Marcel is stoic and brave in the face of loss and grateful and welcoming at the sound of emergency.  We would all benefit from walking in Marcel’s shoes!

I give Marcel The Shell With Shoes On 5 out of 5 star and recommend it for ages 6 to 18, plus adults.  It opens in theaters June 23, 2022.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST!, Film Critic, age 16

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is a unique, yet emotional film. It creates a whole new perspective on life, while having a very intriguing, yet entertaining feel to it.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On follows a tiny one-inch shell, Marcel (Jenny Slate), who lives in an Airbnb with his Nana (Isabella Rossellini). When a new renter Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp) moves in, he starts a documentary series on YouTube about Marcel’s life. Soon enough, Marcel finds himself gaining millions of views, and he tries to hopefully use this new gained fame to find his lost family.

Something that I really enjoyed about this film is its simplicity. To explain, the structure of the movie purely focuses on Marcel and his way of life. There are no crazy action scenes or extensive sets, yet it is still entertaining and lovely to watch. Another thing that stands out is the picture quality. Everything is very clear and, although Marcel is animated, he feels very life-like in a world filled with live humans. Marcel reminds me of a real-life moving toy, rather than an animated character. That’s how realistic he is. Finally, the way that Jenny Slate conveys human emotions through voicing a small shell is really outstanding. Although he is tiny, Marcel has so many different layers, and I definitely got chills throughout the film.

The message of Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is to always stay true to yourself, and to care for those who care for you.

I give Marcel The Shell With Shoes On 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It release in theaters June 24, 2021.

Legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside ambitious recruits Izzy, Mo, Darby, and his robot companion, Sox. As this motley crew tackles their toughest mission yet, they must learn to work together as a team to escape the evil Zurg and his dutiful robot army that are never far behind.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tiana A. comments, “It’s time to go infinity and beyond with your favorite space ranger – Buzz Lightyear! Pixar and Disney bring Buzz like we’ve never seen him in his own animated film, Lightyear. It’s full of epic Buzz backstories, leg-snatching aliens, hilarious scenes and endless space adventures.”  Hanadie K. adds, “Lightyear unpacks the life story of the illustrious space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, while demonstrating how his unwavering devotion to humanity and love for space voyages ultimately make him a meta-galactic space hero.” Ashleigh C. wraps it up with, “Buzz Lightyear’s famous catchphrase, “To infinity … and beyond!” applies even more so in this film as he takes us through a whirlwind of emotions. There is the perfect mix of action, accurately timed comedy and dramatic plot twists.” See their full reviews below.

Lightyear
By Tiana Sirmans, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

It’s time to go infinity and beyond with your favorite space ranger – Buzz Lightyear! Pixar and Disney bring Buzz like we’ve never seen him in his own animated film, Lightyear. It’s full of epic Buzz backstories, leg-snatching aliens, hilarious scenes and endless space adventures.

Lightyear follows Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) as he travels to another planet. He spends years trying to return home but clashes with robots led by Zurg (James Brolin) who is trying to steal his fuel. After he attempts to make it off the planet he realizes every time he leaves it fast forwards time. After many failed attempts he ends up 100 years into the future along with a new companion robot cat named SOX (Peter Sohn). He meets a crew of people who end up trying to help him on his mission. Can Buzz make it off this planet?  

The main character, Buzz Lightyear, is from the iconic Toy Story franchise. Lightyear is joined by fellow space ranger Alisha Hawthrone (Uzo Aduba) and, eventually, her granddaughter, Izzy Hawthrone (KeKe Palmer) and, of course, Sox (Peter Sohn) the robot cat. Fans of the Toy Story films will love learning more about Buzz’s missions mentioned throughout the Toy Story films, such as his relationship and battles with Zurg. My favorite character in this film is Sox, because he is funny without even trying and his human-like characteristics are even funnier. There is a scene where Buzz is having a tough time clearing his mind and going to sleep. Sox demonstrates different options to help him sleep and eventually starts making “white noises” that sound more like hissing. It is hilarious.

The biggest message throughout Lightyear is that failure happens, and we must never give up on our goals. You never know when something will actually work out for you unless you keep trying. Lightyear also gives a great lesson about working together and not being afraid to ask for help when you need it most. You can accomplish more with a team, than by yourself.

I give Lightyear 4 out 5 stars and recommend it for kids ages 8 to 18. Of course, adults will love it too. Toy Story fans will love getting to know Buzz’s story in this film. Lightyear travels into theaters June 17, 2022.

Lightyear
By Hanadie K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, 11

Ever wonder how Toy Story‘s Buzz Lightyear came to be? Wait no longer. Disney and Pixar join forces to create a spectacular sci-fi action-adventure animated film that answers the burning question, who is Buzz Lightyear? Lightyear unpacks the life story of the illustrious space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, while demonstrating how his unwavering devotion to humanity and love for space voyages ultimately make him a meta-galactic space hero.

In the animated film, Lightyear, Buzz (Chris Evan) recruits eager scientists and space technicians, Izzy Hawthorne (Keke Palmer), Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi) and Darby (Dale Soules) along with his robot sidekick Sox (Peter Sohn) to join him on his quest to defeat the evil Zurg and his loyal robot army.

In this movie, Buzz Lightyear finds himself deserted on a hostile planet. Buzz cannot get his crew out of this foreign world and ultimately shoulders all the blame for this malfunction. However, he is persistent and refuses to abandon his assignment despite several failed attempts. While Buzz Lightyear devotes his life to this undertaking, his crew eventually decides to abort the mission and live their everyday lives. While this film’s storyline is captivating and nail-biting, the animation makes the film. Nearly 20 years after the release of Toy Story, Lightyear showcases the evolution of CGI animated films. Pixar transformed a timeless toy character into one with human characteristics and still makes the story believable.

The message of this film is one of resilience, tenacity and willpower. Buzz Lightyear never gives up on his dreams, despite being given every reason to quit. He fights until his final hour to overcome every obstacle thrown his way; still, he preserves. Lightyear also reminds us that if we do not reserve time to appreciate those around us, we may miss that opportunity. It’s important to note that the film shows a same-sex marriage and kissing that may be controversial.

I give Lightyear 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 14, plus adults. It is available in theaters June 17, 2022. If you are a die-hard Toy Story fan or love action-packed, intergalactic robot war movies, you will not want to miss Lightyear.

Lightyear
By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18

Epic and intergalactic! Lightyear is the backstory we didn’t know we needed. Among all of Disney’s animated films released this year, Lightyear is my number one considering how unique it is.

Lightyear reveals the backstory of Buzz Lightyear, a Space Ranger, the character originally depicted as a toy action figure in the 1995 Pixar film Toy Story. Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) undertakes a mission to return the human race back home as they are currently on a foreign planet. However, he faces some challenges to do so, resulting in his need for a team. Will Buzz be able to finish the mission?

Buzz Lightyear’s famous catchphrase, “To infinity … and beyond!” applies even more so in this film as he takes us through a whirlwind of emotions. There is the perfect mix of action, accurately timed comedy and dramatic plot twists. Growing up watching the Toy Story series with Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), it took me awhile to grasp the voice of someone else playing this iconic voice. However, what makes this film incredible is that it captures an entirely new perspective on the character that we knew and loved. Lightyearalso uncovers many new doors. That being said, I can’t wait to see how Lightyear matures in new films and adventures. I highly recommend seeing this film in IMAX as much of the film is seen in space and there are many times the audience is enveloped as if they are in the space ship along with Buzz himself. This Pixar film is among the most diverse I have ever seen.

The message of the film is that our friends and family are our teammates throughout our greatest missions.

I give Lightyear 5 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters June 17, 2022. You won’t want to miss it!

A thoroughly cinematic drama, Elvis’s (Butler) story is seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks). As told by Parker, the film delves into the complex dynamic between the two spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Heather S., comments, “This is an incredible and exciting film. From the opening scene until the credits roll, the movie is a roller coaster of emotions. Austin’s performance as the king of Rock n Roll is revolutionary. It’s impossible to take your eyes off of him. He truly becomes Elvis with his mannerisms and dancing.” See her full review below.

Elvis
By Heather S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Elvis is a movie everyone needs to see! One of the greatest biopics is finally here and it does not disappoint. Fans of all generations will love this film for years to come.

Elvis is told from the point of view of Colonel Parker (Tom Hanks) who used to be Elvis’s manager. He tells the story of how he met Elvis (Austin Butler) and how the singer took the world by storm. The film covers the years of Elvis’s life as a young adult until his passing.

This is an incredible and exciting film. From the opening scene until the credits roll, the movie is a roller coaster of emotions. Austin’s performance as the king of Rock n Roll is revolutionary. It’s impossible to take your eyes off of him. He truly becomes Elvis with his mannerisms and dancing. Austin’s performance is Oscar-worthy, just like the rest of the film. The movie humanizes Elvis, where audiences see him as more than just a performer. It’s heartbreaking to see how this larger-than-life legend never lived the life he wanted.

The film unites both Elvis fans and non-enthusiasts by showing this icon in a never-before-seen profile. Following Elvis throughout his life and witnessing his love of music made me feel as if he’s been a friend of mine for years. Producer/Director/Writer, Baz Lurhmann delivers an incredible film and story here. It is completely engaging, has a perfect mix of modern music and Elvis classics, along with swapping between Elvis and the Colonel’s points of view. Archival elements such as newspaper headlines and comic book art are put to good use and the film ends with a video recording of Elvis’s last concert. The costumes are spectacular. The scene of Elvis’s Las Vegas residency wearing his iconic white suit is beautiful since it looks like the viewers are watching a live performance. This is one movie that you should watch in theaters to capture its greatness. The music blaring; Austin’s acting; and the cinematography should be experienced on the big screen.

Elvis offers several themes, but the most important one is to live the life you want to. Elvis’s mother warned him of living a life to please others and that he would eventually lose himself, which is exactly what happened. Elvis never lived his life for himself and, in the end, it consumed him.

I give Elvis 5 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18 plus adults. It premieres in theaters June 24, 2022.

Recently KIDS FIRST! Film Critics had the opportunity to chat with the team at Air Bud Entertainment to learn more about the Air Bud Entertainment Collectible NFTs. As long time fans of the Air Bud Entertainment films, we were excited to learn more about this expansion into the word of NFTs.

When interviewing Air Bud Entertainment’s Robert Vince (CEO), Eric Vince (VP Business Development) and Anna McRoberts (President) we learned that the focus of these collectibles is to give the owner exclusive access to the Air Bud a community and how each one features a package of unique and exclusive content, including limited-edition video content, interactive games and physical merchandise.   Most importantly, the content and characters celebrate important themes such as friendship, teamwork and family, and, as part of the Air Bud community, members are connected to a group of like-minded parents and kids who share these values — and who want to collect and engage with Air Bud Entertainment content together.

Take a look at the interviews below by our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics with Air Bud’s C-Suite executives who talked about things you are probably curious about as well. And, just because our KIDS FIRST! Followers are so awesome, ABE is offering our followers $5 off on their first purchase. Use this code for the discount: ABKids5. The offer ends July 1, 2022.

Eshaan M., Samantha P. and Zoe C. interview Robert and Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• What am I really getting when I get an NFT?
• How does the process of building a collection of NFT’s work?
• What’s the connection between NFTs and cryptocurrency?

Ashleigh C., Katie F. and Calee N. interview Robert and Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• Can you explain what an NFT is?
• What was the beginning thought process of creating an Air Bud NFT?
• Are NFTs the future of art and collectables?

What comes first? The initial NFT comes from the immersive new Genesis collection and features a collectible coin from ABE’s newest series Super PupZ, plus a Zeta video. For a limited time, this NFT includes a free air drop of one of the Super PupZ trading cards. Super PupZ is streaming now on Netflix. More information at: https://nft.airbud.com

Let’s look at two more interviews by our
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics.

Heather S. and Ethan P. interview Anna McRoberts & Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• NFTs have become so popular; even younger kids know about them. What advice do you have for future young collectors?

• When will the Air Bud NFTs be available for the public?
• How has your life been different after collecting NFTs yourself?

Enjoy Tiana S., Dominic D. and Keila V’s. interview with Anna McRoberts and Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• Why did you choose to promote this show using NFT’s?
• I want to be able to learn as much as possible about this technology. Will there be ways for us to communicate and share ideas catered to our interests regarding the Air Bud NFTs?
• Why did you pick NFTs as a way to turn your fan base into a more interactive and connected community and how will Air Bud Entertainment look at the success of this NFT project after the upcoming launch?

Some things to know:

• When you join the ABE Collectibles community, you will receive the original NFT token, free NFTs and more. It’s an ongoing community where collecting is made easy as there is no requirement to own cryptocurrency.
• You do not need to use cryptocurrency for ABE Collectibles. They have partnered with Shopify where you can purchase a membership and NFTs using the most conventional payment methods like credit cards, Apple Pay, and similar.
• NFTs are assets that you own. You can keep, trade or sell them on the ABE Collectibles website with other community members all around the globe. The secondary trading will begin in 90 days.
• The Air Bud Entertainment (ABE) community is a closed, safe, exclusive community. This means the community website is the only place where you can view and purchase their exclusive content. When you log onto NFT.AirBud.com, you are guaranteed not to be redirected to any other website.
• New NFTs will be dropped weekly from the extensive ABE library of 22 movies and four series with hundreds of unique characters. A new portal will be opened every 60 to 90 days — the first from the new family Netflix series Super PupZ followed by Pup Academy. Each portal will have its own unique world offerings of branded content to own. The ABE community can keep or trade on NFT.AirBud.com.

Our last two groups might touch on some questions that you haven’t had answered yet. Take a look:

Enjoy Nathalia J., Mars R. and Sariah R.’s interview with Anna McRoberts & Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• What are the hopes you have with introducing kids to the world of Non-Transferable Tokens (NFTs)?
• How did your team come up with the design for the NFTs and who designed it? 
• For fans of the Super Buddies and Super PupZ, what can we expect to see in the future from Air Bud Entertainment and how will that be reflected in future releases of NFTs?

Benjamin P., Anna Clara B. and Carlee S. interview Anna McRoberts & Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFTs.

• So you think these NFTs can be enjoyed by the whole family?
• Why do NFTs feel right for Air Bud?
• Can you talk about the different Key Pillars of Air Bud Entertainment collectibles and why you chose them?

As you know, KIDS FIRST! Film Festival co-hosts film festival with a group of wonderful venues and organizations nation- and worldwide. Next up is an exciting, first time festival in partnership with the DADvocacy Consulting group– the first annual KIDS FIRST! Daddying Film Festival. This festival offers a celebration of films that honor a child’s relationship with their father or father figure.

Featured are a collection of student films from elementary through university students with the theme: “A Letter to My Father/Father Figure.” Additionally there is a collection of outstanding films from independent and foreign filmmakers. These short films illustrate how being a dad or father figure is not just who you are, it’s what you do.

Remember to Vote – Audience Voting Determine Our Final Winners!

This year’s festival will be entirely virtual, taking place online at: https://kidsfirstdaddyingff.eventive.org/welcome

All the films that have been accepted will be shown at the festival, but there will be a competition for the winners in five different categories: best elementary student film, best middle school student film, best high school student film, best university student film, best independent film. The finalists in each of those categories will be highlighted and the audience vote will determine the winners.

Announcing the 2022 KFDFF Award Finalists

Finalists in all five categories have been selected by a panel of professionals from the entertainment industry, arts and academia. The 36 films featured at the festival have been submitted by filmmakers from 17 countries including Iceland, India, Israel, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan, Argentina and the United States.

The Finalists Are!

Elementary School (grades 1 through 4) student

• My Dad Anthony Fleg by Shandíín E Fleg, age 7
• Wicked Witch by Virginia Adams, 10

Middle School (grades 5 through 8) students

• A Letter to My Dad by Brock Brenner, age 11
• I Scream by Marino, 13, San Domenico School Film program
• P.S. I Love You by Kaari Sholeen Tabor, 13
• He Teaches Me by Bah’Hozhooni N. Fleg, 11
• The Good Dad by Felice, 14, San Domenico School Film program

High School (grades 9 through 12) students

• Hey Dad, It’s Me by Leela Malladi, age 18
• Walk With Me by Yohan Hong, 17, and Joaquin Foster, 16, San Domenico School Film program
• Delhi Days by Eshaan Mani, 16

College Undergraduate students

• PATER et FILIO by Pablo De Estrada, age 28
• My Father’s Son by Kyle Davison, 24

Independent/Non-Student Filmmakers (eligible for “Best Film” and “Best Short Film” Awards)

• Red Balloon by Avi Federgreen, Canada
• My Other Son (Mi Otro Hijo) by Gustavo Alonso, Argentina
• Dad for Hire by Aaron Scully, Australia
• Jack and the Treehouse by Jim Schneider, USA
• Mara Poppa Superhero (My Father Superhero) by Darshan Ashwin Trivedi, India
• How the Titanic Became My Lifeboat by Bjarney Ludviksdottir, Iceland
• Rainbow Stories – Peter, Mark, James and Einstein by Adam Bailey, United Kingdom
• Make It Count by Romeo Jennison, USA
• Christmas Summer by Ignacio Borderes, Argentina

Tickets are Free!

Reserve your all festival pass here: https://kidsfirstdaddyingff.eventive.org/welcome

View complete list of selected films here: https://kidsfirstdaddyingff.eventive.org/films