The Boxtrolls

This review may contain spoilers!

This is a true testament to what a modern children's animated film should be about. I would give The Boxtrolls an 8/10.

The stop motion animation used within this film is a dying art, one completely encaptured in an unforgettable mid-credit scene that I highly recommend you hang around for. The Boxtrolls also had some wonderful music to it, which lent a lot to it's quirky quality. But where this story thrives is within it's storytelling. We are immediately woven a tale of identifying as two different things and being accepted as both. It's all about acceptance, family and taking pride in how you identify yourself and that is such a big and important message.

Nick Frost and Richard Ayoade, who voiced Mr Trout and Mr Pickles respectively, give some of the best comedy within the film; a fantastic comedy duo that enjoy puzzling at the morality of their actions. Isaac Hempstead Wright, who voiced Eggs, gave a very candid performance as the protagonist of the film and gave great displays of emotion in each scene. Simon Pegg, who voiced Herbert Trubshaw, was a fun character; both an great father figure and a very fun crazy guy.

It was Ben KIngsley, who voiced Archibald Snatcher, that gave the best performance in the film. His twisted villain was chilling and dark and the stuff of nightmares. He was important though and gave a great performance as the victim of social class discrimination and the lack of acceptance for his dual identities. Brilliant role, wonderfully voiced and part of a really progressive plot for us as a society.

The Boxtrolls did have some racy humour and some themes that might have gone too far I feel. I'm worried that it could be too crude or scary for some children and distasteful for a mature audience.

Jared Harris, who voiced Lord Portley-Rind, had a very lackluster screen presence and just wasn't a great character. Tracy Morgan, who voiced Mr Gristle, was a strange antagonists character and a little unnecessary. Dee Bradley Baker and Steve Blum, who voiced Fish and Shoe respectively, is an example of how great voice actors can get some really dismal roles. Elle Fanning, who Winnie, was dislikeable and wasn't a very engaging character.