Small Foot (2018)

Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick, Jason Reisig | 92 minutes | animation, adventure | Original voice cast: Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Danny DeVito, Gina Rodriguez, Yara Shahidi, Ely Henry, Jimmy Tatro, Patricia Heaton, Justin Roiland, Jack Quaid, Sarah Baker | Dutch voice cast: Jan Versteegh, Romy Monteiro, Levi van Kempen, Murth Mossel

Mythical figures like the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot and the Yeti… how cool (and secretly creepy) it would be to see them in real life… For countless years, past supposed sightings, however unreliable, have kept people hoping on a glimpse of such a figure. It is therefore not surprising that many books and films have been made on this subject. The animation world seems to have fully embraced the mythical creatures, as ‘Bigfoot Junior’ (‘The Son of Bigfoot’) has barely left the cinema and ‘Smallfoot’ is making an appearance.

‘Smallfoot’ revolves around a large group of Yetis. They live on a mountain top somewhere in Asia, a mountain top that is continuously shrouded in mist. The Yetis are peaceful but hardworking creatures who firmly believe in a number of commandments, which are carved in stone. The leader, the Stonekeeper, deserves the highest regard, but the father of Migo, our protagonist, also has an important role in the mini-society. He has to sound a gong with his head every morning so that the great golden luminescent snail wakes up, appears on the horizon and provides the village with light. Migo’s biggest dream is to succeed his father one day. But that dream changes when one day he travels outside the borders of their village, witnesses a plane crash and comes face to face with the pilot… a smallfoot.

Back in the village, Migo proudly tells that he has seen a smallfoot, but no one believes him. In fact, by telling this ‘lie’ he is banned. Our Yeti does not have to be lonely for long, because he is soon taken in by a group of Yetis that he knows from the village. What he doesn’t know is that they are secretly looking for evidence of the existence of smallfoots! Migo is therefore more than welcome in the club.

In the meantime, we also got to know Percy, an ambitious but at the same time doom-inducing host of a TV program that is struggling with declining ratings. Percy believes that filming a Yeti will increase his popularity. He has now sunk so low that he no longer cares about deceiving his viewers. The Yeti suit is ready, now just need to find someone to put it on for the camera…

‘Smallfoot’ is a very nice animation film from the Warner Animation Group (who also made the Lego films and ‘Storks’). The story is especially impressive. The underlying message is in fact excellently processed in the adventures of the Yeti and Percy: don’t take everything for granted even though tradition and lore say that you have to believe in it. A subtle underwater stab at anyone who clings to outdated principles. Thanks to this film, young viewers will probably be challenged to do their own research and not lose sight of things like friendship and integrity.

‘Smallfoot’ is a musical, but not all songs are equally successful. Most notable is the version of ‘Under Pressure’ that Percy sings just before meeting Migo. Comedic moments abound, especially thanks to the ways Migo and Percy try to communicate with each other. Furthermore, the visual effect of the yetis in the snow is striking, fifty shades of white, as it were. ‘Smallfoot’ is a surprisingly fun animated film with its heart in the right place. Bonus points for the fact that there’s no bad guy for once.