Caught this absolute gem at the Bytowne the other night. This is a brilliant film employing utterly astounding "claymation". The storytelling, the performances - of both the voices and the animation, are all so good that one becomes completely enveloped in this poignant, sad, and charming film.

I can't compliment the animation style enough. I am not a fan of animation. I usually find it a distraction. ie, it is often very impressive, but it is so impressive that it prevents one from just watching the movie and becoming immersed in the movie going experience. This film pulls off the impossible. The animation is wonderful. You never stop marveling at it. Yet, it is not distracting, and all the characters in the film become real people, with real problems and foibles.

Seek this out if you can find it - it's fantastic.

There are a couple of minor plot points near the end of the film that are a bit false and illogical, but the rest of the film is so good that it does not take away from me awarding it the ol' four star rating.

Don't be fooled by the claymation and that one of the protagonists is an eight year old girl, it is not a kids movie. It deals with some pretty serious themes: mental illness, loneliness, suicide, death, alcoholism, etc.

(oh, and plenty of jewish humour!)

Never heard of it, but adding it to my must-see list! (I have decided that my must-see list needs to be exact opposite of my refuse-to-see list i.e. my 'Dances With Wolves' list, THUS my must-see list will henceforth be known as my 'A-Team List'!)
Plus, I love claymation.

D'oh!
I watched the first 10 minutes on YouTube, not realizing that the rest of the film had been removed because of snooty 'copyright infringement'.
Jerks! I'm hooked though, can't wait to watch the rest...