Director: Jeroen Jaspaert, Daniel Snaddon
Distributor: eOne
Duration: 27 minutes
Stick Man (DVD) – Movie Review
If you thought that sticks are just, well, sticks, you’d better take a closer look next time you find one outside. The stick you see there lying on the grass might be alive! Maybe he’s got a wife, a son, a daughter, maybe he wants to see the world, or have a peaceful life at home. Or maybe, well, maybe he’s just a stick…
Stick Man lives with his wife and three children in an old tree. They are a very close-knit family, and enjoy every moment they have together. When they are playing outside, they have to be careful though, and pretend to be dead branches instead of living sticks when danger, be it a human or an animal, is lurking around the corner.
One day in early spring, Stick Man decides to go for a jog early in the morning, before the others are awake. It promises to be a sunny day but then, all of a sudden Stick Man is snatched up by a playful dog. He manages to get away, but it doesn’t take long before a girl picks him up, to throw him in the water. Other unfortunate events follow, and Stick Man drifts further and further away from home. Will he ever see his family again?
Stick Man’ story is a simple one, yet it’s also one that will make both young and old feel good after watching it, as it holds some meaning and isn’t too predictable. Julia Donaldson has already proven that she knows very well how to catch children’s attention with a simple yet intriguing storyline, the Gruffalo probably being the most famous example for that. Here, she does so once again, with the help of directors Jeroen Jaspaert and Daniel Snaddon. They kept the simplicity intact, and therefore also the enchantment. The animations are lively and the colors bold, making this short film aesthetically pleasing as well.
The English cast of this short film is actually quite impressive, not only by name but also by performance. Martin Freeman makes Stick Man really come to life, while Jennifer Saunders makes sure everything is smoothly yet calmly sown together. Also the Dutch voice actors did a good job, making the experience just as enjoyable for Dutch speaking children as it probably is for English speaking children.
Conclusion
Julia Donaldson managed to entice us with this heartwarming story of Stick Man, trying to find a way home, to his wife and family. The tranquil, yet exciting pace is a welcome change from what children’s programs often look like these days, and will offer both young and old a fun experience. Don’t let your children watch this alone, just cuddle up with them and enjoy the story together.
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