Out of the Nest
I know that there are archetypes that filmmakers choose to follow, and will invariably lean into, but that doesn’t mean that audiences will not get tired of seeing them, at some point. In his fine animated feature, Arturo A. Hernandez is very much following in the familiar hero’s journey archetypes of a movie like “Kung Fu Panda,” as well as numerous other animated films I’ve watched in the past few years, and while I enjoyed his spin on it to a point, there’s not enough there to really elevate it to its predecessors.
We are taken to the Kingdom of Castilla. A new Emperor and Empress are about to be crowned, but before that happens, their seven children are taken by a dark force. The Emperor is a Rooster, by the way, and their children are currently still eggs, waiting to be hatched. Some of the old heroes in the kingdom are unable to save them, but an unlikely hero may ride- Arthur, a goat who is a delivery boy (not a very good one). He also is a barber’s apprentice, and cutting the Emperor-to-be’s hair would be a tremendous honor.
Why do animal characters have human haircuts, in addition to their own distinct features? It’s never really made clear; it’s just one of those logical decisions we’re expected to go with…because. The animation in “Out of the Nest” is bright and lively, and the action is full of energy. The characters are very ordinary, and not terribly memorable, which is part of why this film’s adherence to archetypes is lacking compared to other films like it. This is strictly a film for younger audiences; they will likely appreciate it more than teens and adult fans of animation.
