It's been a long time since I last resonated with my inner child. The part of me that could watch a delightful animation for hours and feel very fulfilled at the end of the endeavor. This part of myself was sitting pretty at a corner till I got a very captivating review of an animation from a friend.
The friend didn't have a copy of the animation on his device and I, who vehemently refuses to download movies for whatever reason, opted to download it. That was how intriguing the friend's review was. Eventually I saw the animation and here's a piece of my mind concerning the animation “Vivo”.
Vivo is a heartwarming animated musical tale that follows the journey of a kinkajou(an animal that strikingly resembles a monkey) and his passion for music.
The story revolves around Vivo, the kinkajou, and his quest to deliver a song to Marta Sandova, his former owner's musical partner. Marta who was having one last show was all the way in Miami and Vivo was in Cebu, nonetheless, he embarked on the journey. Along the way, he meets Gabi, his former owner's grand-niece and together, they face various obstacles, including a snake, on their way to Miami.
This musical comedy adventure film was released on the 6th of August, 2021 and has a runtime of 1 hour 35 minutes. Directed by Kirk DeMicco, the animation boasts veteran voice over artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldoña, Juan de Marcos González and Brian Tyree Henry.
I didn't realize that I missed seeing animations till after Vivo. The plot of this animation was a heartwarming one. It was truly a satisfying watch with a few tweaks here and there.
The voice acting was top notch. It's always a wonder how voice actors tend to portray every action and every emotion through their voice. The voice acting in this animation was pretty good as it matched perfectly with the characters.
I cannot begin to explain how vibrant this animation was. It was right in the middle, not too blinding and not too dull, making it just right for photo-sensitive viewers. The scenes were all alluring to watch but one that really grabbed my attention was the part where a boat heading to Miami sailed through the waters in the night. The sight was really a beautiful one.
The themes of family, love and perseverance stood out. I like how well the animation portrayed the importance of settling our difference with others immediately these differences come up because that may as well be the last time we see them. This to me, is a very powerful theme.
I particularly liked the catchy music used throughout the animation. The duet between Vivo and Gabi was mind-blowing as they blended hip-hop and Latin music. Before now, I never would have imagined that the blend between these two genres would sound so… good.
However, amidst the excellence was a flaw–predictable plot. I could literally see the end of the animation from the beginning as these kinds of animations usually follow a certain pattern. This took away the element of surprise. If the animation didn't have so many beautiful sceneries, it would have probably been a boring one.
Also, the clichés were very astounding. The character Gabi was a little girl, less than seven. A free-spirited, nonconformist, energetic and rebellious young girl who often expressed herself through bold fashion like spraying her entire hair purple when she couldn't yet solve a quadratic equation. This felt unreal to me because not many parents would watch their child act that way and be quiet about it.
YouTube
Overall, this was a good watch for me. The animation was vibrant, the songs were pleasing to the ears and the characters sent our very powerful messages through their actions. I would give it a 7/10 rating. If you're up for a lighthearted animation, the Vivo would be a good choice.
