 | Genre: Comedy, Children |
On the topic of Hognob, the football plot takes up most of the action and plot, and at no point is it referred to as soccer, nor is any concession made to the fact that people might not be familiar with the sport. Football team name jokes and other British references like the hobnob biscuit are thrown unapologetically and so refreshingly. The plot is a classic underdog story with the unrelated livelihoods of the underdogs on the line. Some smaller subplots pepper the plot with interesting events with a Bronze Age woman who isn't allowed to play because it's a man's sport, an older chief who is at odds with the young and ambitious hunter, and the Bronze Age leader hiding his money-hungry actions from his actual-monarch boss.
Although it is hinted at, there is no romance subplot. There is a thirsty mum, but she's just vaguely after a boyfriend to the never ending embarrassment of her teenage son. There are two main heroes, one male and one female, and they meet and grow to like each other. Making an incredibly welcome change, however, they do not inexplicably fall in love or replace their original, vital happy endings with a romantic one. She gets to play football in front of a cheering crowd, he gets to go home, and no obligatory heterosexual pairing is shoehorned in. They are friends and that is such a relief.
Having seen some behind the scenes videos, the process and sheer scale of a real stop-motion feature film is still hard to comprehend. The small team roots of Aardman is still there at the core, with a surprisingly small team making the huge sets and numerous models of each character. The handmade aesthetic is kept by doing so much by hand, and being sure not to smooth away all the thumbprints. The ridiculous amount of work that goes into an Aardman Animation really shows, and the beauty of the models and items is breathtaking. Take a moment to admire the artistry in any moment, and keep an eye out for the repeated football motif all over the city sets.
As always, Nick Park and co have really nailed the concept of a family film. The characters are simple but believable, the story easy to follow and compelling, and the humour funny to adults without going over children's heads. This diverse appeal means it can thoroughly entertain the children without annoying you, or you could happily watch this by yourself. As per usual, Aardman shows the rest of the children's film business how it should be done.
Although it is hinted at, there is no romance subplot. There is a thirsty mum, but she's just vaguely after a boyfriend to the never ending embarrassment of her teenage son. There are two main heroes, one male and one female, and they meet and grow to like each other. Making an incredibly welcome change, however, they do not inexplicably fall in love or replace their original, vital happy endings with a romantic one. She gets to play football in front of a cheering crowd, he gets to go home, and no obligatory heterosexual pairing is shoehorned in. They are friends and that is such a relief.
Having seen some behind the scenes videos, the process and sheer scale of a real stop-motion feature film is still hard to comprehend. The small team roots of Aardman is still there at the core, with a surprisingly small team making the huge sets and numerous models of each character. The handmade aesthetic is kept by doing so much by hand, and being sure not to smooth away all the thumbprints. The ridiculous amount of work that goes into an Aardman Animation really shows, and the beauty of the models and items is breathtaking. Take a moment to admire the artistry in any moment, and keep an eye out for the repeated football motif all over the city sets.
As always, Nick Park and co have really nailed the concept of a family film. The characters are simple but believable, the story easy to follow and compelling, and the humour funny to adults without going over children's heads. This diverse appeal means it can thoroughly entertain the children without annoying you, or you could happily watch this by yourself. As per usual, Aardman shows the rest of the children's film business how it should be done.
