Curious George (2006)

I finally saw the movie "Curious George". It was such a pleasure, a real feast for the eyes, ears and heart. I haven't laughed so hard - and so delightedly - in a while. (Cf. Previous post on monkeys at the zoo, if you prefer the non-fictional variety.)

Partly it was the music. Jack Johnson's song "Upside Down" was particularly groovy and sweet.

Partly it was the characters -- especially little George, whose thoughts cannot be expressed in words, but only in action and gurgling noises (and the soundtrack). He is so lovable -- simultaneously innocent and mischievous, resourceful and helpless. Yet always good in the deepest sense of the word (even when he is being bad).

And then there was also something about the animation itself -- simple block colors in simple outlines, for the most part ... with soft, lovely shapes and shading in the lush background.

I felt such nostalgia for a world that was never mine.

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As a sneak preview (you are going to go see the movie, right? and perhaps buy the soundtrack?), this picture shows how the illusion of motion is created. This is one of the opening scenes, before George finds a name and a friend.