Flow changed the game when it comes to animation. Told entirely silently, with the only “dialogue” being the sounds the animals make throughout the film. Winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar, I believe it will reshape what we should expect from family animation, a sector of animation that can be awfully stagnant in presentation. In comes the Hong Kong animated film A Mighty Adventure to continue this silent approach to storytelling. Blending practical effects with CGI animation, the final product is a very cute and wholesome film.

The story is simple: three creatures- a spider, a grasshopper, and a butterfly- whose normal day-to-day lives are ruined when they are taken to the big city. From there, they have one mission: to get home. There is no dialogue to convey this, only chirps and squeaks of the creatures. Despite no dialogue, you truly do fall in love with the little guys. Especially the spider that might be one of the cutest spiders to be captured on film. It’s that connection that makes you pray for them to make it home so they can return to their normal lives.

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Blending 3D animation with reality isn’t easy, though. Many of the locations we see in the film are actual places, not ones created digitally. This creates a cross-section where live action and animation converge. It allows for real human problems to be a threat and there is no uncanny valley where we see 3D characters not quite look like humans or environments look fake. As it’s all real and captured on camera.

It also allows the dangers that our characters are placed into to feel genuinely scary. A simple scene where a pot of red bubbling liquid that could be tomato soup becomes like lava to the spider and cricket. Something that puts their very lives at risk. It’s hard to describe how powerful the effect is, but in the context of the film it just works. It leads to a film that is nothing short of adorable to see. In addition, at just under 80 minutes, the film flies by, leading to a film that is nothing short of adorable.

A Mighty Adventure is simple in premise but excellent in execution. While I do not feel it will reach the same cultural highs as Flow. It follows in the same footsteps, leading to a joyful and wonderful film. You will be happy watching this film, and sometimes we all need some joy in the dark times.

★★★★

Had its UK Premiere at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival / Dir: Toe Yuen / Golden Network Asia

About the Author

Robert Ewing

Author

Rob is a freelance film critic and writer who specialises in Anime and Asian cinema. I have adored film since a young age, having watched films that were far too old for me, such as RoboCop, Die Hard, and Hot Tub Time Machine, to discovering the heights of foreign cinema through films like Headhunters and Battle Royale. Growing up with such a diverse catalogue of films that I cherished sparked my desire to discuss them. This passion eventually led me to become a reviewer. Dissecting films, speaking to filmmakers I admire, and showcasing the best of Asian and anime cinema is how I live my best and truest life.

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