Louise Bagnall’s JULIÁN is the animated film adaptation of Jessica Love’s beloved book Julián Is a Mermaid. The story of the 7-year-old Julián, who spends the summer with his abuela in Brooklyn, is about heritage, family, and both the joys and the challenges that come with self-discovery and growing up.
The 2D hand-drawn storybook-inspired animation is simple, charming, and a pleasure to watch. Brooklyn has not looked this colorful since Do the Right Thing.
There is lively Afro-Caribbean music throughout. A joyful party sequence on the Coney Island shore is one of the highlights. You are bound to leave with a big smile on your face.
