Letterboxd
The preview for this film really turned me off to it, looked frenetic and hyperactive, I was going to completely skip it. But the reviews came in much different than I expected (though the box office isn't great), and so I gave it a chance.
And realized my mistake. This is a movie that is basically an animation showcase, with a bit of a plot thrown on top of it. Remember that scene at the beginning of "Puss in Boots" where the animation style suddenly changes as he is attacking the first monster, and your mind is connecting to the new layout? This is that done to an even greater degree. I didn't think the animation was quite up to PiB, but there were parts that were truly inspired. I'd say this one has more expressiveness and color, but it feels like it is missing something in regards to paiting a world.
I'd say the biggest misses are some rather shallow characterization, some plot contrivances that I felt were a little too on the rails, and a lack of a great baddy like "Death" from PiB.
Anyway, worth seeing. Some emotional parts at the end, but all the characters are zipped through so quickly that you will never really connect with any of them. My biggest complaint is actually the preview. I'm confused why you would market this as "bright lights / flashing colors" when your core is about growing up and the memories that define relationships? It might have done better with a small reworking to make it a more adult (teenager+) film and to have a advertising campaign that matched that. As is, I think it turns off most adults, and the themes are things that don't really make sense to a child.