Mavka: The Forest Song
{4/5} “Mavka, let’s find you an outfit that says I’m a non-alarming local human.”
Mavka: The Forest Song, released in 2023
Because of a tragedy ages ago, the humans on one side of the Dark Mountain and spirits on the other side leave each other alone. Mavka is a spirit, who brings the forest back to life in the spring. When the Guardian summons her and the other spirits, he says he is too old and they must choose a new Guardian. Lucas enters the forest because he needs money for his sick uncle and Kylina, the daughter of the late sawmill owner, is offering to pay.
This is a Ukrainian movie. The animation is stunning.
The characters are charming, but the ending is a bit silly.
It’s about beings who are afraid of others who are different from them, and one who would deceive all for their own greed.
Stars the voices of Laurie Hymes and Eddy Lee. Directed by Oleh Malamuzh (The Stolen Princess), Oleksandra Ruban (writer on the miniseries Patron the Dog), and Yevheniy Yermak (the miniseries Eskimoska). The music is by Dario Vero.