In 2020, The Willoughbys debuted on Netflix and it has yet to actually make a big impact on viewing audiences. With so many fantastic animated movies released throughout the year, it's understandable that a lesser-known property might have gotten lost in all the noise.
The Willoughbys may be not only one of the most underrated animated films of 2020 but perhaps one of the most underrated movies of the year, period. Its charming and witty script, tremendous visuals, and simplistic yet emotional plot all contribute to a project that really should be getting much more praise than it currently is.
10 Brilliant Adaptation
Just like the many highly anticipated animated movies of 2021, The Willougbys is actually a successful adaptation of a novel of the same name. Written by the New York Times best-selling author Lois Lowry, the book is a fun display of this family's quirks.
Seen to be a parody of some classic children's books that many have grown up with, Lowry offers a unique voice in her 2008 work. Full of over-the-top scenes and bizarre characters, the Netflix adaptation didn't shy away from anything in the source material.
9 Incredible Voice Cast
A project like this needs a stellar cast and luckily the Netflix brand managed to pull in some surprisingly big names when it came to voicing some of these odd characters. Ricky Gervais is the narrator of this film, with the animal lover actually playing a cat who watches the lives of the young Willoughbys.
The cast is rounded out by acting legends like Terry Cruise, Maya Rudolph, and Will Forte. Singer Alessia Cara continues to progress her own career by lending her vocal talents to the film as well. The team that the casting crew managed to put together is just as charming as the movie itself.
8 Beautiful Animation
From Disney's endless series on their streaming service to HBO Max continuing to expand the world of DC in the form of animation, a lot of time and money is going into producing some of the best animation in the industry.
Using technological animation techniques, rather than that of the traditional hand-drawn method, The Willoughbys' world absolutely comes to life on screen. The bright colors and eye-catching visual designs are unlike anything else seen before. Where other films would zig, this one zags in its cinematography.
7 Genuinely Unique
There's something pretty wild about this world. The characters are totally strange and the series of events that leads to them forming a new family is also completely wacky. From a candy king to a singalong mountain expedition, there's nothing normal about The Willoughbys.
But that is what makes it so unique. From the script to the creative choices made throughout its development, everything about the movie is created to ensure that the audience has absolutely no idea what's coming next. The result means this movie is a total blast, especially for families.
6 Not A Franchise
Sometimes it's truly refreshing to watch a movie that isn't linked to another much larger franchise. The world of animation is full of sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and TV show adaptations. It's rare to find something a little bit more original.
The Willoughbys isn't linked to any other animated project. Sure, there's a novel to pick up and read, but it's certainly not the third film in a seemingly never-ending cinematic universe of talking animals or vampire families.
5 Humor For The Whole Family
The combination of the script and what could be small moments of improvisation from the cast has resulted in a lot of genuinely brilliant jokes. It might be because of the odd premise or simply the talent of the writers, but there's a bundle of gags in The Willoughbys.
Just like any other animated movie that's intended for the whole family to enjoy, there are a number of moments that might go right over kids' heads. Plenty of adults are sure to be in on the joke, though.
4 Thematically Powerful
As funny as it is, the movie isn't totally played for laughs. At its core is the story of four children who just want to find a proper home. Living in the legacy of a great family and troubled by the lack of love from their own parents, The Willougbys has a number of universal messages.
Of course, it has a happy ending — it's a kids' movie after all. It's just great to see a movie tackle such huge themes as adoption or the pressure of living up to the family name and manage to treat these concepts with such an insightful approach.
3 Netflix's Move To Animation
The world of animation can make a huge impact. The Simpsons redefined TV. Shrek demonstrated that there wasn't one single way to make an animated hit. Netflix is now trying to find its own approach to the genre.
They've already had great success with movies like Klaus, and The Willoughbys seems to be following that same creator-led approach. This film demonstrates that the streaming giant is still willing to take risks in order to create new experiences for audiences.
2 Critical Acclaim
Despite the lack of audience attention, The Willoughbys certainly was well-received by critics, sitting at a 91% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sometimes, critical acclaim is enough to draw in audiences. After all, anyone with Netflix can enjoy this movie right now. However, the Willougby family doesn't appear to be making its way to the screen again, with no sequel in development as of yet.
1 Going Unnoticed
The Willoughbys is a hidden gem in every sense of the phrase. It's superb, emotional, wacky, and unique. Alas, it hasn't yet developed the cult following that some other Netflix releases have achieved.
In fact, when thinking about the best animated movies of 2020, many seem to be overlooking The Willoughbys completely. Sometimes fantastic animated work is forgotten in time due to the sheer volume of available streaming movies. Hopefully, The Willougbys will rise again.
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