Yo, look…

This film was gorgeous. Just awe-inspiringly gorgeous. 

One of the best of the 2020 Atlanta Film Festival, so far. I feel, like, honored to have been fortunate enough to see it. That may seem highfalutin AF, but I’m serious. I want to just present this to people, and have discussions about all of its elements.

Every single element was beautifully designed and applied. This type of art is emotionally overwhelming because I can tell this wasn’t an ornament for a culture, it was a love letter. 💌

The yellow—orange—brown gradients in the color palette with little pops of greens and blue hues to complement were balanced in motion. And breathtaking. 😌😌😌

The story was historical, and palpable. The lost heroes of cultures need their lore passed on, not only memorialized in a physical form. I nearly wept as the story progressed because the film illustrated how a land’s history, culture, and people have been quite literally shoved out of existence over time, and what that does to a community’s regard for its rich traditions and legacy.

Using the native language during narration, and subtitling in English, was the best part. I could recognize words associated with the islands of Hawai’i in popularized media, but that decision focused the story’s importance and added a wholesome connection to the art. Using the written native language during the closing credits was cherry 🍒 on top of a great product, and a pleasant surprise! 🧡🧡

I’ve never seen anything like this before in animation, and that’s what saddens me most. Aside from Disney’s “Moana” (2016) and “Lilo and Stitch” (2002), I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Hawaiian Native/Pacific Island-focused animated film with its richness oozing from its seams like “Kapaemahu.” I hope this film finds its way into homes and classrooms across the country, and around the world. I yearn for powerful narratives such as this, especially in animation.

Bravo to the team!