'The Boy Who Drew Cats' is yet another adaptation from Rabbit Ears Productions' "We All Have Tales" series, where tales from various countries were adapted and a series that boasted a few of their best adaptations. This particular fairy-tale is from Japan and it is a great one, one that really does have a magical atmosphere and grabs the attention but it is also surprisingly disturbing. There is a good deal of talent involved here that immediately makes one want to experience regardless of any prior familiarity with the story is.
Rabbit Ears Productions do a wonderful job with 'The Boy Who Drew Cats'. It may not one of my favourites of theirs overall or of the "We All Have Tales" series (only because so many of that series' adaptations are so brilliant), but it is exceptionally well crafted and manages to have a lot of recognisable elements from the story. While making an effort to make it accessible for a wider audience, though it may be too disturbing for some younger viewers if they are not familiar with the story beforehand.
Absolutely loved the visuals, Rabbit Ears Productions very nearly always succeeded in this regard with a couple of "drawing style not quite being to my tastes" ('Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby' for instance) exceptions. It was no surprise that they were so good, as they were done by David Johnson who did a great job on the company's adaptation of 'Thumbelina' and who is a master at unsettling surrealistic imagery (obvious in the not as successful 'The Bremen Town Musicians'). The backgrounds especially are so rich and expressive in detail and the demonic imagery truly unsettles, as somebody who encountered this at a more mature age and who has always handled 'The Fisherman and His Wife' just fine it still didn't disturb me too much.
Mark Isham is no stranger to Rabbit Ears Productions either, being a relatively regular composer for the company's "Storybook Classics" series and never disappointed. He doesn't disappoint either with his music for 'The Boy Who Drew Cats', being a lovely mix of beautifully exotic and ominously brooding. William Hurt was another interesting choice for narrator, and his delivery is pretty much pitch perfect. Very eerie without going too overboard.
The writing has intensity and maturity, while never being difficult to understand or going too far on the creepiness. The story is both oddly charming and thrilling, with the ominous tone in the more demonic moments being hair-raising but not too traumatising. The characters are engaging.
In summary, wonderful. 9/10.
Rabbit Ears Productions do a wonderful job with 'The Boy Who Drew Cats'. It may not one of my favourites of theirs overall or of the "We All Have Tales" series (only because so many of that series' adaptations are so brilliant), but it is exceptionally well crafted and manages to have a lot of recognisable elements from the story. While making an effort to make it accessible for a wider audience, though it may be too disturbing for some younger viewers if they are not familiar with the story beforehand.
Absolutely loved the visuals, Rabbit Ears Productions very nearly always succeeded in this regard with a couple of "drawing style not quite being to my tastes" ('Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby' for instance) exceptions. It was no surprise that they were so good, as they were done by David Johnson who did a great job on the company's adaptation of 'Thumbelina' and who is a master at unsettling surrealistic imagery (obvious in the not as successful 'The Bremen Town Musicians'). The backgrounds especially are so rich and expressive in detail and the demonic imagery truly unsettles, as somebody who encountered this at a more mature age and who has always handled 'The Fisherman and His Wife' just fine it still didn't disturb me too much.
Mark Isham is no stranger to Rabbit Ears Productions either, being a relatively regular composer for the company's "Storybook Classics" series and never disappointed. He doesn't disappoint either with his music for 'The Boy Who Drew Cats', being a lovely mix of beautifully exotic and ominously brooding. William Hurt was another interesting choice for narrator, and his delivery is pretty much pitch perfect. Very eerie without going too overboard.
The writing has intensity and maturity, while never being difficult to understand or going too far on the creepiness. The story is both oddly charming and thrilling, with the ominous tone in the more demonic moments being hair-raising but not too traumatising. The characters are engaging.
In summary, wonderful. 9/10.
