Never has there been an animated film so controversial when arguing suitably for children than this one. Some argue that the violence is too much and the subject matter too mature. Others, myself included, argue that it’s not any more traumatizing than watching Bambi’s mother die. If your kids can handle Disney, they can handle Watership Down. I will concede that little kids aren’t going to understand a lot of the story beyond a group of rabbits looking for a new home, but that doesn’t alter my main argument.

For those who haven’t seen it or read the book by Richard Adams, there’s a few things to cover beyond just the story. First of all, the rabbit culture has its own language – Lapine. So, there are instances in the movie where they refer to certain things by their Lapine word, such as “silflay”, which is the act of going above ground to feed. There’s not a lot of rhyme or reason for the use of Lapine words since, for the sake of the viewer, speak mostly in perfect English, but it helps give the world the story takes place in some character and a lived-in feel. Along with the language, the rabbits have their own mythology, which is explained in the first scene of the movie. The basics of it are that a god named Frith created the world and, originally, all animals were herbivores. However, rabbits multiplied at such a rapid rate that they were clearing the world of grass. Frith commanded the rabbit prince, El-Ahrairah, to basically get his fellow rabbits to curb their appetites for food and procreation. El-Ahrairah brushes him off and in retaliation, Frith turns some of the animals into carnivores to hunt the rabbits. Not to leave them completely defenseless, he gives rabbits the gifts of speed and cunning.

Okay, for the two of you who are still with me, here’s a brief synopsis. Fiver and his older brother, Hazel, are convinced that their home is going to be destroyed after Fiver has a vision about it. However, the chief of their warren refuses to let anyone leave. “Shut up, Chicken Little. The sky isn’t falling!” Hazel, Fiver and a small group of rabbits manage to escape the warren without being caught by the Owsla (the warren’s police force). Basically, from there, they hop (rabbit pun!) from warren to warren, in search of a new home, and discovering that the farms where these warrens are located aren’t friendly towards rabbits. Eventually, they find the land that Fiver had envisioned, Watership Down. They make it their home, but realize a house is not a home without some lady bunnies, so they go looking for some. A bird named Kehaar offers to fly around in search of a warren overflowing with does and finds one. The only problem is General Woundwort rules his warren with an iron fist, so Hazel sends the captain of his Owsla, Holly, to infiltrate the warren and find some does willing to escape. They succeed in doing so, but Woundwort finds out and does not take the slight kindly. He and his army come to Watership Down and a major battle ensues. The rabbits of Watership Down must defend the paradise they’ve found in order to live a life of peace.

Okay, for the none of you still with me, it sounds pretty good, right? I’m feeling incredibly self-conscious after that synopsis, and feel the need to defend this movie from blank stares and head-scratching. The story is so rich and handles the reality of death with such care, especially the sad-but-sweet ending. It’s beautiful storytelling, and beneficial for viewers of all ages. The movie’s theme song, “Bright Eyes” by Art Garfunkel, is a sweet and somber piece that reflects the movie quite well. The movie moves at a tight pace, too. It takes a nearly 600 page book and condenses it into a solid hour and a half film without compromising the charm of the deeper world that the book develops. It’s not just for kids, but it’s not just for adults either. Everyone can find something to enjoy in it, if they’re willing to watch an animated film.

Bonus Review: Coco

Pixar hasn’t released a good movie since Brave in 2012, with only one small exception: Coco, another animated film that handles the topic of mortality with delicate hands. When Imelda’s husband abandons her and their young daughter, Coco, to chase a music career, Imelda bans music from her household indefinitely and Coco, as the eventual matriarch of the family, continues. However, Coco’s great-great-grandson, Miguel, secretly loves music, and when Coco finds out, she smashes his guitar like she was Pete Townshend. In need of a new guitar, Miguel goes to the museum of a famous Mexican musician that was roughly the same age as Miguel’s great-great-great grandmother, and steals it, but when he strums the still-smooth strings, his world becomes significantly more vibrant as he is transported to the Land of the Dead and his ancestors.

As Miguel discovers his dead family history, he learns to value the living family he has back home. Coco is a major tearjerker with a lot of color and personality. It’ll make you want to hug your relatives, especially the older ones. It’s sweetly sentimental but still genuine, and the music is pretty solid too, but I have an affinity for Latin music, so that might not be the consensus of the viewers. This is not only the best movie from Pixar in a long time, it’s also Top 3 Pixar of All Time.