Migration
IlluminationDespite a more mixed history of critical reception, few Western animation studios have found the continued and consistent success of Illumination. Kicking off with their 2010 release of Despicable Me, the studio has launched multiple successful franchises such as The Secret Life of Pets and Sing alongside successful incorporations of established IP including 2018s The Grinch and 2023s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. To put it clearly, Illumination doesn't miss which makes the debut of a new original property an exciting concept. For Illumination, their newest debut comes in the form of Benjamin Renner's Migration. The film follows the Mallard family, a group of ducks led by their nervous patriarch Mack (Kumail Nanjiani), as they head off on their first migration that sees the family end up in New York City as they try to find their way to Jamaica. As they try to find directions, they meet a pigeon named Chump (Awkwafina) and find their own adventure in the big city.
While one might complain about Illumination's quality of writing, it is hard to ever take a true shot at the studio's technical ability. Having defined and crafted a unique and instantly recognizable style, the animation from the studio is often stunning and Migration is no different. Considering the incredible year for visual design and animation quality between standout projects like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Suzume, it is easy to imagine Migration getting lost in the shuffle. While the animation in the film might not be quite as unbelievable as the other films mentioned, Migration still is a staggeringly gorgeous film with both rendering of New York City and the various natural environments featured looking flawless. As the Mallard family burst through the clouds and soar in the open skies as the sun reflects off the tops of the clouds below, some of the most impressive shots of Illumination's history are revealed. Migration is a truly worthy effort in this regard and is absolutely worth seeking out on the big screen for these moments alone.
The voice cast is also quite strong. On paper, there are multiple concerns but every individual finds an overall likable and effective performance. Kumail Nanjiani never gets lost in the nerves of his character while Elizabeth Banks bounces nicely off of him. Both Caspar Jennings and Tresi Gazal also have a fine amount of personality and chemistry with each other as the two kids of the Mallard family. The true treat here, however, is Awkwafina. It is beyond confusing why Awkwafina continues to get put into voiceover roles as she has proven time and time again to be an awful choice for these types of performances, her work is the clear low-points of Raya and the Last Dragon and The Little Mermaid for recent example, but here she is not only tolerable but even quite enjoyable at times. Hopefully, this is a sign of what is to come as she will return to the animated realm with both Kung Fu Panda 4 and Wildwood over the next couple of years.
While this success must be touted largely to the voices behind the roles, part of the praise has to go to the writing. Written by The White Lotus creator and Survivor: David vs. Goliath runner-up Mike White, Migration's screenplay might be basic but also never goes the completely expected route with its characters. On paper, it seems obvious what journeys the characters will go on individually such as Mack learning the world really isn't a deathtrap that one needs to hide from. While Migration does contain these more simplistic arcs, the film never allows them to define the overall feature in a way that would feel boring. While Mack is nervous about the world, that isn't his only definable trait and it never stops the movement of the film. These characters have more depth and motivation than just their basic stories, leading to a viewing experience that is also allowed to do more.
With that said, the truth is that the film doesn't always have the best thoughts on how to pass time. Especially in the pacing of the film, Migration sets up a grand journey to Jamaica but it quickly becomes clear that the bulk of the film will be spent in New York City with characters and conflicts largely separate from this actual titular journey. If you go on a road trip, the adventures of the first gas station rarely are that memorable or exciting with the natural urge being to get back on the road to continue to make progress towards the final stop. Migration can be challenging at times as a result to fully create a sense of momentum as it feels like the majority of the film's 83-minute runtime is spent at that first gas station. This causes the final payoff of the journey to feel somewhat lackluster and undeserved as the true heart of the story wasn't really about getting to their final destination at all.
Still, Migration is an overall success for Illumination and becomes one of their stronger efforts when viewed holistically. While the animation is breathtaking, appreciation also is deserved for the film's writing and cast with the film ultimately becoming a harmless yet enjoyable animated adventure that will please younger audience members while also not torturing the older crowd who is also dragged to the theater.
