FernGully: Still Holds Up (Kinda?)

Okay, so I rewatched FernGully the other day – yeah, the one with Robin Williams as Batty Koda. Man, that movie is a TRIP. As a kid, I was all about the magic and the fairies and the environmental message (which, let's be real, was hammered home PRETTY hard). But watching it now, through my jaded adult eyes... there's still some cool stuff going on, technically speaking. The animation, for a 90s flick, is actually pretty impressive, especially the way they blended the traditional animation with some early CGI. Hexxus, the oil monster, is a good example. The way he moves and morphs is genuinely unsettling. Sound design-wise, I REALLY dig Hexxus's voice. Tim Curry just nails the creepiness with that deep, resonant tone. It's a little... campy, sure, but in a way that works. I mean, it's a cartoon, right? And speaking of camp, Robin Williams is, well, Robin Williams. You either love the manic energy or you hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle, honestly. Sometimes it feels a little forced, but other times he really elevates the scene, especially when he's going full-on conspiracy theorist Batty. I did find myself cringing a bit at the romantic storyline (Zak and Crysta, ugh). It felt kinda tacked on and rushed. And the logging company guys are your typical cardboard cutout villains. No nuance there, which is a shame. But overall, I think FernGully is still worth a watch, especially if you're into animation or if you just want a blast of 90s nostalgia. It's not perfect, but it's got some genuinely cool moments and a message that's still relevant today, even if it's delivered with a sledgehammer! One last thing: I always wondered how they made the miniature sets look so good with the hand-drawn animation. Did they actually build tiny parts of the forest, or use fancy camera tricks? Anyone know? I'm curious!