Strange World

Strange World is a beautiful, animated exploration of a treacherous and emotive journey to an undiscovered world. Imagined and brought to the screen by award-winning writer Qui Nguyen, director Don Hall and experienced nature documentarian Roy Conli, this winning collaboration brings to audiences a family feature about the human condition and the delicate balance held within an ecosystem.

Told through a lens spanning three generations, the story opens with an expedition led by the legendary explorer, Jaeger Clade (voiced by Dennis Quaid), his team of intrepid adventurers and his timid son, Searcher (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal). The group trek through a perilous mountain range in search of a mysterious planet called Avalonia, when Searcher is distracted by a beautiful Pando plant. His father dismisses the discovery and arrogantly marches on into the mountains, disappearing out of sight and unheard of for over 25 years. 

Fast-forward those years and and Searcher has a successful career as a Pando plant farmer and a family of his own, careful not to repeat the bullying tactics his own father. Ethan (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White) brings to screen an endearing portrayal of a queer teen (a first for Disney) in which acceptance and romance are allowed to bloom around the role. 

When this revolutionary Pando plant comes under threat from some sort of parasitic infestation, Searcher, Ethan and a team of explorers set off to find the source of the problem, soon stumbling into a bizarre and fantastical Strange World, where they reunite with Jeager who’s been living there all this time. Despite the frosty relationship between him and Searcher, he meets his grandson for the very first time and they all have to navigate this new family dynamic. 

Visually breathtaking, this is Disney at its best. Fantastical creatures (like the non-verbal, bright blue character of Splat), lollop around the imaginative world like giant marshmallows. Setting it against a backdrop of magical fauna, the creative team behind this project – which includes Mehrdad Isvandi (Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon) – have really worked to deliver a high-impact setting. Strange World is not only an atmospheric family film for a modern audience but, by bringing a hugely diverse and relatable cast to the fore, messages of acceptance and the importance of family also rise to the surface in this wonderful story.  

Ezelle Alblas

Strange World is released nationwide on 23^rd November 2022.

Watch the trailer for Strange World here: