Abominable (2019)

Abominable crafts a classic journey and coming-of-age adventure where three teenagers discover that protecting a vulnerable being holds more value than fame or money. The film champions simple yet robust values: loyalty to friends, respect for nature, and the importance of returning each creature to its true home. The Yeti serves as a catalyst for growth for the protagonists, especially for Yi, who learns to process family grief while helping another being reunite with its own kind. The animation is vibrant, and the moments of visual magic —the Yeti making flowers grow or shaping landscapes— are handled with genuine wonder, devoid of postmodern irony. The antagonists are caricatural yet not cruel: an obsessive collector and a zoologist more comical than menacing. The film eschews realistic violence, relying instead on the tension of chases to maintain its pace. For parents, it is a work that invites conversation about grief, responsibility towards the vulnerable, and the value of family without resorting to sermonizing. A safe and moving choice for the entire family.