Film Review: POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN: An Entertaining And Heartfelt Story Of Friendship [AIF 2021]

Poupelle of Chimney Town Review

Poupelle of Chimney Town (2020) Film Review from the 4th Annual Animation Is Film Festival, a movie directed by Yusuke Hirota and starring Tony Hale, Antonio Raul Corbo, Stephen Root, Misty Lee, Hasan Minhaj, Tristan Allerick Chen, Candace Kozack and Aleks Le.

Filmmaker Yusuke Hirota’s Poupelle of Chimney Town is quite an entertaining animated movie about a young chimney sweeper who encounters a very different entity which becomes his best friend. This story was written originally as a book by Japanese comedian Nishino Akihiro. It has that very magical feel to it and takes the audience to a unique place. The movie is a colorful journey which keeps the audience invested in its characters from a cinematic standpoint. Young audiences, in particular, should be won over by this emotional and fast paced movie which is sometimes familiar thematically speaking but is nevertheless intriguing.

Set in a smoky “chimney town,” this film starts with some young characters in Halloween costumes dancing in the street and the kids who are dressed up soon find out one of them is really a “monster” known as The Garbage Man. A young chimney sweeper named Lubicchi encounters this “monster” and discovers a friendship that changes his life forever. Lubicchi has a disabled mom and recently lost his dad, a former tailor name Bruno. Lubicchi is resigned to working hard for a living as a result of his father’s absence. The young chimney sweeper soon names the monster “Poupelle” and their bond is revealed to have an extraordinary impact on their lives.

There are obstacles to the two main characters finding happiness which comes in the form of local people who don’t take well to The Garbage Man who smells bad at times for a very precise reason. One character tries to beat up The Garbage Man while another discovers Lubicchi’s boss has assigned “the monster” jobs to do around Lubicchi’s workplace. This cast of characters comes together for a story of learning to accept others despite their differences. It’s definitely not a groundbreaking premise but the movie has a sweet nature to it.

The views of the film’s city setting are magically animated and help add a lot of flavor to the movie. The hat Lubicchi wears in the picture and the distinct characteristics he possesses plus his physical features such as his protruding teeth are cute touches. Though The Garbage Man could have been more fully defined from an animated perspective, the character is still well written and shows flaws throughout the movie which make him relatable. For example, he accidentally reveals a secret Lubicchi tells him which creates dramatic tension in the story line.

Poupelle of Chimney Town is very conventional but that, surprisingly, does not make it boring at all. This film has a magical quality about it which makes it almost sort of an animated E.T. The Extra Terrestrial with its unlikely friendship between a young person and a “different” being who is misunderstood. It’s nowhere near on the level of that live action Steven Spielberg masterpiece but Hirota’s film has moments of magic which make us feel the power of the friendship displayed in the picture.

Surprisingly, I viewed the dubbed version of Poupelle of Chimney Town and thought it was excellently voiced by all involved. Tony Hale made Poupelle come alive and Hale’s energy and distinctive voice personality helped create a moving character. Antonio Raul Corbo is perfect as the voice of Lubicchi who is the typical awkward character who becomes an accidental hero in true Hollywood fashion. Corbo also demonstrated distinct voice over work just like Hale did which propels the plot as he is our main character here and the film is more relatable overall as a result. Stephen Root’s voice turn as Lubicchi’s dad who is shown in flashbacks is also effective.

Poupelle of Chimney Town is undeniably very conventional but it’s still wonderfully majestic in its artistry. I would have liked more of a dramatic edge to some of the concluding scenes but as a kids’ film, it will definitely captivate young viewers. Older viewers may enjoy it as well for its visionary stylishness. It’s worth seeking this film out.

Rating: 7/10

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