Strange World buries interesting nuggets under predictability. The climax reveals a thematic metaphor connecting environmentalism to biology, worldbuilding payoff, and converging emotional arcs. Unfortunately, this might feel too little and too late for viewers. The characters' traits, conflicts, and growth are motivated and competent, but it's all so formulaic that audiences might check out before the plot finally gets juicy. This is a shame since the premise, drama, ending, and cast all have potential. It's just slightly underutilized and, thus, slightly underwhelming. Still, it's hard to condemn Strange World too much because its heart is in the right place.
Technically, Strange World is competent. Its cinematography uses adequate depth, color, focus, lighting, steadiness, and composition. The editing employs montages, match cuts, wipes, passing cuts, and rhythm for a nostalgic style and decent pace. Its production design is fairly unique, incorporating retrofuturism and biology-based aliens. Meanwhile, there's detailed animation, an experienced cast, generic but mystical music, and sci-fi sound designs. Overall, the tone is rather light, the structure is probably too formulaic, and the acting feels confined, but Strange World has enough energy, filmmaking, and meaning to be worthwhile. It's not great, but it's acceptable.
Writing: 6/10
Direction: 6/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 8/10
Overall Score: 6.8/10
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