This is remarkable just for going so far out on a limb in terms of feature animation--an entire movie (Hungarian yet!) of sort of Peter Max-type psychedelic visuals in almost blinding day-glo colors. If you were to watch it very stoned on a big screen, it would probably be an incredible experience. Watched sober on a smaller screen, it's basically 80 minutes of very pretty, groovy graphics that are nonetheless somewhat monotonous in impact. The style is a lot like vintage 60s/70s poster art, more about creating a striking design than providing any detailed sense of character or story. So the heroes' quest (based on Hungarian folk tales) is not very involving or exciting, even when they combat dragons--everything is tastefully (if also eye-poppingly) abstract, the protagonists are not much more expressive than stick figures. "White Mane" is a singular achievement, and I'm glad it was made. But it's easier to admire than to love.
Review of Son of the White Mare
