“Big Hero 6”

“Big Hero 6” is the latest in Disney’s animated feature resurgence that started with “Wreck It Ralph” in 2012 and wildly popular “Frozen” in 2013. The story follows 14-year-old Hiro Hamada, a boy-genius in a futuristic city cleverly named San Fransokyo.

Based off a lesser-known Marvel comic, “Big Hero 6” evolves into superhero movie after Hiro’s older brother dies in a fire. Unlike other comic series, the heroes use technology, as well the help of Baymax, a robot originally designed by Hiro’s brother, to aid them in fighting the villain.

“Boxtrolls”

“The Boxtrolls,” from the creators of “Paranorman” and “Coraline,” centers on a young orphan boy named Egg, who is raised by a group of mischievous creatures, called boxtrolls: Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Tracy Morgan.

The story is set in the Victorian era in the fictional town of Cheesebridge and begins when a pest exterminator strikes a deal with the town’s mayor, promising to rid the town of all the boxtrolls who they blame for kidnapping and killing young children. The remainder of the film is a cat-and-mouse game between the exterminator, Archibald Snatcher, and the boxtrolls.

“How to Train Your Dragon 2”

The Dreamworks animated sequel to 2010’s “How to Train Your Dragon” follows the duo of Hiccup and Toothless on a journey to help save the dragon population from an evil dragon trapper who wants to use dragons to start a war and take over the world.

Jay Baruchel and Gerard Butler, once again lend their voices to the film, with the addition of Cate Blanchett, who plays Hiccup’s long lost mother. “How to Train Your Dragon 2” is filled with the same kind of sweeping fantasy as the original and ultimately comes down to a final battle in which Hiccup and Toothless are squarely in the middle.

“Song of the Sea”

“Song of the Sea” comes from the Academy Award-nominated director of “The Secret of Kells,” Tom Moore. The story is based around the Celtic myth of the Selkie, women who transform freely between seals and people.

A young girl named Saoirse soon discovers that she is indeed a selkie and must use her powers to unleash the fantastical powers of magic, long forgotten. “Song of the Sea” is beautifully animated and has a unique enough storyline to entertain children and their parents alike.

“The Tale of Princess Kaguya”

“The Tale of Princess Kaguya” comes from studio Ghibli, the creators of animated masterpieces “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away,” and centers on a magical princess found within a stalk of bamboo by a bamboo cutter and his wife.

The tale sees her grow at an incredibly rapid pace into a beautiful princess who instantly charms everyone she meets. The crux of the story is the princess’s reluctance to give up the small cottage life and become the princess she is destined to be. It is very much a story of personal growth and acceptance. 

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