Beloved animated character learns life lessons, faces danger.
“Ultraman: Rising” is a Tokyo-set animated movie about a Japanese American baseball star and reluctant superhero named Ken Sato (voiced by Christopher Sean), who learns humility, teamwork and gratitude while caring for a creature. Other — mostly male — characters display similar traits while caring for their families. Ken regularly does battle as Ultraman in scenes involving falls, crashes, weapons, fire, broken bones and destruction. Characters (including a baby and an elderly man) end up in harm’s way, a mother goes missing, a child is bullied for being different, and at least one character is killed. The film includes some of the local customs, sights and cultural products of Tokyo. Mild language includes “hell,” “crap,” “suck,” “heck,” “fart” and “poopy.” (117 minutes)
School of Magical Animals 2 (PG)
Magic school sequel adds tween romance and bullying.
“School of Magical Animals 2” is a German fantasy adventure film based on a book series. The sequel is skewed toward a slightly older audience, with a focus on the romance of tween protagonists Ida (Emilia Maier) and Jo (Loris Sichrovsky). Jo’s talking penguin has a macho attitude and calls girls “chicks” and “hot.” A key storyline focuses on the bully Helene (Emilia Pieske) and her gang of “Mean Girls”-like characters (the 2004 movie is directly referenced). But most of the characters are kind, encouraging and fair. A mystery with a cloaked figure digging up the street at night adds some adventure, with very mild peril. The movie was filmed in German, and an English-dubbed version is available. (103 minutes)
Peanuts gang has summer fun and some Lucy and Snoopy snark.
“Camp Snoopy” is a series that follows the Peanuts gang to summer camp. As in other Peanuts tales, expect some meanness from Lucy (voiced by Isabella Leo), anger from Snoopy (Terry McGurrin) and lack of self-esteem from Charlie Brown (Etienne Kellici). There are also slapstick bumps and bruises, plus arguments and mild insults (“ridiculous,” etc.). Some storylines touch on slightly more mature topics, such as a crush between characters and a camper’s homesickness. (10 episodes)
Available on Apple TV Plus.
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