Mavka: The Forest Song

The production of Mavka took seven years. The cartoon is based on a classic Ukrainian poetic play "The Forest Song'' by Lesya Ukrainka. Having some knowledge of the original material, I was genuinely worried about the quality of the adaptation. I was also hoping that air sirens won't interrupt the experience in the movie theater. This time they didn't.

Although Mavka extensively uses the voice talents of famous Ukrainians, the lip sync immediately hints at international viewers as the primary audience. Some of the jokes, verbal metamorphosis, and specific references will be inevitably lost in translation. But those are minor things here. The story of Mavka touches on the commonly understood themes of love, trust, and the coexistence of two worlds: people and forest creatures. All it takes is two loving hearts, a lot of bravery, and the transformative power of music. The title song by Artem Pivovarov and Khrystyna Soloviy is very compelling, especially if you treat yourself to the Ukrainian version of "Language of the Wind".

Computer-generated imagery of Mavka is top-notch. The landscapes and environments are beautiful. Most of them are on par with big-budget studios. The main characters are well-written and nuanced. Yes, we've seen a lot of mystic trees and cute animals, but the forest bestiary in Mavka never fails to amaze. It is detailed, fun, and creative. The art direction, color palette, and all those runic symbols and elemental attributes are magnificent. The volume of Ukrainian ethnicity is balanced and enriches the overall perception. The script does not disappoint. It manages to hold some unexpected twists and an empathetic emotional punch.

All in all, Mavka is a brilliant family-friendly cartoon. Developed and released during the war, it amplifies the universal virtues required to resist and fight evil. It makes one proud to be a Ukrainian, yet once more.

P. S. Watch the credits roll till the end for a tiny story development.