Abominable Parent Guide

Yi (voiced by Chloe Bennet) is living life on the go. Spending her vacation running from one part-time job to another in her hometown of Shanghai, she hardly has time to talk to her mother and grandmother (voiced by Michelle Wong and Tsai Chin). She is too busy to play basketball with younger neighbor, Peng (voiced by Albert Tsai) and barely manages to squeeze in some snarky banter with handsome Jin (voiced by Tenzing Norgay Trainor). There’s a reason behind Yi’s frenetic schedule – she’s afraid that if she stops long enough to think, she won’t be able to control her grief over her father’s death. But then one night, she climbs up to her rooftop hideaway to play her father’s violin and makes a discovery that will change her life.

Mr. Burnish (voiced by Eddie Izzard) is an acquisitive animal collector, with a lifelong obsession with yeti. He has finally managed to capture an abominable snowman of his own, only to see him escape over the rooftops of Shanghai. Injured in his flight, the yeti hides on the first convenient roof, until he’s discovered by Yi. Their meeting launches the new friends, along with Peng and Jin, on a journey across China to return the yeti to his home on Mount Everest.

So far, this sounds like a fairly typical kids’ road trip movie. And it certainly ticks most of the boxes. But Abominable manages to stand out in the genre for a few reasons. First, the scenery is jaw-dropping. China encompasses some dazzling landscapes and it is wonderful to see a few of those gorgeous vistas unfolding on the big screen. It is so refreshing to see a big budget kids’ movie embrace not only an Asian setting, but also Asian characters. It’s a big world out there, and it’s a gift to share it with our kids. And, second, Abominable takes a broader look at magic than some other kids’ fantasy films. While Everest (as Yi names the yeti) possesses magical abilities that allow him to communicate with nature (and to control it as he gets closer to the Himalayas), the movie also shows the magic that can be found in music. Yi’s talent has a power and beauty of its own, and parents can hope that her music will inspire their less-than-enthusiastic musicians to practice more diligently.

Not only is there much to enjoy in this movie; there is very little for parents to worry about. Abominable contains some perilous situations and a few violent encounters, but these are not gratuitous or gory and serve to advance the plot. Only sensitive children will be troubled by the story’s action. Parents will likely be appalled by Yi’s heedless trip across China without food, water, sunblock, or clothes suitable to the climate. But younger viewers won’t care – they’re far more likely to be enchanted by the film. This production contains some of the most beautiful moments I’ve seen in an animated feature in a long time, moments that celebrate the wonder of nature with such breathtaking loveliness that the moviegoers around me “oohed” and “aahed” out loud on several occasions. This charming movie celebrates the glories of the natural world and the magic of music, friendship, loyalty, and love. It definitely isn’t abominable – it’s wonderful and well worth the price of the ticket to see it on the big screen.