My Father’s Dragon Parent Guide

After moving into a big city from the countryside, Elmer (Jacob Tremblay) is having a hard time adjusting to his new life. His mom (Golshifteh Farahani) is struggling just to keep herself and Elmer off the street, which makes her dream of opening a shop seem impossible. During an argument, Elmer runs off and finds himself swept off to the magical Wild Island, where he is tasked with helping a dragon save the island from sinking into the ocean. The dragon (Gaten Matarazzo) is not exactly what Elmer expected, but the two set off to save the island and discover much more as they learn to work together.

One of my biggest problems with modern animated movies is that they all look the same. Generic 3D animation is ubiquitous in the industry, which betrays the artistic potential of the medium. Cartoon Saloon, the production company behind My Father’s Dragon and one of my all-time favorite films, Wolfwalkers, is not afraid to break out of that mold and make stylized, visually rich productions. This movie is stunning. The style, lighting, colors, and designs are all beautifully and intentionally done, with a deep attention to detail and a focus on telling the story. And, as always with Cartoon Saloon, the score is fantastic.

Visuals aside, I don’t think My Father’s Dragon quite lives up to the level of its predecessor, Wolfwalkers. I think that the production team was aiming for a younger audience, which is perfectly fine, just not usually what this company does. The story is simpler, and the themes are more surface level, lacking some of the complexity of previous productions. However, that is not to say that it isn’t well done. Children are sure to enjoy the adventure and colorful characters. There’s just less here for the adults than I was expecting. Again, not a bad thing, just something to note.

The story focuses on themes of self-confidence, overcoming fear, and friendship. I think the dragon, Boris, will resonate with children that struggle with anxiety and fearfulness, as he talks about his fears and how they affect his self-image and choices. With the support of his friend, Boris gains the confidence to do things he’s afraid of, but that doesn’t change who he is as a character. I think anxious children deserve to see that there’s nothing wrong with them and they don’t need to drastically change who they are, they just have a specific struggle that they need to learn to work with as they navigate the world. This movie handles this spectacularly, and I think many children will relate to Boris.

With very little negative content aside from some mild peril, this is a film for people of almost any age. The characters, visuals, music, and adventure all combine into a heartfelt, fun adventure, even if I felt it was a little more juvenile than Cartoon Saloon’s other work. This is sure to become a favorite for many children, and possibly their parents too.