Toon In, tune out: 7 animated treats for a sofa bound Sunday

MUMBAI: Lost the remote-control battle to the kids again? Don’t fret, Sunday was always going to belong to the cartoons, so you might as well stop fur-ighting it. Whether your lot fancies feathered foes turning friends, a beaver with big robotic dreams, or a goat proving that small can absolutely ball, this week’s animated lot has something to charm every sofa-dweller, popcorn-thief and remote-hogger in the house. Grab the blanket, settle the squabbling over snacks, and let’s get reel.

1. Swapped, when enemies trade skins (literally)

Director Nathan Greno, the man behind Tangled, returns with a tale where a tiny woodland creature and a rather grand bird, sworn enemies since the dawn of the valley, find themselves stuck in each other’s bodies. Cue feathers flying and fur flying further. It’s daft, it’s sweet, and it makes the age-old “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” lesson land without ever feeling preachy.

Where to watch: Netflix

2. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a stellar sequel, no power-up required

Following on from 2023’s box-office juggernaut, Mario and pals blast off into the cosmos for round two, taking on threats that are decidedly more “out of this world” than a wayward Goomba. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic keep the star power, and the stars themselves, coming.

Where to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video / Apple TV; expected on JioCinema or Netflix soon

3. Hoppers, hop, skip and a great leap for robo-beavers

Disney-Pixar’s Mabel proves that you don’t need to be a vet to talk to the animals, just a snazzy bit of tech and a willingness to become a robotic beaver. It’s part eco-adventure, part buddy comedy, and entirely the kind of film that sneaks a message about saving habitats past the popcorn-munching masses.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar (also available to rent/buy on Prime Video)

4. GOAT, small goat, big dreams, bigger bounce

Produced by basketball royalty Stephen Curry, this Sony Pictures Animation sports comedy follows an undersized athlete determined to prove that greatness comes in all shapes and sizes. Don’t mix this one up with the 2024 Tamil blockbuster of the same name, this GOAT runs on roarball, not Thalapathy Vijay.

Where to watch: Netflix

5. Arco, a boy out of time, a friendship out of this world

French director Ugo Bienvenu’s gorgeously hand-drawn sci-fi fable sends ten-year-old Arco tumbling from a peaceful future into a fragile 2075 Earth. Teaming up with young Iris and her robot sidekick, he sets off on a quest that’s part E.T., part fairy tale, entirely lovely.

Where to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video / Apple TV

6. I Am Frankelda, Mexico’s monsters get their moment

A prequel to the cult stop-motion series Frankelda’s Book of Spooks, this dark, musical, beautifully tactile film follows an overlooked 19th-century writer who must face down the very monsters lurking in her own imagination. Guillermo del Toro served as creative guide, so expect plenty of gorgeously gothic flourishes.

Where to watch: Netflix

7. The Last Whale Singer, an ocean epic with real depth

Vincent, an orphaned humpback whale and son of the legendary “last Whale Singer,” must dive into a perilous journey across the seas to find his own song, and stop an ancient menace lurking in the deep. Big emotion, bigger oceans.

Where to watch: Netflix

So there you have it, seven ways to keep the family glued to the screen, no popcorn left unpopped and no squabble over the remote left unresolved. Sunday sorted, sofa claimed, cartoons rolling.