Films like The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000) reads as Cosy, breathless, gentle animation / adventure, inventive in texture. Redemptive, mid-stakes, tender. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Planes (2013) poster
1. Planes2013

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Swan Princess (1994) poster
2. The Swan Princess1994

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Ant Bully (2006) poster
3. The Ant Bully2006

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) poster
4. Alvin and the Chipmunks2007

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) poster
5. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie2004

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Monster House (2006) poster
6. Monster House2006

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) poster
7. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel2009

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Shrek the Third (2007) poster
8. Shrek the Third2007

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

DuckTales: The Movie - Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990) poster
9. DuckTales: The Movie - Treasure of the Lost Lamp1990

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Son of the Mask (2005) poster
10. Son of the Mask2005

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Horton Hears a Who! (2008) poster
11. Horton Hears a Who!2008

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Shrek Forever After (2010) poster
12. Shrek Forever After2010

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the gentle temperature — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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