Taking a loose approach to adapting the much-loved picture book of the same name, Harold and the Purple Crayon opens with an inventive animated sequence featuring the baby whose scribblings come to life. It’s not long till he grows up, and when his narrator’s voice goes quiet, a journey to the real world ensues, in which Harold takes on the form of Zachary Levi, and his pals Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds) become humans.
Anything that Harold draws with his magic crayon becomes real in our world too, much to the delight of his newfound young friend Mel (Benjamin Bottani). It’s an inherently fun idea that director Carlos Saldanha (various Ice Ages) makes solid use of.
