One of “Strange World’s” triumphs is the vibrant, weird, visually stunning subterranean world that the film’s heroes stumble upon during their quest to save their way of life. From its lush palette to its cute and deadly flora and fauna, this strange, mysterious world is very much deserving of its status as the film’s title character.
Another, in true Disney fashion, is its thematic swings. Directed by Walt Disney Animation veteran Don Hall (“Big Hero 6,” “Moana”) and written/co-directed by Qui Nguyen — a duo that previously collaborated on “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021) — “Strange World,” which hits theaters Wednesday, tackles father-son relationships and the idea of legacy with an ecological, environmentalist twist.
The multigeneration family at the center of this animated adventure film is the Clades. Searcher Clade (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal) is a humble farmer and town hero who has built his life around a childhood discovery: a plant called pando that powers everything from giant airships to household appliances. Searcher stumbled upon pando while on an expedition with his father, Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid), an explorer cut from a more traditional “adventure story” mold whose defining motivation is to be the first to see what lies beyond the giant mountains that surround Avalonia, their hometown.
