Migration Review

Illumination Studios has grown into one of the world’s most prominent names in animation, due in no small part to their wildly successful Despicable Me and Minions franchises. Illumination found its greatest success when teaming with Nintendo to create 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The follow-up to Illumination’s Nintendo adaptation was a movie about ducks (leading to many a Duck Hunt joke) titled ‘Migration.’

Illumination has often faced criticisms for the simplicity of their pictures, with many feeling the studio’s works are too light in this day and age when mainstream animation – under the influence of Pixar – is more willing than ever to deliver deep, emotional storytelling. Though is it really so terrible that Illumination doesn’t aim so high? The past couple of decades have been a goldmine for cinematic animated artistry, yes. But does that mean everything animated has to strive to be a masterpiece? Sometimes smaller, more lighthearted animated fair is enough. I feel Illumination fills this niche nicely. While Pixar and other contemporaries often aim to create the next animated masterpiece, Illumination serves up simple, harmless entertainments. Rarely standout but never terrible. And Migration once again fills this role, playing as a sort of ‘Finding Nemo Lite.’

Migration tells the story of the Mallards, a family of ducks who have lived a sheltered life in their secluded pond, mainly due to their worried and anxious patriarch, Mack (Kumail Nanjiani). Mack’s wife Pam (Elizabeth Banks) wishes for a more eventful life for the family, especially their two children, Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal). Despite longing for something more, the Mallard family still seem mostly accepting with their safe life, until another family of ducks stops by the pond during their migration to Jamaica. The mallards wish to join the migration, except for Mack, who fears leaving the comfort of his home. Mack eventually changes his mind after a conversation with Uncle Dan (Danny DeVito), and Mack realizes he doesn’t want himself – or his family – to end up like the slovenly uncle. So in the middle of the night, Mack wakes his family (Uncle Dan included) to get an early start and try to catch up with the other ducks on their way to Jamaica. But the migration is anything but simple, with cooky herons, a gang of street pigeons and a sinister chef being just some of the dangers the Mallards will encounter, making Mack question his decision to leave his home.

Like Illumination’s other works, Migration is a very simple movie. As stated, the film echoes similar themes to Finding Nemo (an overly cautious father leaves the comfort of his home and goes on an adventure for the sake of his family), but Migration lacks the Pixar classic’s emotional weight and complexity. Kids will probably love the colorful characters, and while adults may find some enjoyment out of Migration, they probably won’t be shedding any tears like they might for Nemo.

Also like Illumination’s other works, that hardly seems to matter. Migration excels in the usual areas Illumination movies excel at: vibrant, eye-popping animation, fun characters with well-cast voices (I especially like Gwen and Uncle Dan), and lighthearted humor. It also has a surprisingly good musical score. In short: Migration is a fun movie.

Those who are hoping Migration may be the movie that (ironically) gets Illumination out of their comfort zone will be disappointed to know that the film is another safe entry in the studio’s canon (even the studio’s best film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, was a safe movie that was elevated mostly due to the world and characters Nintendo created, as opposed to what Illumination themselves brought to the table). Those who accept and appreciate Illumination for what it is and the role it fills in today’s world of animation will find a movie that – while maybe nothing special – is undeniably charming and fun. More importantly, kids should really like it.

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