The quick take: If Lion King and Vinland Saga had a baby, it’d be this movie.
It’s a kid’s movie that tackles a lot of difficult themes (as many children’s films do), but it doesn’t sugarcoat or add fluff in order to do so. It’s quick to unveil its intentions to explain a long argued topic of if there is such a thing as Virtuous Vengeance.
It doesn’t take the easy way of displaying revenge=bad. Aristotle believed if someone has wronged us simply because they see us as having no value (whether intrinsic or instrumental) then in that case you might have real reason to seek revenge but though it’s morally justifiable it can cost you everything, more than was taken from you at the start. Vengeance comes with ramifications and if left unchecked can become a consuming cycle to regain what was lost.
This kid’s movie tackled that in head-on way that was refreshing and really standout. It was a warm and honest sadness is the best way to describe it. It set out to explain a difficult concept and it did it well.