Little White Lies magazine

A strange but effective mix of CGI and traditional animation sees a world taken over by fauna. ‘The Forest’, a genetically enhanced sentient form of plant life, has swamped the planet, forcing its inhabitants to live a medieval lifestyle. When Toola, a young girl from the past, tries to destroy the forest in order to restore the world to the way it was, she is brought into conflict with Agito, who wants to forge a more peaceful co-existence. The environmental message is clear, but there is genuine moral ambiguity here too. Traditional bad guys are absent, replaced by different characters, each of which believes they are acting in the world’s best interest. These shades of grey make for a more mature package, so while Ghibli retains its monopoly on emotional resonance, Origins is a bold step forward for the genre.