A gorgeous, almost Avatar-like adventure that understands what it means to relish in its own wonder. The opening is an absolute joy and thoroughly captivating, which makes the inciting event all the more piercing. The two stories that develop from this point; the heroic tale of Noa who has to save his clan, and the philosophical discussion on the nature of evolution and progress, are effectively interwoven to maintain the audience’s interest. There are only a few lapses in the last 30 minutes or so where some plot points didn’t relate as directly to the thematic tension and started to drag the story’s pacing down a little bit. But fortunately, the ending manages to bring everything back on track to provide a conclusion that both opens the door for future stories, while also wrapping up this one in a satisfying and meaningful way.