TIFF 2019 Review: Abominable

A teenage girl grieving the death of her father helps an escaped Yeti return to its home in the Himalayas while pursued by mercenaries hired by a wealthy collector.

In an effort to make enough money for a trip that was originally planned with her recently deceased father, 16-year old Yi is doing various odd jobs for several different apartment tenants; her life gets upended when she encounters a Yeti that has escaped from a laboratory and is pursued by a wealthy collector who is accompanied by a zoologist and a private military.  Yi along with a childhood friend and his cousin embark on an adventure to return the Yeti back to the Himalayas with their pursuers not far behind.

Magic is an integral part of the storyline which allows for some imaginative sequences to unfold such as enormous blueberries and clouds that resemble swimming fish.  The violin playing of Yi provides an avenue to express her deep longing for her father without having to rely on dialogue.  The animation is solid with a distinct look and persona given to each of the characters. Children will have a fun viewing experience but there is an emotional flatness that resonates as everything feels conventional.

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.