A Futuristic Fantasy Adventure

Despite being produced on a shoestring budget, this independently made British fantasy-sci-fi animated feature, described as a 'motion comic film', showcases what future tech-savvy creators could achieve beyond studio constraints.

The film's script is a derivative amalgam of familiar elements, including chiselled-cheeked heroes, duplicitous helpers with colourful hair, and steampunk futurism influenced by Japanese anime.

The animation is a unique mix of techniques, including animatics, limited movement, and close-ups with hyper-realistic facial expressions. However, the film is almost entirely humourless, which might be a drawback for some viewers.

The plot is a jumbled mess of storylines, with flashbacks and flashforwards that make little sense. The story revolves around soldier Tommy Hargreaves, who returns home from the second world war to find his mother dead and his father missing. His father, a toymaker, has disappeared into a realm that can only be accessed through a wispy portal.

Tommy embarks on a journey to find the key and his dad, taking him through various worlds, including one inhabited by butterfly people and another featuring butch-looking ice ballerinas. The film's 70-minute runtime feels longer due to the overwrought dialogue.

The Toymaker's Key is an intriguing but flawed film that's worth watching for its unique animation techniques and the potential it shows for future creators.

The film is available in UK cinemas from 21 June.