‘Cryptozoo’: where the animated wild things are

Above : The animated film “Cryptozoo” opens Friday at the Magic Lantern Theatre. (Photo/Magnolia Pictures)

Even at this late date, we tend to think of animated feature films mostly in Disneyesque terms. And as such, we expect them to follow a certain formula.

In such recent films as “Luca” and “Soul,” for example, the folks at Disney made sure that their poignant messaging is blended with a kind of humor aimed at younger viewers.

Butt jokes, anyone?

Some animated films, though, explore more serious themes. And not just in Europe.

Take the film “Cryptozoo,” for example. Written and directed by the American cartoonist and graphic-novel writer Dash Shaw , the film is a serious look at the struggle faced by cryptozookeepers.

( Cryptozoology , to be clear, is defined as “the search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti.” And for those of us who live in the West, Bigfoot.)

Anyway, these particular cryptozookeepers must decide whether to house and exhibit a “a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature” called a baku – or to let it return to its hidden realm. Character voices are provided by the likes of Lake Bell , Michael Cera, Emily Davis and Alex Karpovsky.

The film, which opens Friday at the Magic Lantern Theatre , won special awards at both the Berlin and Sundance film festivals. And it’s receiving generally good reviews from most critics.

Randy Myers of the San Jose Mercury News wrote, “This should solidify (Shaw’s]) rep as one of the most exciting new creators of cinematic animation.”

Eric Kohn of IndieWire added, “Brimming with constant new ideas and visual innovation, Shaw’s work captures the flurry of thought and motion at the center of dangerous times, and even dares to make them fun.”

While Jessica Klang of Variety was a bit more subdued. “The storytelling retains a childlike, sometimes childish quality,” she wrote, “a naivete that can be frustrating and often rather enchanting.”

Childlike or childish, “Cryptozoo” has a serious intent. As Polugon critic Tasha Robinson wrote, writer-director Shaw opts for “a form of storytelling that isn’t the practiced, polished committee effort that comes out of animation houses like Disney and DreamWorks.”

Which could mean – but is no guarantee that – there might not be any butt jokes.