The best family movies awaken the adult in the child and the child in the adult. This one mistakes colour for creativity, pumping its surface full of vim and vigour but letting the writing wither on the vine.

With allowances made for a limited budget, any random five minutes of Scarygirl would look good on an animator’s showreel. Soon, though, I began to wonder how far the many creative contributors were ever on the same page.

Scarygirl is a mixed bag; it dazzles with its visuals and presents a unique narrative while facing challenges with pacing and character depth.

The film may have a lot to say, but the best messages find their way to the viewer when dressed up within a fun and engaging narrative, and this just feels a little too frenetic and convoluted at times.