Voyage to Melonia (1989) (2025)

Popular reviews

• Review by St. Sebastian ★★★★

  Shakespeare's "The Tempest" emerges as a utopian fable, refracted through the lenses of anti-capitalism and postcolonial critique. Per Åhlin showcases not just his exceptional prowess as an animation director but also a sharp, clever method of reinterpreting and illuminating the original narrative. Melonia, a sanctuary and the enchanting realm of the wizard Prospero, stands in stark contrast to the relentless, soulless industrial city—a heartless engine of child labor exploitation. This critique is both piercing and fitting. Here, Miranda and Ferdinand are mere children, engaged in a valiant struggle for the emancipation of their peers. Prospero's guidance transforms their journey to Melonia into the final escapade of youth, a whimsical flight reminiscent of Peter Pan, leading them to the celestial thickets…

• Review by mdfmdf ★★★★

  i keep hoping this style of lumpy, scrappy, “ugly-cute” cartooning will come back in vogue again. i assume this stuff is due to cycle back around, but it’s also hard to imagine children’s movies ever allowing anything to look this frumpy anymore

  I think this sort of wonkiness is a lot more suited to the way kids understand their surroundings - drawings where nothing seems to fit right, but you’re optimistic you could grow into it

• Review by TheNinthHeart ★★★★½

  A 100+ minute animation epic, directed by Per Ahlin, aka, Scandinavian Miyazaki, AKA, Norse God of Animation, that rivals literally any of the greatest animated feature films that one could think of. And, why isn’t this one of the most globally beloved animated films of it’s generation?

  To date (I believe), the most expensive Swedish film production ever undertaken. This was the one that was supposed to make Sweden a contender on the world stage of animation, and blast Ahlin into the same stratosphere occupied by Miyazaki, Jankovics, Laloux, Rintaro, Bluth, etc etc. Sadly, it was not to be.

  ‘Melonia’ (as us Cult Of Melonia members & Ahlin disciples like to refer to it as) sees Ahlin take Shakespeare’s Tempest,…

• Review by DungeonSkramz ★★★★

  Arguably the best animated film from Sweden, if not simply for the presence of Allan Edwall as an old wizard. I was so close to giving it 5/5 if they had tightened up the script with more fleshed out characters, smoother pacing, and less repetitive dialogue (they really try to make sure you don't miss any vital plot points), but there was still some genuinely hard-hitting stuff here for a kids' film, tackling anti-capitalism, anti-war, and anti-pollution.

  It oozed with personality as you'd expect from Per Åhlin, but while Thunderclump (1974) may have been charming with its animation + live-action gimmick, this was straight up epic in scope, becoming the most expensive animated film the country made up to that…

• Review by Sally Jane Black 4

  I had such a strong feeling watching this film, of familiarity that I could not put my finger to. It looks like something I saw as a kid, on Nickelodeon, probably, but it was definitely not what I had seen. Something about the way it is animated put me in mind of some old cartoon that I can't place. Some bizarre cross between Rocky and Bullwinkle and Danger Mouse is what kept coming to mind, but neither were accurate. Regardless, this phantom familiarity made it that much more enjoyable to watch.

  It's a strange cartoon, a story inspired by The Tempest, but with a powerful antiwar message and some odd imagery. Caliban, especially, is bizarrely portrayed (with a face made…

• Review by cptn_nemo ★★★★★

  The best children's movie ever made. Far from the bland, artificial chill of Pixar's and Disney's products, Åhlin's masterpiece feature breathtaking hand-made visuals on par with any Ghibli-film.

  Resan till Melonia is an unmistakable echo of the revolutionary 70's. The whole film is a critique of the unsustainability and barbary of capitalism, typical of the popular culture of that time.

• Review by Steven ★★★★½

  If:
  a) you’re reading this and
  b) you love hand-drawn animation

  Link: worldscinema.org/2021/09/resan-till-melonia-1989/

• Review by Pellegrino Penelope 1

  THE SOUNDTRACK IS SO BEAUTIFUL IT HURTS

• Review by noah ★★★★★

  Rest in peace Per Åhlin (1931-2023) ❤️🙏
  May your work live on for all eternity

• Review by Aurora ★★★½

  I was like "why is this called a loose adaptation, it seems pretty close." Then the robots showed up.

• Review by william ★★★★

  älskar william!! love him my boy!! stort leende varje gång han babblade på så poetiskt!! ❤️❤️

• Review by Emma L.B. ★★★★½

  I became obsessed with this movie when I was a teenager, and ever since then it was been very close to my heart. The music especially, the leitmotif written by Björn Isfält is just something extra. It gives me chills of nostalgia and memories of childhood, and I cry melancholic tears knowing I will just keep growing older.

  I love the voice acting, I adore the animation and the typical Per Åhlin style, the water colour backgrounds and well detailed buildings.

  Even as a teen, the huge fall out at the end scared me SO much. I hate malfunctioning robots and similar. Yuck yuck yuck!!

  I know this movie line for line by heart, and I love it!