This year has been a great one for animation. With each month, more and more independent studios are launching animated projects, or, animated movies overseas are finding screens here in the U.S.
Similar to the way the Bancroft Brothers (Tom and Tony) had left Disney and later launched a film of their own (Light of the World), Pixar mainstay Andrew Gordon and Disney alum Arturo A. Hernandez debuted their joint project, Out of the Nest, which landed U.S. distribution by Well Go USA Entertainment. Loaded with fresh ideas and unique insight, the film is an entertaining triumph in family fun animation.
In the Kingdom of Castilia, there’s no higher honor than being a royal barber to the Emperor. A young apprentice and delivery boy named Arthur the Goat (Cory Yee), hopes to achieve such a position one day. But his dreams of being a top-class stylist are put on pause after a surprise attack by the Order of the Claw forces him from home. Fleeing for his life with precious cargo, the unhatched offspring of the Emperor, Arthur has to decide if he’s going to let his fears hold him back, or be courageous and rise to the occasion.
Using animals to tell a story of royal treason and dark wizardry was a brilliant move. We’ve seen kings, queens and the like, for decades thanks to DreamWorks and Disney films, but this one takes the cake. Not only does it revolve around royalty, but a title nobody has thought of or covered yet. This film shows that imagination is endless and there’s still a treasure trove of ideas left to share.
Arthur has talent, but also has a lot to learn. Like most teens, he’s very confident in himself and his abilities. The problem is, his lack of experience is evident in his work. In styling a person’s hair, he was looking inward to what he thought was best for each client. Maturity would later unveil that each client’s desire will differ from the last, emphasizing the importance of listening to each person and putting their wants before his own.
Under the tutelage of Master Toad (Sean Burgos), Arthur has spent years quietly gaining experience so he can achieve the ultimate goal: become the Emperor’s royal barber. In this case, he would be styling King Damien (Duc Luu) for the royal coronation when he officially enters the role of King of Castilia. This coming-of-age story explores themes of self-discovery and courage. By pushing his career goals aside for a greater responsibility (protecting the royal chicks who were kidnapped), he courageously perseveres through more than he ever thought possible.
The film is absolutely sensational. With easy-to-embrace characters and a fun storyline, the film is sure to “hatch” new fandom in the U.S. CCTV Animation Group (China) and T&B Media Global (Thailand) have a sure-fire hit on their hands and I’m looking forward to seeing how well the film does on digital (streaming).
Out of the Nest gets a 9.5 out of 10. Films like this are the reason Well Go USA has such a loyal following. You’ll find encouragement and friendship around every corner, that is, unless that corner has a dark wizard in it. There’s family fun for everyone, whether it’s lizards surfing on a river or a tag-teaming toad and fox boasting martial arts prowess, there’s laughter and enjoyment to be had.
Out of the Nest lands on streaming on Nov. 11.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Well Go USA
Genre: Animation
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hr 26 minutes
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: November 11, 2025