"The Tiger Who Came to Tea" is an animated 25-minute (with credits) short film from 2019, to be more precise from the Christmas holidays 2019, so this one is not even half a year old now. The director is Robin Shaw and while he only had one other filmmaking credit before this one (also an animated short based on a children's book), write Joanna Harrison had been considerably more prolific and she is part of the industry for decades already. But the "real" writer here is Judith Kerr, who sadly died before this was released at the ancient age of 95 then already. Now, let me elaborate a bit on this short film. The voice acting cast includes a handful known names like Oscar nominee Comberbatch, Tamsin Greig ("Episodes) and Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo, all of them Brits, whcih was expected because this is a British short film. Oyelowo by the way voices the title character and he does not have many lines at all. He only talks on one occasion towards the end when his character says thank you and goodbye. Cumberbatch voicing the father has some more, but also only very early on and at the very end as he is absent for almost the entire film in-between. He has to work. So do some of the side characters we also only see very early on and at the very end, which as a nice little framework.
Now as for everything in-between, it is all about the tiger. And also to a lesser extent the girl. And to an even lesser extent the mother. I would like to say that visually they were definitely going the traditional route. This film could easily have been 50 years older than it actually is judging only from the looks, especially the non-character looks. The tiger looks slightly more modern. And boy is he insatiable. I mean he eats everything really, but nobody's mad. What do you do when you have nothing at home? No food? That's right you go to a restaurant or café or so. It was such a memorable event for the little girl and it as totally worth it. I mean the tiger even ate the tooth paste. 'Nuff said. And he was not only so hungry, but totally thirsty too, so he did not only drink all the tea and daddy's beer, but really all the water that would come out of the tap. Lucky for the girl because ithout taking a bath there apparently is no going to sleep and that's why she is allowed to join her parents and have dinner at the café. The humor and comedy here is totally innocent and sweet. The only somewhat cheeky moments include the girl saying something that the tiger can user her mom's toothbrush because she won't mind. Or the girl saying that the tiger can return whenever he wants and I am sure mom (and dad) will be happy to provide suck an amount of food (and cooking and baking) every single day. Still the tiger did not return as we find out really at the very end. There is always also a bit of melancholy and farewell to these new British holiday shorts that usually run between 20 and 30 minutes. It's an experience that happens only once and never again. That a somewhat fantastic creature enters the lives of the protagonists that are usually children. And "fantastic" fits here for sure, not only because we eventually find out the tiger can talk, but that he is a mix between animal and human really. The animal parts are very obvious, but same is true about the human parts. Just take for example how he occasionally walks upright when it helps him getting something to eat mostly. And how we never have to be scared he could actually discover his preference for human mean. Even when the girl has her head really close to the tiger's mouth, there is never the slightest situation of danger. Also the whole premise was pretty brilliant. The reaction from the girl, but also the mother, was more in a way that a relative came unexpectedly to have tea with them (and a lot more) and said relative has not been there for years. Not in a way that a wild animal joined them. Oh yes, music is also always a factor in these British Christmas shorts. Here Robbie Williams sings a little song. It was alright, not one of the film's best aspects and I say that although I like the singer sort of. So I can see why this singing part added almost nothing for some, like also one other reviewer at least. Overall no hesitation for me in giving this film a thumbs-up. Go check it out. Not only a good watch during holiday season and I think you and you (inner) child should enjoy this too. Go for it!
Now as for everything in-between, it is all about the tiger. And also to a lesser extent the girl. And to an even lesser extent the mother. I would like to say that visually they were definitely going the traditional route. This film could easily have been 50 years older than it actually is judging only from the looks, especially the non-character looks. The tiger looks slightly more modern. And boy is he insatiable. I mean he eats everything really, but nobody's mad. What do you do when you have nothing at home? No food? That's right you go to a restaurant or café or so. It was such a memorable event for the little girl and it as totally worth it. I mean the tiger even ate the tooth paste. 'Nuff said. And he was not only so hungry, but totally thirsty too, so he did not only drink all the tea and daddy's beer, but really all the water that would come out of the tap. Lucky for the girl because ithout taking a bath there apparently is no going to sleep and that's why she is allowed to join her parents and have dinner at the café. The humor and comedy here is totally innocent and sweet. The only somewhat cheeky moments include the girl saying something that the tiger can user her mom's toothbrush because she won't mind. Or the girl saying that the tiger can return whenever he wants and I am sure mom (and dad) will be happy to provide suck an amount of food (and cooking and baking) every single day. Still the tiger did not return as we find out really at the very end. There is always also a bit of melancholy and farewell to these new British holiday shorts that usually run between 20 and 30 minutes. It's an experience that happens only once and never again. That a somewhat fantastic creature enters the lives of the protagonists that are usually children. And "fantastic" fits here for sure, not only because we eventually find out the tiger can talk, but that he is a mix between animal and human really. The animal parts are very obvious, but same is true about the human parts. Just take for example how he occasionally walks upright when it helps him getting something to eat mostly. And how we never have to be scared he could actually discover his preference for human mean. Even when the girl has her head really close to the tiger's mouth, there is never the slightest situation of danger. Also the whole premise was pretty brilliant. The reaction from the girl, but also the mother, was more in a way that a relative came unexpectedly to have tea with them (and a lot more) and said relative has not been there for years. Not in a way that a wild animal joined them. Oh yes, music is also always a factor in these British Christmas shorts. Here Robbie Williams sings a little song. It was alright, not one of the film's best aspects and I say that although I like the singer sort of. So I can see why this singing part added almost nothing for some, like also one other reviewer at least. Overall no hesitation for me in giving this film a thumbs-up. Go check it out. Not only a good watch during holiday season and I think you and you (inner) child should enjoy this too. Go for it!