The Smeds and the Smoos (2023)

The red “Smeds” and the blue “Smoos” share a planet but avoid contact with each other like the plague. The rhyming dialogue tells us just why one ought never to trust the other, but bored by their lives and their rules two youngsters break that cardinal principle. Despite the protestations of their respective grandparents, “Janet” and “Bill” have an habit of absconding into the woods to play, and as they grow up they decide that they want to marry. They know that isn’t going to be permitted, so they pinch a spaceship and head off for a new life. Their disappearance causes a lot of consternation but with only one ship left, both families have to agree to share as they pursue and have lots of adventures on their search. Will they find the missing duo? This is quite an engaging animation that makes no bones about it’s messages on making snap judgements based on appearances or sustaining long-term ones based on time-worn prejudices that nobody remembers the cause of - whether you be young or old. The space-hopping stories allow our travellers to encounter a wide range of imaginatively crafted critters to further exemplify those points, whilst keeping it amiable and family-friendly and there are some lovely facial expressions on the grandparents as the inevitable plays out.