Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In 1879 Paris, a young orphan dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera house.
Ballerina (also released as Leap!) is a charming but fairly conventional animated family film. The plot follows a well-worn underdog/dream-chasing arc with few surprises — orphan escapes hardship, pursues passion, overcomes obstacles — though the 19th-century Parisian setting adds some color. The voice acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with performances that feel functional rather than memorable. Cinematography and animation are visually appealing, particularly the ballet sequences and Paris backdrops, landing solidly above average for a mid-tier animated production. Novelty is limited — the story beats are predictable and the execution, while competent, doesn't distinguish itself meaningfully from similar animated fare. The ending delivers the expected triumphant resolution without much surprise but satisfies emotionally within the genre's conventions.