Have you ever dreamt of becoming famous? That’s exactly what Thelma, a cute and ordinary pony, with a good voice, dreams about in Thelma the Unicorn. This animated adventure is based on a book by Aaron Blabey, (whose book The Bad Guys became an animated big-screen hit), and the film version has been co-directed by Jared Hess and Lynn Wang.

The 93-minute musical animation is full of glitter, music and important lessons. It will make you think about your dreams and the importance of staying true to yourself. In the movie, Thelma is a pony who loves music. She’s in a band called ‘The Rusty Buckets’ with her best friends, Otis and Reggie, who are donkeys. They play music together on the farm where they live, and where Thelma has aspirations to become a star one day.

One day, Thelma turns into a unicorn by accident and is accepted everywhere due to her looks. She becomes famous overnight, as everyone loves her shiny appearance and wants to be around her. But soon, Thelma finds out that being famous isn’t as fun as she thought it would be.

The movie shows the power of social media where all that glitters ‘is’ gold. In pursuit of her dreams, Thelma meets people who care more about her money than herself, and she loses those who are truly hers. She is pitted against the best and managed by professionals, yet she begins to miss her old life on the farm and her true friends, Otis and Reggie. Thelma learns that being yourself is what matters, and that true friends will love you just the way you are.

The movie is full of bright, colourful animation that’s as dazzling as a rainbow. The songs are super catchy, and you might find yourself singing them long after the movie is over. If you want to know who is the voice behind Thelma, be ready to be surprised. Famous Grammy Awards winner Brittany Howard is lending her voice for Thelma; despite this being her first gig as an actor, she does an amazing job!

Thelma the Unicorn is a fun movie with a heart-warming message. It teaches kids that it’s okay to have big dreams, but you should never forget who you are. Friendship and self-love are more important than fame and what others think of you. This magical story will leave you feeling happy and sparkly inside, just like Thelma.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 7th, 2024