Review: Out of the Nest delivers exciting action and cute chicks (the feathery kind)

Back in my February 2025 preview, I mentioned that Out of the Nest was hitting theaters. I don't know if that happened. I don't think it did. It's one of those movies I've kept an eye on throughout the year, wondering when it would come to the US, or if. Ends up, it's on its way: Well Go USA is bringing the film to digital on these shores on November 11. And it's very much worth a look.

I fear I tread into furry territory more often than I mean to sometimes, but you have to rise to the movie you see, and meet it honestly. So I guess I'll just get this out of the way: Out of the Nest may awaken something in you. This is a world populated with anthropomorphic animals who have human teeth and -- most notably -- coifs of human-style hair on top of their fur, feathers, or hides. If that sounds like it looks creepy, have no fear: the character designs here are fantastic, and are emblematic of the great animation in play here. This is a great-looking movie, with wonderful lighting, smooth-as-butter action scenes, and, yes, awesome looking characters. So awesome-looking, that you might start feeling something strange deep within...

Ok, I'm done, promise. I'll regain my composure.

If you've ever seen a movie, Out of the Nest is going to feel like familiar territory to you. This is not a movie that's setting out to blaze new narrative ground. We're in a kingdom with magic and warriors. The movie opens with the telling of an old legend with a mysterious ending. There's a secret plan to usurp the throne. It's the kind of thing where you'll pretty quickly connect (most of) the dots. There was one little twist I hadn't anticipated, but for the most part, this has a kind of smooth-brained story-telling that's very pleasant, something you can turn your mind off for and just enjoy.

And that's what this movie is, above all: a little slice of supremely enjoyable entertainment. In a way, the narrative being so straightforward means there's so much room for everything else to shine. The pacing is great, with a strong clip throughout, a run time of 85 minutes. (This is one of those rare movies where I actually wished it were a little longer -- that never happens.) There's a good mix of humor, action, and more dramatic beats, including a heartstrings-tugging flashback montage. The English voice cast is great across the board -- special shoutout to Sean Burgos as Master Toad, whose minute acrobatic flair reminded me of when Yoda joined the fight in Attack of the Clones.

I liked it all!

The gist of the movie is that Arthur, a goat who's training alongside many other students to be a barber, is tasked with safeguarding the king's stolen eggs, which Arthur and his comrades manage to recover. In this kingdom, haircuts are a big deal: part of a yearly ceremony to bring good fortune to the kingdom, and also a way for a barber to make a person feel seen, heard, and special. Arthur has a lot of potential but he's so focused on the way practicing his craft will help him in life, he doesn't always think of the people who are sitting in his chair. He needs to learn to slow down, be thoughtful, and connect.

And what better way to do all that than to have to chase after seven freshly-hatched chicks who have seemingly boundless energy, and are always in the midst of hijinks? It's a great comedic set-up.

Along the way, Out of the Nest delivers truly incredible actions scenes, which I would highlight as the film's greatest strength. An early scene finds one of our heroes leaping between bamboo stalks while being pursued by lizards flying on hang-gliders. The scene where the eggs finally hatch happens mid-attack while on a raft in a raging river. The set-ups are so creative, and the animation so fluid and cool, I was in heaven. (It also marks the film as a great fit for Well Go, as the distributor brings a lot of high-octane action movies from Asia to the States.) My only disappointment is that the final fight is a bit brief. I felt like it had barely gotten going when it came to an end, which gives the whole finale a bit of a rushed feeling. 

But it's hard to ding the film too much for not wasting our time, and for packing so much entertainment into every scene. In addition to Master Toad, I really loved the chicks, each of whom have a distinct personality and flair. For being mute characters, their personalities really shine through, and they provide a lot of the movie's cutest and funniest moments. I have to wonder if there's merch of them somewhere out there, and if I need to seek it all out and purchase it. Maybe so.

As far as animated fantasy adventures go, Out of the Nest is an easy recommendation. It'll give you a bit of escapism that won't challenge you, but that'll make you smile, and even give you some thrills. It's just what the doctor barber ordered.