Pet loves

Trico makes up for its disobedience with personality – a masterclass in animation-led characterisation. Stand on Trico’s forehead and it’ll squint its eyes, as if trying to focus on your position, or enjoying a good scratch. Its eyes glow pink when it’s afraid, and it’s immediately clear that this is a creature that has experienced trauma (Trico’s afraid of stained glass, which must be smashed with rocks before it’ll pass by). If Trico misunderstands your instructions, it may smack his head onto the scenery, before letting out a pained yelp. Such details set Ueda and his team apart from the competition; it’s the kind of artistry that can make a classic.