Big Mouth

Narrated by Tim Crabtree, writer-director-animator Andrea Dorfman's Big Mouth employs time-lapse photography, hand-drawn puppets (mainly in blues and reds), and pixilated imagery to tell the story of a young girl who has an overzealous way with words. Smiley baby Trudy has plenty to say from the very beginning, commenting on Daddy's big nose and Mommy's gray hairs…observations that—while true—still cause hurt feelings. Although her family is resigned to the fact that Trudy makes honestly rude remarks, when she becomes school-aged and tries to make friends, she instead causes the other children to cry with her insulting but innocent comments, which results in many notes to parents sent home (pinned to Trudy's dress). Trudy ultimately learns how to give compliments after a (bit weird) conversation with a big-eyeballed stranger. Backed by a plucky soundtrack from Mike O'Neill that features the glockenspiel, DVD extras include three “making-of” featurettes. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)