Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.

Within its 9 minute duration, Canvas brings you a touching story that makes you hope this is just a proof of concept for something more.

---

Director(s)	Frank E. Abney III
Screenplay By	Frank E. Abney III
Date Released (Netflix)	12/11/2020
Genre(s)	Drama, Animation, Family
Duration	9 Minutes
Rating	G

This content contains pertinent spoilers.

Film Summary

With the loss of his spouse, a grandfather didn’t just lose the love of his life but his desire to paint. However, through his family, he still has, there is hope for his passions to be renewed.

Things To Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered

• Reason(s) for Film Rating: Outside of knowing someone died and seeing how it affected the family, there is nothing to worry about here.
• Jump Scares/ Laughs/ Tear-Jerking Moments: When the granddaughter helps her grandpa heal.

Review

Highlights

The Tears

Following, If Anything Happens I Love You, Canvas will have you appreciate when people’s words don’t dictate your emotions. For it is through the silence that you are allowed to give voice to what’s going on and connect in ways that feels less guided.

An example being, you can tell the granddaughter misses her grandmother and knows grandpa is sad too. But having a child’s voice explain that and grandpa reassure her, it’s cool, but with Canvas, it almost feels unnecessary. Because a picture, a hidden room, and being reminded of all you have is what’s needed. Yes, we need to remember those who are no longer here but let’s not bury our gifts that they gave or inspired in the ground with them.

On The Fence

Wanting To Know More

I’m not going to lie, there was a desire to know more about this family. Be it why grandma died, did the grandpa make his living as an artist, and also where is his grandchild’s father? Also, was grandpa in a wheelchair because of age or a medical condition?

I’d say, similar to Hair Love, you might feel that there is more to this story that deserves to be told, and not getting those details won’t frustrate you but present a longing for more.

Overall

Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

While I originally thought this would be a whole film, Netflix’s crack at producing a Pixar like movie, rather than a short, I still got what I expected and needed. I felt emotionally connected, cried, and was left wanting more. So, here is hoping like the previously mentioned Hair Love, this gets expanded on to tap into the story.

[ninja_tables id=”46802″]