Nocturna is one of the best animated films I've seen, not just recently but ever. The animation is some of the most beautiful-looking I've seen from any animated film in a while, and I say this as a huge animation fan, with colours especially that have a perfect mix of Gothic atmosphere, surrealism and warmth. The music score is enchanting too, sparkling and adventurous, while the story is original in concept and very creative and simple with an appreciative message, the writing is is dynamic and never cheesy or stilted and the characters are both memorable and appealing, Tim is cute but never in a cloying sense, you actually do root for him. The voice work is wonderfully professional.

So all in all, a gem of a film, not just animated but of film in general. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Tim is a little boy who is afraid of the dark, but loves the stars. Every night he drags his bed to the window so he can be watched over by his star. One night unable to sleep he climbs to the roof of the orphanage and looks out over the city and notices that the stars, including his star, are going out. In his frenzy to do something he falls off the roof, but is rescued by the Cat Shepherd. The Cat Shepherd is in charge of the cats that watch over all of the children and help put them to sleep at night. When Tim refuses to go to sleep The Cat Shepherd agrees to help Tim get to see the head of Nocturna the world of the night, who might be able to help him solve the problem of the missing stars. This in turn becomes a journey across the night world as Tim tries to find the source of the darkness.

I've seen Nocturna twice in two days and while I really liked it after the first viewing I fell even more under its spell upon the second. This is quite simply a magical movie that improves with each viewing (I'm planning yet another viewing in the next day or so). Trust me this is a great film. If you've ever wondered why your hair is messed up in the morning, or who makes the noises at night, or who steal your socks this movie is for you. As Tim goes through the night world he discovers the answers to these and other questions (which are referenced through out the movie and seeing how they are is what makes the film so much fun on multiple viewings) Its magic.

Watching the film I was reminded of other films, Monsters Inc, Spirited Away, Moongirl, and a few others, but seconds after I thought that the film was like one thing I almost instantly realized that I was wrong, it maybe like these films for a moment, but in the end they are nothing like them, this is a film that creates its own unique world (which is clearly evident in its design, music and witty dialog). This is a film that ultimately is a unique masterpiece.(If nothing else the familiarity that flashes up makes the film more special in that it makes it easier to believe that what we see happening in the film is really what happens in our world after we fall asleep).

This film needs to be seen, by anyone who wants to see a good movie- not just an animated film or a kids film- just a good film. It's special. Search this one out.

And why doesn't this film appear to have a US distributor? I had to see this as an imported region 2 DVD(Which has a super English voice cast.) This is an animated film that deserves to be seen as big as possible. I regret not seeing it at the New York Children's Film Festival when I had the chance because the thought of seeing Tim moving through the city on the big screen is just too amazing to contemplate (It looks great on a big screen TV but on a big movie screen its probably even better).

Acceptable cartoon movie with enjoyable original screenplay by Adrià García, Víctor Maldonado , Teresa Vilardell and inspired by Japanese tales and Miyazaki movies . This is an attractive and entertaining adventure in traditional animation , no ordinary computer generator . In the aging orphanage the days pass very uneventfully , but the nights are something quite different ; at least for Tim they are . Tim is a boy who lives at an orphanage and afraid of dark but he will have several adventures . However , when the stars start going out in the sky he finds himself exploring the world of the night along with a new friend . As the light reflected from the stars is the only cure for his fear of the dark . As Tim to be aware that his favorite star has vanished , and unfortunately it's not going to be the last one and he will do what it takes to see it shine in the night sky once again . One night his fear leads him to the rooftop , then , Tim falls off the roof but he is rescued by a weird being . As Tim meets a particular role that goes by the name of the Cat Shepherd (voice by Imanol Arias) ; together with his sympathetic cat Tobermory , that will become Tim's personal guardian , the Shepherd is in charge of cats that watch over children , making kiddies sleep peacefully . As Tim needs his star more than anything in the world , and he will stop at nothing to accomplish it . Tim convinces the Shepherd to take him to see Moka , the guardian of the night , and pleads for him to return the stars to the night sky but Moka pays scarce attention to the boys pleas . Later on , Tim asks the Cat Shepherd to take him to the Lighthouse of the stars , where he thinks he may find the answer to the strange phenomena . Step by step our friends will discover something strange is happening and Tim is unknowingly the one behind it all .

Agreeable and charming fairy tale starred by Tim , his fellow the Cat Sheperd , Tim's best friend , and a likable cat , all of them race against the clock through the streets and jumping rooftops pursuing the rare phenomena that have made to disappear the star as well as light and to find out why . The movie is a bizarre animation film in which our little hero , an enthusiast , passionate orphan , takes on ominous threats that are putting in danger the night and the inhabitants of Nocturna as well as encounter the vanished star . The film shows a strange and fantastic world called ¨Nocturna¨ , plenty of Gothic and high buildings and where live hundreds of the most diverse creatures and they work to create the night as we all know it . The film is quite amusing with emphasis on cartoon spectacle and influenced by Ghibli Studios and especially ¨Spirited away¨ by Ayao Miyazaki . Animation production by Jose Pozo is nice , Nicolas Errera's musical score is first-rate and very spectacular . This sensitive soundtrack is splendidly composed and performed . Production by Julio Fernandez , ruling of Filmax Productions and Fantastic Factory is fine . He has become one of the most important producers of the country . Actually, the position of his organization responds fully to the opportunities of the European and international markets in the leisure sector, emphasizing on the fantastic genre, through Fantastic Factory and animation with Filmax Animation , to the global market on home video, television and also theatrically . He has produced successful cartoon films as ¨El Raton Perez I and II¨ or "The Hairy Tooth Fairy", ¨Gisaku¨ , ¨El Cid : the legend¨ also directed by Jose Pozo and ¨Goomer¨, among others . The motion picture was well directed by Adrià García and Víctor Maldonado . The film got a great number of prizes and nominations , such as : Barcelona Film Awards 2007 Won Barcelona Film Award Best Animated Feature Adrià García Víctor Maldonado ; Goya Awards 2008 Won Goya Best Animation Film Adrià García ; and nominated Annecy International Animated Cristal Best Feature Adrià García , Víctor Maldonado .