Cut to the chase: Produced by Austria’s female-led animation studio Arx Anima and directed by female filmmaker Verena Fels, “Monster Mia” is a spooky time watch for the miniature witch or wizard. Older viewers will recognize its predictable, formulaic conceit, but it has enough enticing characters and original imagery to make for an enjoyable Halloween watch.
Monster Mia (2026). Directed by Verena Fels. (Photo courtesy of Arx Anima / Sola Media)
Synopsis
Young Mia is an outcast. She lives in Primrose, a planned community of identical, manicured lawns whose claim to fame is being “monster-free” for 500 years. To the horror of her classmates and her ballerina twin sister, Mia is convinced that monsters still exist. When she beseeches the school to take her evidence seriously, Mia is expelled and transferred to the mysterious Rotwood Academy.
“I’d rather be a monster who tells the truth than a human who lies,” Mia tells her teacher, Ms. Garlicpress.
Her wish is granted. Alongside her pet rat, Quentin, Mia discovers Rotwood Academy is actually a school for monsters who share the same harsh, preconceived notions about humans. (“Humans are evil. Their blood is ice cold.”) Mia befriends Oscar, a young boy whose head tends to pop off his body; Paprika, a vegan vampire; and Penelope, a talented young witch, and she chooses to hide her true identity to learn about and observe her new monster classmates.
As she infiltrates the monster school, Mia begins to formulate her own ideas about right and wrong, as well as the gray area that exists in both communities. Not everyone shares Mia’s pure intentions and hope for a human-monster reunion, however. The young girl must right the wrongs committed by one ill-intentioned castaway and remind everyone that friendship is defined by someone’s heart, not their bite.
Monster Mia (2026). Directed by Verena Fels. (Photo courtesy of Arx Anima / Sola Media)
A champion of human-monster relations
What is most striking about this little film is that Mia, as the protagonist, represents fierce optimism, perseverance and fortitude. She is a strong female lead who does not let failure get in her way. She takes on the challenge of a new school with an open mind, getting to know her monster classmates and setting her sights on reforming the bond between the human and monster worlds to enrich the lives of all involved. She makes sacrifices when it benefits everyone else. For this reason alone, I found “Monster Mia” easy to recommend to viewers of a certain age and temperament, even if older viewers may find it predictable and derivative.
While none of the monsters are explicitly horror-centric, they do have features that might not jive with audience members who are easily upset. For fans of shows like “Vampirina”, this film may feel like a similar watch. The detail director Fels and her animation crew include in every frame certainly adds to the viewing experience. Rotwood Academy looks like a real place. The monsters have unique features, and the classrooms include some pretty spectacular production design. The bright colors and creative storytelling entertain while also pushing forth admirable messages about acceptance, kindness and authenticity.
“Sometimes, it’s useful to have to change your perspective,” says Ms. Garlicpress, the human teacher who expelled Mia in the beginning of the film. “In the end, humans and monsters are more alike than some would believe.”
The end battle flips the script, turning humans into monsters and monsters into humans. It’s a nifty reminder of the age-old adage about “walking in someone else’s shoes,” letting young viewers see it play out in a much more literal sense. The ending does include pyrotechnics and some emotional urgency. The villain – Principal Vlad Vlad, who is a human posing as a monster who causes the switch-up – becomes a red-eyed vampire that is only temporarily a threat. But Mia, with the help of her human and monster friends, saves the day and, despite being just another school-age kid, thinks and acts with remarkable insight and wisdom.
Monster Mia (2026). Directed by Verena Fels. (Photo courtesy of Arx Anima / Sola Media)
Talk about it: points to discuss after the film
- Does judging someone by the way they look work out for anyone in this film?
- How did the monsters at Rotwood Academy not detect Mia as the human that she is? How did the way she presented herself and interacted with them conceal her true identity?
- Why were monsters and humans kept apart in the first place?
- If you had to imagine a continuation of their world, how do you think the humans and monsters are doing now?
Film details
- MPAA Rating: “Monster Mia” does not yet have a rating in the United States, but it received a G rating in Ireland and a U (Universal – suitable for all) rating in the UK.
- Where to Watch: In theaters Friday, October 9
- Recommended Age: 5+
- Runtime: 81 minutes
