Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Monster High: New Ghoul at School" is a 23-minute animated short film made for the small screen back in 2010. This is one of many Monster High short films, so if you know the series, perhaps you already know what to expect here. The plays on words (Cool/ghoul kids, yearbook/fearbook) aren't all that bad, but the real strength of the film lies somewhere else, namely the technical aspect. Visually, it's a pretty fine achievement in terms of character as well as location animation and the sound work was even recognized by two fairly important awards bodies. But all this doesn't help if other crucial aspects are a disappointment. On the one hand, this would be the script and story. The general premise with one girl coming new to Monster High and trying to find somewhere to belong is decent, but the story in detail is just very shallow and uninspired I would say. The name Frankie Stein also does not exactly ooze creativity. No comment on Justin Spider. It's especially disappointing to see so many writers work on this one and then this is all they can come up with? Doesn't cut the came. The voice acting is also one of the weaker aspects for this one and it was at times difficult to understand what exactly they were saying. So yeah, they just did not make enough of the solid premise here and I give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.
