The Painting. DVD. 78 min. GKids. 2013. ISBN unavail. $29.95; DVD + Blu-ray: $34.95. Gr 9 Up–This animated film bursts with lush colors, excellent voicing, sophisticated artwork, and music that varies from gentle piano notes to menacing brass. In a painted kingdom, the mean-tempered, fully painted Alldunns rule. Narrator Lola is a Halfie—beautiful, rounded, full-lipped, and strong, with unfinished elements that mean she is second rate. The lowest caste is the Sketchies—mere line-drawn men and women that the Alldunns call disgusting. Alldunn Ramo is in love with Halfie Claire, but neither clan approves of the union. When Lola, Ramo, and a Sketchie named Plume venture into the Forbidden Forest, they reach the edge of the painting and fall into the real world. They explore other paintings, and enter the city of Venice, trying to find the Painter and convince him to finish his work. Along the way, they converse with images from a number of paintings, including a reclining nude, in all her flesh-colored glory. The touching ending includes new life for a scribble and the realization that our outer trappings shouldn’t define us. While the tale is simple, the animation is mature and complex. Colors are used in meaningful and gorgeous combinations. Art classes will enjoy finding the salutes to Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, and others. For computer animation students, the making-of featurette will be particularly interesting.–Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX