Film

The Alchemists

Name: The Alchemists
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Comedy
Released: 2024
Cast: Youna Noiret, Serge Thiriet

Fantasy
Light-hearted

A vibrant seven-minute animated fantasy comedy about an eager alchemy apprentice meeting their eccentric master in a suspiciously ramshackle dungeon. Playful and inventive, with a crisp visual style and perfectly-timed comedic beats. A genuine delight for anyone who loves character-driven animation and fantasy humour that doesn't take itself seriously.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like small-scale animated comedy with a dash of fantasy, where a mentor's odd behaviour carries the laughs and the runtime never overstays.

Skip it if you need a plot with real stakes or emotional depth, since at seven minutes this is a light sketch with little room to develop.

What it asks of you: A few minutes of undivided attention and a willingness to laugh at a mentor's peculiarities; nothing heavy, and no homework before the dungeon door opens.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Amphibia2019

A young girl trapped in a frog world develops genuine relationships and discovers her own strength. Hilarious, heartfelt, and visually inventive, balancing comedy with real character stakes.

But It's a Disney series aimed at kids, so some may assume it's too broad or predictable; it's neither, but the perception lingers.

Over the Garden Wall2014

A beautifully crafted miniseries blending fairy-tale eeriness with humour and warmth. Criminally short at ten episodes, every frame is purposeful and every note lands perfectly.

But It's autumnal and occasionally unsettling—not a cheerful binge. Deliberately paced in ways that might feel slow to some.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands2020

Starts as silly dungeon-crawling comedy and evolves into something genuinely moving. The relationship between Finn and Jake mirrors a real friendship arc, and the world-building is quietly masterful.

But The early seasons are visibly cruder, and committing to ten seasons feels daunting. Not every episode is gold.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Alchemists

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Coco2017

Both are short films where an apprentice/outsider enters an unfamiliar magical world and discovers something true about themselves through their guide.

A Mexican boy enters the land of the dead to find his family history. Gorgeous animation, a mystery that keeps you guessing, and a climax about honouring your roots that lands with real force. Pure cinema.

But It's Pixar's fantasy-adventure, so there's a glossiness some find slick. It takes a dark concept and makes it accessible rather than haunting.

The Dragon Prince2018

Fantasy adventure with real stakes, lovable idiots on a rescue quest, and animation that gets better every season. Balances heart, humour, and genuine action sequences beautifully.

But Some early episodes feel workshopped; the frame rate in early seasons isn't smooth. Finding it requires hunting Netflix's menu.

Craig of the Creek2018

Gentle, warm, and endlessly inventive about kids having adventures in the woods. No villain but real obstacles; laugh-out-loud funny without ever being mean-spirited or stupid.

But Deliberately understated, even cosy. If you need high stakes and conflict, this will feel thin.

Infinity Train2019

An infinite locomotive where each car is a new surreal world with its own logic. Visually wild, darkly funny, and genuinely inventive in ways most animation isn't brave enough to attempt.

But It got cancelled twice and is fragmented across three creators' visions. Some episodes are brilliant; others feel incomplete.

Hilda2018

A girl navigates a Scandinavian-inspired world of witches and demons with dry wit and genuine courage. Gorgeous animation, excellent supporting cast development, and proper character arcs across seasons.

But It takes itself seriously, sometimes to the point of grimness. The tone can shift unexpectedly between episodes.

The Owl House2020

A human girl trains to be a witch in a demon realm with two found-family companions. Unexpectedly moving, brilliantly character-driven, and the voice work is exceptional throughout.

But Disney cut it short to three seasons just as the stakes escalated, leaving the ending rushed. Some will resent that truncation.

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts2020

Post-apocalyptic adventure with genuine optimism, spectacular world design, and a protagonist who solves problems with kindness and music. Visually stunning and emotionally mature without being heavy-handed.

But The final season wraps things up quickly and some character arcs feel abbreviated. Tonal shifts can feel abrupt.

Arcane: League of Legends2021

Like The Alchemists, it opens with an apprentice learning from a master in a magical world, but Arcane explodes that intimate dynamic outward into politics and systems. Same seed, opposite scale.

Two sisters on opposite sides of a revolution in a clockpunk fantasy city. The animation is a revelation—character animation that feels alive, world design you want to live in, and a story that earns every emotional beat.

But It's dense, sometimes deliberately opaque, and painfully slow-burn. You can feel it was directed for an audience ready to rewatch. Also, League of Legends branding puts some off.

Severance2022

Both play with the strange relationship between a master and apprentice, but Severance inverts it—the master's knowledge is precisely what the apprentice is forbidden from accessing. Same dynamic, inverted power.

Employees surgically separate their work and personal memories. A concept so high-premise it could be gimmicky, but executed with meticulous attention to tone, production design, and genuine dread. Outstanding performances across the board.

But It moves deliberately and withholds answers intentionally. Not for anyone who needs resolution or dislikes ambiguity. Some find it pretentious rather than mysterious.