LATINA MEDIA CO.:“A Sloth Story” is a Warm Immigration Fable
February 27, 2025
The animated feature, A Sloth Story is a unique exploration of culture and generational differences. It captures so much with little moments between the four family members, creating a sweet, memorable story.
A Typical Start to an Atypical Story
It starts like many animated family films, with a “parents just don’t understand” coming-of-age conflict. But that conflict balloons into something more that fewer films explore – culture and roots. Laura, voiced by Teo Vergara, is a speedy young sloth looking for excitement. Unfortunately, the rest of her family is more laid back. So, although they are now in the city after the storm wiped out their home and restaurant, Laura’s days are still dull as a tumbleweed as she waits to serve non-existent customers.
The theme of different generations not seeing eye-to-eye is common, but what sets A Sloth Story apart is how it connects with the character’s culture. Here, Laura clashes with her mother, Gabriella, voiced by Olivia Vásquez. Gabriella struggles with acclimating to the pace of the city and misses their more laid-back life. A Sloth Story shows how adults can have a harder time adapting, and then narrows its lens, depicting the change as a cultural shock.
So, the conflict between Laura and her mother stems not just from their different speeds in life and priorities. But with how Gabriella holds too tightly to their history and tradition, even more so after moving to the city. A Sloth Story explores how different generations handle change – creating an immigrant fable.
The Danger of Losing Your Heritage
Forgetting where you came from is a common immigrant concern. Parents often want their children to appreciate their culture and family more after moving. Meanwhile, kids desire what’s new and different. A Sloth Story depicts this tension beautifully via how it uses food. Laura likes the idea of speed and efficiency so, she identifies with the city and how food is fuel there. But her mom, Gabriella, feels it should be something savored. This conflict translates into the way they run their food truck. Laura feels stifled by her mom and doesn’t see the value in her slower ways, which sets up the villain, Dotti Pace (Leslie Jones), to worm her way in. And so A Sloth Story depicts the risks of feuding with your elders.
Selling Off Culture Doesn’t Free Anyone
Like many real people, Laura makes a deal with Dotti, selling her family’s business, for a bit of money and the freedom it buys. Although Dottie promises Laura that she will handle her family recipes with care, the next moment, Dotti is putting up advertisements with her in a sombrero. There’s no viciousness in Dottie’s actions. Similar to many who appropriate different cultures, she’s acting out of ignorant selfishness. She doesn’t the history behind her product (and doesn’t have enough regard to research it) so she sees handling it with care as just making money off it.
With Laura’s lapse in judgment coming at a cost, A Sloth Story teaches the importance of embracing who we are and where we come from, without overdoing it. Because, even as it shows how its characters lose something precious, it’s careful to remind us that they can create new memories that can become the foundation for the future.
Ultimately, A Sloth Story teaches appreciation – for family, culture, history, and being in the moment with those who matter. It’s a fun and, at times, creepy film – zoomie zombies! – that everyone can appreciate. Perhaps it’ll even remind some viewers to reach out to loved ones and appreciate family meals and the history that comes with them. After all, it teaches us that food is fuel that you savor.
