❄️ Ice Age: (2002)

“When the end of the world is freezing cold… adopt a baby, why not?”


—

🎥 Let’s start with showing y’all the trailers, shall we?

Also here’s the full soundtrack to share with y’all.

—

🐘 Non-Spoiler Plot Rundown

Ice Age is the film that started it all. Set during the prehistoric ice age, it tells the story of three very unlikely companions — a grouchy woolly mammoth, a sarcastic saber-toothed tiger, and a hyperactive sloth — who find themselves responsible for returning a lost human baby to its tribe.

Along the way, we get everything from prehistoric gags, slapstick humor, and Scrat’s acorn obsession, to surprisingly heartfelt themes about family, loss, and chosen bonds.

This is the film that cemented Blue Sky Studios as a competitor to DreamWorks and Pixar — and it still holds up as their crown jewel.


—

👥 Character Rundown

Manny (Ray Romano) – The cynical, grumpy woolly mammoth with a tragic past. Romano’s dry delivery gives him both comic bite and real heart.

Sid (John Leguizamo) – The motor-mouthed sloth. He’s annoying, but in a lovable way — and Leguizamo’s unique voice acting makes him unforgettable.

Diego (Denis Leary) – The saber-toothed tiger with ulterior motives. He starts out suspicious, but becomes one of the film’s most layered characters.

Scrat (Chris Wedge) – The acorn-obsessed squirrel/rat hybrid. Pure slapstick gold — he doesn’t speak, but he steals every scene.

Roshan (the baby) – The silent “quest item” of the film, but the emotional glue holding the trio together.

🦥 Sid the Sloth: Love Him or Hate Him?

Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo) is one of those animated characters who manages to be both enduring and incredibly annoying at the same time. On one hand, he’s the comic relief — bumbling, clueless, always tripping over his own words, and somehow surviving situations no sane sloth should. He’s often the heart of the herd, the one trying to hold everyone together with loyalty and optimism, even when he’s screwing everything up. That makes him memorable and even kind of lovable.

But let’s be real: Sid’s antics can grate on you. His lisp, his constant whining, his complete lack of survival instincts — sometimes you want to reach into the screen and say, “Please stop talking for five minutes.” He’s the type of character where kids find him hilarious, but adults might roll their eyes after the fifth “Sid moment” in a row.

That duality is what makes him stick, though. Sid’s not cool like Diego or noble like Manny — he’s pathetic, irritating, loyal, and somehow iconic all rolled into one. He’s proof that sometimes the “annoying character” ends up being the most enduring.



—

🎨 Animation & Style

For 2002, Ice Age’s animation was groundbreaking. The textures on the fur, the icy environments, and the use of color to highlight cold vs. warmth were gorgeous. The style is more angular and cartoony than Pixar’s realism — but it fits the slapstick humor and prehistoric setting.


—

👍 Pros

Great chemistry between the main trio.

Sid’s humor + Scrat’s antics keep it funny for kids and adults.

Surprisingly emotional beats (Manny’s backstory, Diego’s redemption).

Unique setting — prehistoric survival comedy hadn’t been done like this.

I remember there being a svene whwre the gang are in a ice cave and Sid gets separated and sees past sloths frozen in ice then sees creepy fish then a UGO frozen, that scene scared me for some reason. No irs nor a con.

And of course the iconic song, “Send Me on My Way” by Rusted Root. 🎶


👎 Cons

Some animation hasn’t aged perfectly (human faces especially).

The story is simple — more of a road trip quest than a deep narrative.



—

💭 Final Thoughts

This movie works because it balances heart and humor. For every pratfall, there’s a tender emotional beat. For every Scrat gag, there’s a quiet moment of trust between the herd. It’s a film that feels both timeless and nostalgic, and for me? It’s the perfect first installment.

Rating: 10/10 ❄️


—

⚠️ Spoilers Ahead!

The plot kicks off when Manny reluctantly teams up with Sid, who’s running from angry rhinos. They discover Roshan, the lost human baby, after his mother dies in the river while saving him. That moment is surprisingly dark for a kids’ movie — but it sets the emotional tone.

Diego joins the group under false pretenses, pretending to help but secretly planning to deliver the baby to his pack and their ruthless leader, Soto. Soto’s plan? Revenge on humans, since they’ve hunted sabers. Diego is tasked with leading Manny and Sid into an ambush.

But here’s where the movie shines: along the journey, Diego bonds with Manny and Sid. He sees their loyalty and love for the baby and begins to change. When the final confrontation arrives, Diego betrays Soto and saves Manny. In the climactic battle, Soto lunges at Manny, but Diego steps in, taking the hit. Manny hurls Soto into an ice wall, killing him instantly.

Diego nearly dies from his wounds but survives, cementing the trio as a new “herd.” They return Roshan to his father, and Manny — who once hated humans because they killed his family — finally finds closure.

And then there’s Scrat, of course — the film ends with him frozen in ice for 20,000 years still clinging to his acorn. Comedy gold.