How a 2018 animated film used the Yeti myth to explore modern misinformation

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Smallfoot reimagines the legend of the Yeti, flipping the perspective to show a mountain tribe terrified of the mythical human. Beneath its musical comedy exterior, the film serves as a deliberate allegory for the age of alternative facts, questioning how fear and agendas can distort our collective understanding of truth.

Released in September 2018, Smallfoot follows Migo, a young Yeti living in a secluded Himalayan village governed by ancient stone laws. The Yetis believe humans are mythical monsters, a narrative strictly enforced by their leader, the Stonekeeper. The plot shifts when Migo encounters a human, Percy Patterson, a struggling documentary filmmaker. This collision of worlds forces both species to confront long-held prejudices, revealing that the Yetis were originally driven into isolation by human aggression, leading the Stonekeeper to manufacture a protective lie.

Director Karey Kirkpatrick, who joined the project in July 2016, intentionally infused the script with themes relevant to the contemporary political climate. Observing the rise of nationalism and the prevalence of misinformation, Kirkpatrick sought to highlight how leaders often skew reality to maintain control or protect their communities from perceived threats. The film posits that truth is frequently under attack when agendas are fueled by fear, making the act of questioning authority a central moral imperative for the characters.

The production process itself underwent significant evolution to emphasize these themes. Originally conceived without music, the film became a musical at the suggestion of Toby Emmerich, with songs written by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick. These tracks, including "Let It Lie" and "Moment of Truth," were designed to reinforce the film's core message: that bridging the gap between "us" and "them" requires a relentless sense of curiosity. By encouraging audiences to challenge misconceptions, the creators aimed to show that breaking through barriers of fear is only possible when individuals dare to ask uncomfortable questions.

While the film received generally positive reviews, holding a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, its legacy lies in its attempt to translate complex social dynamics into an accessible narrative. Whether through the lens of the Stonekeeper’s propaganda or the characters' eventual realization that humans and Yetis are not inherently monstrous, the film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of living in a closed-off reality. It remains a notable example of how animation can tackle the "zeitgeist" of misinformation.

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