2023 marked a landmark year for animation, which was reflected in the competitive Best Animated Feature race at the Academy Awards. Hayao Miyazaki's poignant swan song, "The Boy & the Heron," narrowly prevailed over the groundbreaking technical marvel "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." While both films left indelible marks on animation, in my opinion the best film among the nominees was Pablo Berber's exquisite "Robot Dreams."
Adapted from Sara Varon's graphic novel, "Robot Dreams" unfolds against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s New York City. The film follows an anthropomorphic Dog aptly named Dog, living in a world where animals possess human-like traits. Living a solitary and routine existence, Dog longs for companionship. One night while watching TV, dog encounters an advertisement from a company that makes robots designed to be a personal buddy. Ordering one impulsively, Dog's life changes dramatically the next day when Robot arrives. Their bond blossoms instantly, offering Dog newfound joy and a deeper appreciation for his life in the city.
Structured through a series of vignettes, the film explores their evolving relationship and its profound impact on both characters. Remarkably, "Robot Dreams" conveys its narrative entirely without dialogue, relying instead on simple, yet detailed animation, and a meticulously curated soundtrack anchored by Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," which serves as the emotional through-line of the story.
While it can certainly be enjoyed on a surface level by young children as a cute and quirky buddy comedy, Robot Dreams is one of the subtly profound explorations of loneliness, our longing for companionship, and the changing nature of relationships, ever put to screen. Both Dog and Robot are fully fleshed out characters with human emotions, and while the nature of their relationship (whether it’s romantic or platonic) is left vague, its complex and easy to relate your own personal experiences to.
From a visual standpoint, Robot Dreams beings to life a vibrant and colourful world through traditional hand-drawn animation. The visuals are reminiscent of classic comic strips like Where’s Waldo and Calvin & Hobbes. Every frame is packed with Easter eggs and a jokes in the background for audiences to pick up on.
Despite any limitations that would come with the lack of dialogue, Robot Dreams is one of the most moving and emotionally layered animated films in recent years. It uses simplicity as its strength, exploring the complexity of human relationships with a level of wisdom and complexity that few films are able to achieve.
5/5
Review by: Tristan French