Stop motion animation is a technique that is not only alive and kicking, but provides many acclaimed features. Despite being seen by many as archaic, the winsome charms of studios such as Aardman and Laika have not only kept the medium alive, but also continue to push past adversity to deliver a unique and enchanting experience. Wes Anderson added to the roster of stop motion films with his Oscar nominated "Fantastic Mr Fox" in 2009. It came out in the first of what would be two years of amazing animated features, and lost its nominations to Pixar's first Best Picture nominee, "Up." While most critics looked favourably on "Fox," what with it gaining a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, it flopped at the box office, earning a measly $46.5M on a budget of $40M. That, and despite its praise, "Fox" fell into a more cult classic pile of animated films, like most of its stop motion comrades, and indie films such as "The Secret of Kells," which was released the same year. I, for one, was one of the few that preferred Anderson's take on Roald Dahl's book more than "Up" (which I love, but not nearly as much). Even though it strayed from the source material, it still kept with the quirky storytelling and wistful nature of the book, and was funny, relatable and gorgeously animated. Needless to say, when Anderson announced that he was working on another animated film, about my favourite animal, I was excited.
"Isle of Dogs" may not be as colourful as "Fox," but it's still jovial despite its sombre story and messages. It takes place in the distant future, in Megasaki City, Uni Prefecture in Japan. The corrupt Mayor Kobyashi has all the city's dogs exiled to Trash Island due to outbreaks of Snout Fever and Dog Flu, which has started to spread to humans. The first dog to be sent away is Spots, the body-guard dog of Mayor Kobayashi's distant nephew and ward, Atari. Six months later, Atari flies a dinky little plane to Trash Island, where he enlists the help of a group of former pets, and one stray, to help him find his best friend.
I loved this movie. I loved the characters, the animation and the overall look and feel of the film. I like the way the story was told. It isn't perfect, but I had a huge smile on my face at the climax, and I didn't want the film to end. There's something inherently special about this film. There is so much passion and effort put into every minute detail, that too many may go unnoticed. When Jeff Goldblum makes his characteristic "uh" ("uh, you heard the rumour, right; about her and Felix?"), they took the time to animate the very thing that the actor is known for. The sneezes are composed of cotton wool and sugar. Each bit of hair (Alpaca, by the way) was attached to the puppets one by one. The fur moves so realistically that it's both mesmerizing and disconcerting in the most glorious way possible. Each shot, each movement, each camera angle ads so much verve and pop to what is basically a film set in a dump. The anatomy of the dogs, the way they move, is spot on (there is only one scene that made me go "uhm?" but it was an aerial shot of Chief running, and one or two little quirks only ads to a film that breathes individuality). This film is gorgeous. I'm partial to the stop motion films where you can be both immersed in the world, and sense the work the very touch of human hands helped create.
The story, at a glance, is rather predictable. However, much like "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Coco" the filmmakers manage to elevate the story so that the familiar story beats feel energized and new. While it is an A to Z search party plot, the film sports an interesting commentary on the corruption of society by higher power, the fear of the Other and the use of innocence to slap authority in the face. Some people will see this as a nod to immigration, others to snobbish politicians, and some will see it as a fun romp with five dogs and a boy. Fun, you say? The plot sounds grim; it's about dogs fighting to stay alive. It is grim, and harkens back to a similar film from 1982, "The Plague Dogs." In Rosen's animated feature, based on Richard Adams' book, two dogs must fend for themselves after escaping a vivisection lab, while avoiding capture from authorities who think they have the plague. The difference here is that the equally fantastic 80s film holds little humour, save from the Geordie fox. Anderson's film is peppered with tongue in cheek dialogue ("I'm fetching it because I feel sorry for you," "I wish somebody spoke his language"), an ironic sense of cheerfulness and, of course, dog jokes ("you son of a bitch!") From the dogs talking about their favourite food, to Oracle thinking she's psychic ("she just understands television"), to the dark humour, there's so much joy and verve in what can be considered so bleak. This is a film where the characters talk about suicidal ideation, where one pro dog person is murdered, and where many dogs cry salty tears over missing their owners, or having to eat their friends, and yet it feels so jovial and bright. This is all thanks to the witty dialogue and fantastic acting. The film knows it's serious, but can have fun with itself. It's refreshing, and breathtakingly authentic.
Some have taken issue with the Japanese elements of the feature, such as the use of mushroom clouds, wasabi as a weapon and implementing Haiku as a narrative device. While I can see how this will bother some people, as a random European person who just wanted to see a good film, I wasn't bothered by the nudges towards Japanese culture. In fact, it felt more like a tribute to Japan than anything else. The Japanese characters speak in their native tongue, with no subtitles save for a few occasions, and are voiced by Japanese actors and actresses. One of the writers, who also voices the mayor, is Japanese. It feels more like a friendly nudge-nudge than slander, as if Anderson is toasting to an old friend.
To touch again on the use of Japanese language, some have also criticised how it was often left untranslated (save for scenes with an interpreter), saying that it removed part of the human's character, and left them unrelatable to the audience. That and it silenced Japanese people. I fervently disagree, but I do see the point some are making. Much like YMS, I would like to experience the entirety of a film I adored, and wouldn't mind if there was an option to watch the film with the Japanese language subtitled on the Blu-Ray. However, I feel that this may remove some of the artistic value and over all vibe of the film. I liked not completely understanding the humans; the focus was on one human and a group of dogs. Said human is a twelve year old boy, and children need not speak much to be understood. Somehow, the intuitive knowledge of the dogs and the boy's understanding of them was enough for me.
This leads unto the characters. I adored them. The dogs are all so likable and scruffy, each with their own personalities that is their own, but still infused with the actors that voiced them. Each quirk was endearing, even Duke's running gag, which I taught I'd tire from, but ended up laughing at when he did it yet another time ("uh, did you hear the rumour?") Each dog is just lovely. Atari, the boy, is likable and tenacious. However, the main character here is Chief, the ragamuffin Tramp of the pack who has never had an owner, and fervently distrusts humans, stating that "he bites." From the scene where we see all the dogs sitting before Atari, but Chief lying down, we know that the two will form a bond. Predictable? Yes, but the unfolding of events and how they are handled makes the bond seem very amiable. The only issue I had in regards the characters is with Tracy and Spots. I can't go into Spots, due to spoiler reasons, but let's just say that I felt that he really was a "son of a bitch." Tracy just seemed gratuitous to me; it seemed as if Anderson felt the need to have a saviour, when we already had ones in Atari and the dogs. I didn't hate her character or plot line, but I did feel that if she were removed, it would make no difference. The dogs and Atari were more than enough to carry the plot forward.
Despite my minor gripes, I found "Isle of Dogs" to be absolutely fantastic. I said when it was over; "I think this is one of my new favourite films." There's an odd, quintessential charm that makes it infectiously likable. This film is a very good boy.
Review of Isle of Dogs
