I have become quiet a fan of Wes Anderson. He makes beguiling, interesting films with a blend of comedy and quirkiness. At least his films do not emerge from a sausage dog factory.
Even his deadpan stop-motion animation has a charm a world away from Disney.
Set in Megasaki, Japan, a dystopian society in the future. There has been an outbreak of dog flu. The corrupt dog hating Mayor Kobayashi has banished all dogs to to toxic garbage filled Trash Island, beginning with his household dog.
All this despite scientist Watanabe insisting that a cure is imminent. He is a lone dissenting voice in the wilderness
The household dogs in Thrash Island are living a miserable life. They are sick, starving, unwashed and unloved.
Little Atari Kobayashi is a 12 year old boy who was taken in as a ward by his distant relative, Mayor Kobayashi. Spots was his guard dog but he was more like his pet. He has flown in to Thrash Island looking for Spots.
He finds a ragtag bunch of five dogs who tend to beat off other dogs for food. Four of them like to gossip and vote on important matters. They are just house pets now doing their best in these hard times. They are helped greatly by stray street dog Chief. The best fighter in the pack and who refuses to obey any master.
The four dogs vote to help Atari in his quest, Chief is outvoted as always. While they search for Spots, the Mayor is planning to exterminate all the dogs in the island.
There is a lot of dry wit in this film as well as a few sweet songs. It is whimsical and dark. If you replace the dogs with humans you can sense Anderson is making a point about how western societies are viewing refugees and immigrants these days.
Even his deadpan stop-motion animation has a charm a world away from Disney.
Set in Megasaki, Japan, a dystopian society in the future. There has been an outbreak of dog flu. The corrupt dog hating Mayor Kobayashi has banished all dogs to to toxic garbage filled Trash Island, beginning with his household dog.
All this despite scientist Watanabe insisting that a cure is imminent. He is a lone dissenting voice in the wilderness
The household dogs in Thrash Island are living a miserable life. They are sick, starving, unwashed and unloved.
Little Atari Kobayashi is a 12 year old boy who was taken in as a ward by his distant relative, Mayor Kobayashi. Spots was his guard dog but he was more like his pet. He has flown in to Thrash Island looking for Spots.
He finds a ragtag bunch of five dogs who tend to beat off other dogs for food. Four of them like to gossip and vote on important matters. They are just house pets now doing their best in these hard times. They are helped greatly by stray street dog Chief. The best fighter in the pack and who refuses to obey any master.
The four dogs vote to help Atari in his quest, Chief is outvoted as always. While they search for Spots, the Mayor is planning to exterminate all the dogs in the island.
There is a lot of dry wit in this film as well as a few sweet songs. It is whimsical and dark. If you replace the dogs with humans you can sense Anderson is making a point about how western societies are viewing refugees and immigrants these days.