This year, there were so many animated movies that twisted expectations in amazing ways. From Transformers One to Inside Out 2 to The Wild Robot, such films managed to find depth on a universal level. Surprisingly, all of these films are family-oriented, yet they all tackled mature ideas. Whether it be through dialogue or through narrative, these movies found a grounding that made them truly compelling. That positive trends continues through Flow, which brings an exciting story in a way unlike any other film this year. As a film without any dialogue, it successfully engages its themes of community and “nature versus nurture” through so many elements that come together beautifully.
If one’s to expect Flow to be a run-of-the-mill animal adventure, then that would be wrong. Instead, Flow focuses on inserting its own sense of realism into this fantastical world. It follows the perspective of a Cat who’s incidentally thrown into this quest for newfound purpose after a devastating flood. Along the way, they come across other animals who are also out to find their own purpose. As the Cat and their new friends travel on high tides, they learn how to work together despite their animalistic nature.
Flow‘s idea of nurturing a community comes at an important time where many are still struggling to find one. Given the circumstances of the world, it’s clear how isolationism still has an effect on so many people. As such, the Cat seems like a character most would relate to as it comically, yet blissfully, just tries to make its way in this world. In the opening scenes, it has this disregard of everything else, oblivious of the change its about to occur. Of course, being a cat, why should it care for anything other than itself? The answer comes rushing in, quite literally, with a tsunami flooding the forest and anything in it.
This way of isolationist thinking is tested once the Cat meets the Dog, engaging in a really cute sequence. There’s this playfulness that only works thanks to the lack of dialogue as Flow depends on being as real as it can get. This feeling of cuteness is continually present throughout, when Cat meets with the Capybara and Lemur later. They’re able to express themselves in subtle, yet realistic behaviors in a way that actually conveys more emotion than if they were to talk. This is especially so with the Lemur, who’s basically King Julien from Madagascar without all of the cartoony shenanigans. The Capybara is the “oldie” of the group, yet takes charge when needed to given his interactions with the Bird.
The Bird is interesting since the film regards it as an outcast of its flock. Rather than letting it be an antagonistic force for the group, the Bird has this unique arc. Its curiosity for a higher purpose and understanding outside its flock is a compelling motivation for it to embrace. However, due to the fact it only appears sparingly, the Bird serves more so as a narrative device than a character. Yet, there’s this certain undertone that makes one feel sympathetic to the Bird, especially in the middle of the third act.
Although, the most important character is this gigantic whale shark that appears every so often in Flow. When Cat seems to find itself in harsh waters, this whale always helps lift it up when it’s in need. While it might seem like it’s there as a plot device, it actually serves a much bigger purpose. The whale shark is not just there to help the Cat, but to also “teach” it to embrace helping others. In a way, the inspiration helps the Cat break free from its animalistic solitary traits. So, when the climax occurs later on, the Cat’s forced sacrifice of its safety to help those in danger feels more impactful.
The narrative of Flow feels similarly to Moana, structurally. They’re both a journey across the seas to accomplish something of significance. Along the main character’s path, they meet characters who join their party and confront these many challenges. Flow presents its new characters through its challenges the Cat faces on its way and, in doing so, they learn more about each other. Yet, the film tries to handle this subtly as possible through its party dynamics. Since it usually results in classic animal shenanigans, Flow‘s story is somewhat surface-level. Fortunately, it’s emotionally captivating through other elements.
Outside of the characters, the visuals and musical aesthetic of Flow feels truly cinematic. It doesn’t necessarily replicate the grandiose feeling of The Wild Robot, but rather allows its ambience do the talking. The musical backing somewhat feels those Minecraft songs by C418, yet they put their own spin on it. Every piece goes great with the visuals, which happily takes on this design similarly to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. All of the set pieces in the film are architecturally connected in this arcane way. However, it’s the simple lighting, weather, and general environmental choices that make each one stand out astonishingly. It’s honestly surprising that all of the animation was done in Blender, a free graphics software, because all of the animals’ movements feel natural too!
Flow is an aesthetically beautiful film about community and friendship through a fantastical lens that keeps itself grounded. Gints Zilbalodis has shown once again that he’s able to create visually astounding worlds with very relatable ideas since directing 2019’s Away. Sure, the narrative that binds this film together can be easily recognized. However, it’s the presentation of those ideas that make it stand out and place it with the likes of other animated films today.
Flow releases in U.S. theaters on November 22.
