Movie review – Robot Dreams

So… This was different, in a good way.

How to describe this? It’s a little like Bojack Horseman meets Issac Asimov. Coincidentally, or not, Issac Asimov has a short story titled Robot Dreams, but the story in this animation is not remotely related beyond the dreaming part. The animation is based on a graphic novel published by Sara Varon in 2007.

Set in an alternate 1980s New York City, the film offers a unique perspective on urban loneliness through the unlikely friendship between a dog and the robot he puts together. While this might sound like the setup for a children’s story, the film uses this simple premise to explore complex emotional terrain.

Mature Audience

In case the reference to Bojack Horseman above isn’t clear enough, this isn’t a children’s movie. That’s not to say it would be inappropriate for children (rated PG-13), but that’s not the intended audience. The plot explores themes of loneliness and abandonment, which may be triggering for some people. I was fortunate that I watched this with my wife and we had enjoyable discussions about the themes. But if you’re watching this alone, and you experience feelings of depression and loneliness, then maybe this movie isn’t for you.

Makes you think

The heart of this story takes you on an emotional journey that will make you think and provide topics for interesting discussion. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that I found it satisfying because it didn’t end predictably. With the volume of stories available today, it’s hard to make something good and different at the same time.

Beyond the theme of loneliness, the story also explores the complexity of friendship, the pain of growth, and the bittersweet nature of change.

Addition through Subtraction

There is no dialogue at any point in this movie. That’s a bold decision, but relying strictly on mannerisms and expressions pays off, even if it takes a little while to get used to.

The animation style is deceptively simple, utilizing clean lines and muted colors that perfectly capture the film’s 1980s New York setting. Without dialogue, the animators rely entirely on visual storytelling and succeed brilliantly. Every gesture, every background detail, and every change in expression carries meaning. The city becomes a character, with its seasonal changes reflecting the emotional journey of our protagonists.

Universal Characters

The choice to represent the protagonists as a dog and robot is more than just artistic whimsy—it’s a clever device that makes the story universally relatable. The dog character exhibits no typical canine behaviors; instead, he represents the human experience stripped of demographic specifics. Similarly, the robot transcends traditional AI tropes to become a blank canvas for human connection.

This character design choice, combined with the absence of dialogue, creates a story that crosses cultural and linguistic barriers. The simplicity of the characters’ forms allows viewers to project their own experiences onto the relationship, whether they see it as:

• A romantic partnership
• A platonic friendship
• A parent-child relationship
• Any other meaningful human connection

The robot’s dreams become particularly poignant in this context – they’re not just the musings of an artificial being, but representations of universal human desires for connection, freedom, and understanding.

Award-Winning

Robot Dreams has won it’s fair share of acclaim. It won Best Film in the 2023 Contrechamp section of the Annecy International Animation Film. It also won Best Independent Animated Feature at the 51st Annie Awards, the Goya Award for Best Animated Film, and the European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

At RottenTomatoes, Robot Dreams has a 98% Critics Rating and a 89% Audience Rating.

Grade: A

Where to watch

You can stream Robot Dreams on Hulu or Disney+.

Similar Films and Shows

• WALL-E – Another dialogue-light animation exploring robot consciousness
• Her – For its thoughtful exploration of human-AI relationships
• Mary and Max – Another mature animated film dealing with friendship and loneliness
• The Red Turtle – For its masterful dialogue-free storytelling