Robot Dreams (film)
Robot Dreams | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Pablo Berger |
Screenplay by | Pablo Berger |
Based on | Robot Dreams by Sara Varon |
Produced by | Ibon Cormenzana Ignasi Estapé Sandra Tapia Díaz Jérôme Vidal Pablo Berger |
Edited by | Fernando Franco |
Music by | Alfonso de Vilallonga[1] |
Production companies | |
Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Countries |
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Budget | €5 million[3] |
Box office | $6.1 million[4][5] |
Robot Dreams is a 2023 animated tragicomedy[6] film written and directed by Pablo Berger.[7] A Spanish-French co-production, it is based on the 2007 comic of the same name by Sara Varon.[8] The film follows an unusual friendship between a dog and a robot in New York City in 1984.[9] The film does not contain any dialogue.[10]
Robot Dreams had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2023, in the Special Screenings section.[11] It received critical acclaim and won Best Film in the Contrechamp section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival as well as Best Independent Animated Feature at the 51st Annie Awards. It also won the Goya Award for Best Animated Film and the European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film, and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.[12][13]
Plot
[edit]In 1980s Manhattan, Dog lives alone. After seeing a TV advertisement, Dog decides to order a robot friend, which he assembles upon delivery and then takes out to explore Manhattan. Over the course of the summer, the two become inseparable friends. The song "September" is played over these scenes.
As the summer comes to an end, Dog takes Robot to the beach, where they spend a long day playing in the water and later fall asleep. They wake up after all other visitors have left, and Dog realizes that Robot has been rusted by water and thus cannot move; a disheartened Dog is forced to head home for the night. Dog returns the following day with repairing tools, only to discover that the beach has been closed until 1 June of the following year. After some failed attempts to get inside the beach, Dog relents to wait until he can go and rescue Robot next year, placing a note on his refrigerator as a constant reminder.
Throughout Robot's time on the beach, he dreams of various scenarios where he manages to escape from the beach and return to Dog's apartment, only to eventually return to the reality of him being stuck on the beach. One of Robot's legs is severed by some rabbits, who use a part of it to fill a hole in their sinking boat before discarding the leg. Meanwhile, Dog contemplates about Robot, as he is constantly reminded of Robot and struggles to make new friends.
A monkey sneaks onto the beach and finds a buried Robot with his metal detector. The monkey takes Robot to a junkyard to sell him. The alligator owner and his son promptly chuck Robot into a junk pile, breaking Robot into pieces and causing him to shut off. When 1 June finally arrives, Dog returns to the beach but is only able to find Robot's discarded leg. In his search, he is kicked out for making many large holes in the sand. He spends the night at home laying in bed with Robot's leg.
Later, a raccoon named Rascal visits the junkyard and discovers Robot's head and remaining limbs. He buys the parts and takes them home, rebuilding Robot with a boombox as the new body. Meanwhile, Dog buys a new robot friend named Tin. Over the summer, Robot and Rascal form a close friendship as do Dog and Tin. Dog goes to the beach with Tin and, learning from his past mistakes, coats Tin with oil spray and keeps him out of the water.
As Robot and Rascal have a rooftop lunch, Robot looks out and sees Dog and Tin walking down the sidewalk. Robot races down the street and manages to reunite with Dog, but Rascal suddenly appears, revealing that this reunion was yet another fantasy of Robot's. In the real world, Robot decides not to chase after Dog, instead using his boombox body to play the song "September". Dog hears the song and the pair (unbeknownst to Dog) dance together to it for the final time. Dog spots Robot in the corner of his eye, but Robot hides, contemplating whether to reveal himself. As Robot realizes that both he and Dog have found new meaningful relationships following their separation, he chooses against revealing himself to allow Dog to continue on with Tin. Tin notices Dog's sadness and promptly cheers him up as the two dance down the street side by side. Robot then happily returns to Rascal's lunch and the two proceed to dance together on the roof.
Production
[edit]In 2008, Sara Varon was approached by an unspecified animation studio to produce a film adaptation of Robot Dreams, which would have been done entirely using computer animation. This project never materialized.[14]
Berger first read Varon's graphic novel in about 2010 and was affected by it. After making his first two films, he went back to Robot Dreams and began visualizing how to make it into an animated film.[15]
Initially, Berger wanted to work with Cartoon Saloon to animate the film, but abandoned plans in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, Berger helped set up various animation studios across Spain to help to get the film made.[16] The animation process began in mid-June 2021 in Madrid, Spain, and later on Iruñea studios opened as well in Pamplona, working parallel to the Madrid team.[17]
Release
[edit]Festivals
[edit]Robot Dreams had its world premiere on 21 May 2023 in the Special Screenings section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival,[18] then screened on 12 June 2023 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival,[19] on 23 July 2023 at the New Zealand International Film Festival,[20] and on 14 August 2023 at the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival.[21] It was screened on 7 September 2023 at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival[22] and in October 2023 at the 56th Sitges Film Festival.[23]
Theatrical
[edit]The film was first released in Spanish theatres on 6 December 2023 by BTeam Pictures.[24][25] It expanded to the French market on 27 December 2023.[26] Curzon released the film in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 22 March 2024.[27] Neon acquired the North American distribution rights and it was released on 31 May 2024.[28][29][30]
Reception
[edit]Critical reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 132 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Robot Dreams is the stuff good animation is made of."[31] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 87 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[32]
Paula Arantzazu Ruiz of Cinemanía rated the film 5 out of 5 stars, deeming "[the relationship between] Dog and Robot to be the most amazing and beautiful friendship of the year".[33] Robbie Collin of The Telegraph awarded the movie five stars out of five, writing that "this wonderful tale of friendship will enchant and amuse children – and leave grown-ups in tears".[34]
Variety put Robot Dreams on its list of the 22 Overlooked Films of 2023.[35]
Top ten lists
[edit]The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:
- 4th — El Periódico de Catalunya (critics)[36]
- 5th — El Español (Series & Más consensus)[37]
- 6th — El Cultural (critics)[38]
- 6th — El Mundo (Luis Martínez)[39]
- 7th — Mondosonoro (consensus)[40]
Accolades
[edit]Future
[edit]In March 2024, during a screening in the Aero Theater, director Pablo Berger expressed interest in making a sequel “involving Dog and Robot meeting up again for Thanksgiving with their respective partners” or a spin-off of the film. “I’ve thought about revisiting this world, maybe with a spin-off of some of the characters. A horror film with the bunnies, or Duck goes to Barcelona? But we’re in L.A., so someone could steal my idea.” said Berger. [75]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Alfonso Vilallonga para la cinta de animación Robot Dreams". AsturScore (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Director Pablo Berger Makes Animation Debut with 'Robot Dreams'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "'Robot Dreams' comienza su producción siguiendo los principios del cine de Pablo Berger: "humor, emoción y un exquisito lenguaje cinematográfico"". Audiovisual451 (in Spanish). 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Robot Dreams". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Robot Dreams". The Numbers. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Jiménez, Jesús (3 October 2021). "Pablo Berger Me he pasado a la animación porque me enamoré de Robot Dreams". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "PROYECTOS: El filme ROBOT DREAMS de Pablo Berger (apoyo MEDIA de desarrollo de contenido) presenta su teaser tráiler". www.oficinamediaespana.eu (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Jiménez, Jesús (11 May 2022). "'Robot Dreams', el cómic de Sara Varon que Pablo Berger llevará a los cines". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Primer avance de 'Robot Dreams', la primera película de animación de Pablo Berger" (in Spanish). 21 July 2023. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Fun Teaser Trailer for Dialogue-Free Animated 'Robot Dreams' Movie | FirstShowing.net". www.firstshowing.net. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ Leffler, Rebecca. "Elle Driver sells out worldwide on 'Robot Dreams' following Cannes premiere (exclusive)". Screen. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "'Chicken For Linda!', 'Robot Dreams', '27' se llevan los máximos honores en el Festival de Annecy 2023". CafeToons (in Spanish). 18 June 2023. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ a b "96th Oscars: See the Full List of Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ ‘Robot Dreams’ Director Pablo Berger On Stepping Out Of His Comfort Zone To Create A “Dialogue-Free” Animated Film With A Touching Story With A Funky Beat - Deadline
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (20 October 2023). "Exclusive: Pablo Berger Takes Us Behind the Scenes of His Acclaimed Movie, 'Robot Dreams'". Animation Magazine.
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (29 May 2024). "Robot Dreams' director founded an animation studio just to adapt a graphic novel he loved". Polgyon.
- ^ "Pablo Berger inicia la producción del filme animado "Robot Dreams"". GARA (in Spanish). 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Robot Dreams: Pablo Berger's adaptation presented in a special children's screening at Cannes". www.sortiraparis.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "México invitado y animación española en competición en el Festival de Annecy". infobae (in European Spanish). 27 April 2023. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ New Zealand International Film Festival: Robot Dreams, archived from the original on 18 August 2023, retrieved 18 August 2023
- ^ "Introducing the Summer Screen Programme of the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival". Sarajevo Times. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Robot Dreams". TIFF. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Robot Dreams confirmada en la programación de Sitges 2023". Radix (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "La aclamada película "Robot Dreams" llegará a los cines de España este diciembre - TVLaint". www.tvlaint.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ ""Robot Drams" [sic], de Pablo Berger, Premio a la Mejor Película Europea de Animación". mundoplus.tv. 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Les line-ups s'ajustent chez les distributeurs - Boxoffice Pro". 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (25 March 2024). "UK-Ireland film cinema release dates: latest updates for 2024". ScreenDaily.
- ^ Saperstein, Pat (17 May 2023). "Neon Makes First Cannes Acquisition With Pablo Berger's Animated 'Robot Dreams'". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (17 May 2023). "Neon Acquires Pablo Berger's Animated Feature 'Robot Dreams' Ahead Of Cannes Bow". Deadline. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (17 April 2024). "'Robot Dreams' Boots Up NYC Theatrical Run Starting May 31". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Robot Dreams". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Robot Dreams". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Ruiz, Paula Arantzazu (4 December 2023). "Crítica de 'Robot Dreams': un adorable relato sobre la importancia de la amistad". Cinemanía. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ Collin, Robbie (21 March 2024). "Robot Dreams: this wondrous (and wordless) animation will emotionally destroy you". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ 22 Overlooked Movies in 2023 Everyone Should See - Variety
- ^ Casas, Quim (22 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023". El Periódico de Catalunya. Prensa Ibérica.
- ^ Prieto, Belén; Morillo, Valentina (24 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023". Series & Más – via El Español.
- ^ "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023, el año de 'Cerrar los ojos'". El Cultural. 21 December 2023 – via El Español.
- ^ Martínez, Luis (21 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023, de 'Zinzindurrunkarratz' a 'La mesita del comedor'". El Mundo.
- ^ "Las mejores películas nacionales de 2023". Mondosonoro. 26 December 2023.
- ^ Pérez, David (19 June 2023). "'Robot Dreams' recibe el Gran Premio Contrechamp en el Festival de Annecy". No es cine todo lo que reluce (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "56th Edition Award Winners". Sitges Film Festival. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Nominations Best Children's Film, Best Dutch Children's Film and Youth Jury Awards 2023". Cinekid.
- ^ "Winners Cinekid Awards 2023". Cinekid.
- ^ "The best of European cinema: Here come the winners for the European Film Awards 2023". European Film Academy. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (10 December 2023). "2023 Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC): 'The Holdovers' Wins Best Film, Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (10 December 2023). "'The Zone of Interest' Wins Best Picture at Los Angeles Film Critics Awards, Four Women Take Acting Prizes (Full Winners List)". Variety. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Nominations: 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Oppenheimer,' 'Poor Things' Lead with 10 Each". Awards Watch. 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Palmarés completo de los Premios Forqué 2023: '20.000 especies de abejas' y 'La Mesías' lideran la apertura de la temporada". Cinemanía. 17 December 2023 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ Anderson, Eric (10 December 2023). "2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". awardswatch.com. AwardsWatch. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (17 December 2023). "'Zone of Interest' Named Best Picture of 2023 by Toronto Film Critics Association". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Rogers, Nick (12 December 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (17 December 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "2023 San Diego Film Critics Society Winners". San Diego Film Critics Society. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (13 December 2023). "Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "2023 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (5 January 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (23 December 2023). "Nevada Film Critics Society (NFCS) Awards: Oppenheimer, Bradley Cooper, Julianne Moore". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Darling, Cary (9 January 2024). "'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer' lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (17 January 2024). "The 2023 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Consulta aquí la lista de ganadores de los Premios Feroz 2024". hola.com. 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Los Premios Carmen dan a conocer desde Huelva todos los nominados de su tercera edición". Huelva24. Grupo Vocento. 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Palmarés completo de la III edición de los Premios Carmen del Cine andaluz". eldiario.es. 4 February 2024.
- ^ "79 MEDALLAS CEC, CONOCE A LOS NOMINADOS". Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos. 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Conoce a los Ganadores de las #79MedallasCEC". Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos. 5 February 2024.
- ^ Oteo, Jana (5 February 2024). "Premios Gaudí 2024: Lista completa de los ganadores". La Razón.
- ^ Cline, Rich (20 December 2023). "'All of Us Strangers' and 'Oppenheimer' lead CC Film Awards Nominations". London Film Critics' Circle. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Premios Goya 2024 | Palmarés completo: todos los ganadores de la gran noche de 'La sociedad de la nieve'". Cinemanía. 11 February 2024 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ Stevens, Beth (11 February 2024). "2024 ICS Award Winners". International Cinephile Society.
- ^ Pond, Steve (11 January 2024). "Annie Award Nominations: Disney, Pixar Shut Out of Best Feature Category for First Time as 'Nimona' Leads". The Wrap.
- ^ "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Merin, Jennifer (22 December 2023). "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Arkin, Daniel (23 January 2024). "Oscars nominations list: Oppenheimer, Poor Things, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon dominate". NBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Premios Platino 2024 | Palmarés completo: el triunfo de 'La sociedad de la nieve' y todos los ganadores de la noche". Cinemanía. 21 April 2024 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ "Robot Dreams: «Si tienes paciencia te enamoras de esta forma de hacer cine»". En Trance. 7 March 2024 – via entrance.cl.
External links
[edit]- 2023 films
- 2020s French films
- 2020s Spanish films
- 2023 animated films
- 2023 comedy-drama films
- 2023 science fiction films
- Animated films about dogs
- Animated films about friendship
- Animated films based on American comics
- Animated films set in Manhattan
- Animated films set in the 1980s
- Films set in 1984
- Animated films set on beaches
- Animated films without speech
- Arcadia Motion Pictures films
- Films set on the New York City Subway
- French animated feature films
- French comedy-drama films
- French science fiction films
- Neon (company) films
- Animated films about robots
- Spanish animated feature films
- Spanish comedy-drama films
- Spanish science fiction films
- Tragicomedy films
- European Film Awards winners (films)
- Annecy Cristal-winning films
- Best Animated Film Goya Award winners
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature – Independent winners
- Independent animated films