Robot Dreams

Readers, I was so excited to see that my local art cinema had a one night only showing of Robot Dreams, just days before Oscar Sunday! What luck, considering this film is not going to be widely released until the end of May. With the color, fun and not overly complicated animation, I think both adults and kids will connect to the characters and style easily. This delightful animated film did not disappoint. 

Produced in Spain and based on the graphic novel by Sara Varon, Robot Dreams tells a story of a lonely dog living in New York City in the 1980s. He sees a commercial for a robot friend on late night tv, calls and gets a robot in the mail. Once he’s assembled, Dog shows his new friend around New York and takes him roller skating in Central Park. But after a long day at the beach, complete with a long nap, Dog wakes up to find his robot friend too low on power to move. The robot is too heavy to move, so Dog goes home, anxious to go back and help his robot friend. But the beach is closed for the season! After a few attempts to get to his robot (and an arrest) Dog resigns himself to wait until the beach opens in June. Until then, Dog tries to make new friends throughout the year. 

All the while, the sweet, innocent robot is conscious and stuck on the beach! As the seasons pass, he meets and helps others (pigs with a hole in their boat, a mother bird and her babies) until a beachcomber comes along. While the robot is stuck, we are shown multiple fantasies he has about going back home to Dog. Some we don’t realize are just a fantasy until we snap back to robot still on the beach. Others are a little more clear, I especially enjoyed his Wizard of Oz style moment with the dancing flowers. 

There are a few songs, but not one word of dialogue in Robot Dreams, instead it uses the universal languages of humor and humanity. Though the animation style is a simple cartoon, every movement and expression translates perfectly. Even the robot, who you may expect to feel static by design, is perfectly expressive, has a heart and his trials deepen our sympathies with him. 

I have a silly question to the writers and filmmakers: Why did they model Dog after me? Seriously, this sweet pear shaped dog is me: socially awkward, clumsy, up for a little adventure, collects tiki mugs and loves to roller skate. Blasting Earth Wind and Fire’s September? Check! And the way he tries to make Halloween fun for his trick-or-treaters! Yup, that’s me. 

Parents may be wondering if this animated film is appropriate for children. With no dialogue, there is no foul language. There is no violence. The only moment parents may want to avoid is one early scene featuring the middle finger, but it’s humorous. With that in mind, I cannot wait to show Robot Dreams to my kids. 

Without giving away anything, Robot Dreams is really about connection and kindness. That’s all that Dog is really looking for, with his robot, going skiing, hanging out with that duck. And though he may not be actively seeking it, the robot finds meaningful connection even when he’s stuck at the beach. And part of these ideas is to be ok with letting go. Sometimes it’s for the best and we can always cherish the memories made. 

“Do you remember the 21st night of September?”