Animation continues to be at the forefront of change, constantly pushing the boundaries of what visual creativity can bring to life. It is imperative that we protect these creators and their creations at all costs, because the heart and personal touch injected into the technology is vital to art and our ever expanding knowledge of ourselves and the stories we share. AI can probably get to a point where it can create the images instantly, but it can never replicate its soul. Nothing captures the essence of this sentiment like “Flow,” a boundary pushing, visual feast with limitless appeal and an emotional core so effective it seems almost impossible not be moved. Of course, I’m a proud cat daddy of 2, so naturally an animated film that follows the journey of a cat through vast and treacherous landscapes speaks deeply to who I am and what I will resonate with.
Written, directed, produced and scored by animator and filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, “Flow” tells the story of a black cat whose home and green forest landscapes are suddenly covered by a great flood. As the waters rise and rise and every part of land is covered, the cat manages to find its way onto a sailboat being controlled by capybara. As the waters rise and rage and boat encounters new challenges and terrains, the unlikely pair are joined by a surviving Labrador, a lemur, and secretarybird who has lost the ability to fly after protecting the cat from others. All of these different animals must find new ways to survive in the ever changing lands, and are occasionally helped by a giant whale swimming through the waters. It is a fantastical adventure through unforgiving nature and asks us all to find community and acceptance outside of ourselves.
If you notice, I didn’t list a single celebrity voice for any of the aforementioned animals. That’s because “Flow” is wordless, taking us on a journey without a single line of dialogue. Only the behaviors and animated faces of our animals convey the emotions and perils and joys and struggles and successes and togetherness of their travels. “Flow” feels like it SHOULD have Chris Pratt and Scarlet Johansson and Jack Black, but thank God it doesn’t because Zilbalodis is in pursuit of something more evergreen and far reaching than the familiarity of comforting voices that tell us how to feel at any given moment. Removing the dialogue and creating animals fully realized with their own common behaviors grants “Flow” its unlimited accessibility, defined by no country or setting or rules other than the changing world that surrounds the characters.
The watercolor forward animation of “Flow” is simply stunning, some of the most immersive and dazzling visuals I’ve seen in a long time. It does sometimes feel like a series of video game cut scenes the longer it goes on, but it is never dull and never ugly. Kids and adults can approach “Flow” with wide eyed, child like wonder and join these lovable animals on an imaginative adventure. Zibalodis has created something truly special and mesmerizing, something beautiful and tragic that speaks volumes without uttering a single word. I can’t stress enough how beautiful “Flow” is, and even if it doesn’t reach into your heart the way it did for me (maybe you hate cats in which case like, what?) but its visual mastery is undeniable. Unlike the soulless, expressionless, hyper realistic reimagining of “The Lion King,” Zibalodis’s animation conveys every possible emotion and expression from each and every one of his animals.
There’s not a whole lot else to say about “Flow.” Not that it doesn’t have much to say, just that it really needs to be seen and experienced to allow it take hold of your heart and shatter it into a million pieces. Yes, it left me ugly crying by the end. “Flow” has a lot on its mind beneath the raging waters that flood the lands, and through its shimmering animation delivers a mourning and celebration of humanity’s absence and existence. But more than the commentary of our changing world and fight for survival, “Flow” captures the heart of loving and accepting your neighbor. No, not the ones that look like you or act like you or even like you, but the ones that don’t. It is the shared need to weather the storm together that resonates so deeply from our characters, all doing so without ever losing themselves as the animals we know them to be.
Nothing hammers this home like the final shot, a beautifully crafted still represented in reflection both physically and emotionally. It is shockingly relevant to our current time that feels like we are drowning in a sea of othering, and “Flow” invites us to turn toward togetherness in unprecedented ways through the lens of lovable but vastly different animated animals. There is belonging and community all around us if we’re willing to look past ourselves, and somehow a story about a misfit crew of animals teaches this to us beautifully. Children should see this film, but so should adults. There is something to be learned here, and it is one more layer added to “Flow’s” deeply textured and intentional storytelling.
“Flow” hit me hard, and I walked away with my senses overwhelmed. That says a lot from a film without words, and its smallness may hinder its awards prospects of which it is more than deserving. Don’t let that stop you. It is worth going out of your way to see, and if you love animals I would recommend bringing a ton of tissues. Like, a whole box because the tears. will. flow.
“Flow” is must see cinema, a boundary pushing animation achievement and one of the best animated films of the year. Hell, it may very well end up being out of the best films of the year, period.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go tell my cats I love them while they ignore me with indifference.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
“Flow” is in select theaters Nov 22nd and wide release Dec 6th. You can watch the trailer below.
