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Robot Dreams (film)

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Robot Dreams
In a bustling street in New York City (with the Empire State Building shown in the background), A dog holding a bag holds hands with a robot who is seen holding roller skates on its neck. A movie theatre is seen from behind presenting the film's titles on the marquee with other animals entering the theatre and others going about their lives.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPablo Berger
Screenplay byPablo Berger
Based onRobot Dreams
by Sara Varon
Produced byIbon Cormenzana [ca]
Ignasi Estapé
Sandra Tapia Díaz [ca]
Jérôme Vidal
Pablo Berger
Edited byFernando Franco
Music byAlfonso de Vilallonga[1]
Production
companies
Arcadia Motion Pictures
Noodles Production
Les Films du Worso
RTVE
Movistar Plus+[2]
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 21, 2023 (2023-05-21) (Cannes)
  • December 6, 2023 (2023-12-06) (Spain)
  • December 27, 2023 (2023-12-27) (France)
Running time
102 minutes
Countries
  • Spain
  • France
Budget€5 million[3]
Box office$4.4 million[4]

Robot Dreams is a 2023 animated tragicomedy[5] film written and directed by Pablo Berger.[6] A Spanish-French co-production, it is based on the 2007 comic of the same name by Sara Varon.[7] The film follows an unusual friendship between a dog and a robot in New York City in 1984.[8] The film does not contain any dialogue.[9]

Robot Dreams had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2023, in the Special Screenings section.[10] 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.[11][12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

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,[17] then screened on 12 June 2023 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival,[18] on 23 July 2023 at the New Zealand International Film Festival,[19] and on 14 August 2023 at the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival.[20] It was screened on 7 September 2023 at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival[21] and in October 2023 at the 56th Sitges Film Festival.[22]

Theatrical[edit]

The film was first released in Spanish theatres on 6 December 2023 by BTeam Pictures.[23][24] It expanded to the French market on 27 December 2023.[25] Curzon released the film in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 22 March 2024.[26] Neon acquired the North American distribution rights and it was released on 31 May 2024.[27][28][29]

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 126 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Robot Dreams is the stuff good animation is made of."[30] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 87 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[31]

Paula Arantzazu Ruiz [es] 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".[32] 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".[33]

Variety put Robot Dreams on its list of the 22 Overlooked Films of 2023.[34]

Top ten lists[edit]

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:

Accolades[edit]

Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival Contrechamp Award - Best Film Robot Dreams Won [40]
56th Sitges Film Festival Best Film Nominated [41]
Grand People's Choice Award for Best Feature Film in the SOFC Won
Cinekid Festival Best Children's Film Nominated [42]
[43]
36th European Film Awards European Animated Feature Film Won [44]
44th Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Animated Film Runner-up[a] [45]
49th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Runner-up [46]
36th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Feature Film Nominated [47]
29th Forqué Awards Best Animation Film Won [48]
20th St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [49]
27th Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Feature Won [50]
15th Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Film Nominated [51]
[52]
Best Animated Film Runner-up
Original Vision Nominated
28th San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [53]
28th Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [54]
2024 13th Georgia Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [55]
22nd San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [56]
23rd Nevada Film Critics Society Best Animated Feature Won [57]
17th Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Feature Nominated [58]
27th Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [59]
11th Feroz Awards Best Comedy Film Won [60]
Best Original Soundtrack Alfonso de Vilallonga Won
Best Poster José Luis Ágreda Won
3rd Carmen Awards Best Non-Andalusian Produced Film Robot Dreams Nominated [61]
[62]
Best Editing Fernando Franco Nominated
Best Art Direction José Luis Ágreda Nominated
79th CEC Awards Best Film Robot Dreams Nominated [63]
[64]
Best Animated Film Won
Best Director Pablo Berger Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Best Music Alfonso de Vilallonga Won
16th Gaudí Awards Best Animated Film Robot Dreams Won [65]
Best Adapted Screenplay Pablo Berger Nominated
Best Original Score Alfonso de Vilallonga Won
44th London Film Critics' Circle Awards Animated Film of the Year Robot Dreams Nominated [66]
38th Goya Awards Best Animated Film Won [67]
Best Adapted Screenplay Pablo Berger Won
Best Editing Fernando Franco Nominated
Best Original Score Alfonso de Vilallonga Nominated
21st International Cinephile Society Awards Best Animated Film Robot Dreams Runner-up [68]
51st Annie Awards Best Animated Feature - Independent Won [69]
Best Character Design - Feature Daniel Fernandez Casas Nominated
Best Direction - Feature Pablo Berger, Benoît Feroumont Nominated
Best Storyboarding - Feature Maca Gil Nominated
Best Writing - Feature Pablo Berger Nominated
28th Satellite Awards Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature Robot Dreams Nominated [70]
17th Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [71]
96th Academy Awards Best Animated Feature Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana [ca], Ignasi Estapé and Sandra Tapia Díaz [ca] Nominated [72]
[12]
11th Platino Awards Best Animated Film Robot Dreams Won [73]
Best Original Score Alfonso de Vilallonga Won

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Shared with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Peasants.

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "Director Pablo Berger Makes Animation Debut with 'Robot Dreams'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. ^ "'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.
  4. ^ "Robot Dreams". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Fun Teaser Trailer for Dialogue-Free Animated 'Robot Dreams' Movie | FirstShowing.net". www.firstshowing.net. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "'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.
  12. ^ a b "96th Oscars: See the Full List of Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. ^ ‘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
  14. ^ Zahed, Ramin (20 October 2023). "Exclusive: Pablo Berger Takes Us Behind the Scenes of His Acclaimed Movie, 'Robot Dreams'". Animation Magazine.
  15. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (29 May 2024). "Robot Dreams' director founded an animation studio just to adapt a graphic novel he loved". Polgyon.
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  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ New Zealand International Film Festival: Robot Dreams, archived from the original on 18 August 2023, retrieved 18 August 2023
  20. ^ "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.
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  22. ^ "Robot Dreams confirmada en la programación de Sitges 2023". Radix (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
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  25. ^ "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.
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  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (17 April 2024). "'Robot Dreams' Boots Up NYC Theatrical Run Starting May 31". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
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  31. ^ "Robot Dreams". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
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  33. ^ Collin, Robbie (21 March 2024). "Robot Dreams: this wondrous (and wordless) animation will emotionally destroy you". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  34. ^ 22 Overlooked Movies in 2023 Everyone Should See - Variety
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  39. ^ "Las mejores películas nacionales de 2023". Mondosonoro. 26 December 2023.
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  41. ^ "56th Edition Award Winners". Sitges Film Festival. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
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External links[edit]

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