Robot Dreams Parent Guide

During another dark, lonely night in his Manhattan apartment, Dog (Ivan Labanda) sees a TV ad for a build-it-yourself robot friend. One phone call to the number on the screen and a few days later, Dog’s new friend arrives flat-packed at his door. As soon as he’s got Robot (Ivan Labanda) assembled, they’re off for all the adventures that NYC can offer – roller skating dance-offs in central park, dubious hot dogs from disreputable food carts, and a sun-soaked day at the beach. But the fun comes to an abrupt end: after splashing around in the water, Robot has rusted solid.

Unable to lift his friend from the soft sand, Dog sets out to get a repair kit as quickly as he can. By the time he gets back, the beach is closed for the season, and won’t reopen until next June. Trapped on the beach, Robot dreams of different lives, and Dog tries to keep going, but both worry about their missing friend – and what could change between now and June.

Touching, sentimental, and heartfelt, Robot Dreams is another of these animated films which, while suitable for children, are not exclusively written for them. Adults will get just as much out of the film’s portrayal of friendship and loneliness, if not more. If anything, adults might have an easier time following the story – it’s presented entirely without dialogue, and you do actually need to pay attention to keep up. This isn’t a movie you can listen to while browsing your phone.

Thankfully, there’s plenty to look at while you’re following the story. The animation is very simple stylistically, but so vibrantly rendered that you can’t help but get engrossed in this lively homage to 1980’s New York. Every frame pops with detail and color – and might be more noticeable due to the lack of distracting conversations. When all the storytelling is visual, you pay more attention to what you’re actually seeing instead of what the characters are telling you to see.

Unusual storytelling aside, this movie is suitable for viewers of all ages. There are a few mildly frightening moments of peril, most of them in dreams, one incident of a gestured obscenity, and brief images of background characters smoking – hardly an uncommon sight in Manhattan. It’s not often that I come across a well-produced film this family friendly. That might have more to do with the fact that I mostly get assigned the horror flicks than available family entertainment, but I can still confidently say that you’re not going to find too many gems like this.