Isle of Dogs
2018 · Directed by Wes Anderson
Original language: English
- adventure
- comedy
- animation
The story
In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island used as a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy arrives on the island to find his beloved pet.
What it’s like
Stop-motion puppets moving through meticulously built, miniature-scale landscapes: a garbage-heap island of rust, grey-brown sludge and drifting refuse, and a Japanese city rendered in clean symmetrical compositions, with bright pops of orange and saffron against muted earth tones. Camera moves are precise and deliberate, with frequent centred framings, slow pans across tableaux, and a dense, handmade texture visible in the fur, fabric and fine set detail. The score leans on taiko drums, Japanese woodwind and a dry, playful Alexandre Desplat soundtrack, punctuated by fussy, witty dialogue and deadpan asides. Its vibe is quirky, bittersweet and warm, suited to a cosy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or an evening with friends who enjoy visual humour. Pacing is brisk but episodic, with a loyal band of scrappy dogs forming a tender, slightly absurd found-family arc. Violence is cartoonish and mild, with brief scuffles, dog fights and a few bloody-free moments of peril; dark themes like disease and exile are handled lightly. It suits viewers who love meticulous craft, dry humour and the idea of loyalty across unlikely lines.
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