Oliver & Company
Directed by George Scribner
- animation
- comedy
- family
The story
Putting its own 'twist' on the story of Oliver Twist, the orange runt of a litter of kittens must fight for survival on the rough streets on New York City, finding unlikely friends in the dogs owned by a down-on-his luck man named Fagin. Soon, Oliver and his new band of comrades must fight for survival when Fagin is unable to pay his debts.
What it’s like
Warm, gritty-bright 1980s animation: hand-drawn cels with saturated oranges and deep blues against a grimy Manhattan of sodium-lamp streetlights, rain-slick pavement, and cluttered pawnshop interiors that glow with amber. The look is busy and cartoonish rather than painterly, with exaggerated character design and a fair amount of motion across the frame, and the music carries much of the feeling: bright, brassy pop-rock numbers and a few softer ballads that lean on piano and strings. Its vibe is scruffy, sunny-hearted and mildly rowdy, the kind of film that suits a lazy Saturday afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort rewatch while something simmers on the stove. The pacing is brisk and episodic, with frequent song breaks and small comic set pieces, and the emotional register stays light even when things turn tense. The arc follows a small, overlooked kitten finding a makeshift family among the city's strays. Peril appears in the form of a menacing Doberman and a predatory antagonist, with chases and threatening scenes that are cartoonish rather than graphic, and some tense moments that may unsettle very young children. Violence is mild and nonlethal in tone, with no gore or sexual content. It is for families and animation fans who want an upbeat, sentimental adventure with a streak of street-smart humour.
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