Robot Dreams review: "This dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder"

GamesRadar+ VerdictBerger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind.Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.Do androids really dream of electric sheep? Robot reveries turn out to be far more rich and soulful than Philip K. Dick suggested in Pablo Berger’s heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) Oscar-nominated animation about a lonely New York City dog and his robot buddy.Surprisingly, this vibrant, moving story about the very human need for friendship and connection has zero humans in it, because Dog is pining for a pal in a bustling, Zootropolis-style animal-packed 1980s Big Apple. His solitary life of Pong-for-one and ready meals is transformed when he literally makes a friend, laboriously constructing Robot from a TV-advertised kit.The second sizeable surprise is that this cleverly compassionate film also has no dialogue. Director Pablo Berger’s lush silent-cinema take on Snow White, 2012’sBlancanieves, proved he was a whiz at visual storytelling. But here he uses Chaplinesque physical comedy to show Dog and Robot’s growing happiness, as they roller-disco dizzyingly in Central Park to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, which becomes ‘their’ song, commemorating the month they met.Sweet, authentic facial expressions (strictly no stretchy cartoon shtick) signal Robot’s gleeful wonder at discovering the joy of skyscrapers, fat squelchy hotdogs and a groovy octopus bucket-drummer on the subway. Rather than Ron’s Gone Wrong AI-robot chaos, Dog and Robot’s happy hang-outs have a charming Brian and Charles vibe, as Robot’s childlike delight in NYC cements his bond with grateful Dog.Berger’s first animated outing (a passion-project adaptation of Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel) is also a deliciously detailed love letter to New York City, painting a note-perfect recreation of noisy, scuzzy ’80s streetlife for his funky, retro animal characters.It’s all rendered in glowing colors and 2D ‘clean line’ Tintin-like animation. But when an idyllic day of Rockaway Beach swimming rusts Robot’s joints and battery into immovability, New York bites back: the NYPD and City Hall force frantic Dog to leave him stranded on the firmly fenced-off beach till next summer.(Image credit: Wild Bunch)Forking cleverly here, the film gets more melancholy but also pleasingly ambitious, exploring Dog’s guilty attempts at rescue and time-filling hobbies, while diving headlong into Robot’s inner yearnings.As snow-covered Robot sinks into surreal worried-or-wacky dreams about a Dog reunion, the film’s world opens wide and gets experimental. Soon he (and we) are reeling at encounters with rabbit rotters in a rowboat, twisty fantasy escapes, and a fourth-wall turnaround whisking us into a wildWizard of Oztap-dancing extravaganza.If Robot’s reveries deepen the film’s emotional themes, Dog’s try-hard quests allow Berger to bring on delightful Jacques Tati-style comedy: take the soaring winter-sports slapstick with aggro anteaters for example, or Dog’s trippy bowling date with a scary snowman.Using the same clean 2D style throughout all these episodes keeps everything unified, as do different, poignant soundtrack versions of September, the musical thread connecting distant Dog and Robot throughout. The drifty, dream-punctuated second half might puzzle younger kids, though its universal themes and visual gags are perfectly all-ages appropriate. As is the film’s sweet, un-snarky tone, free from sly Futurama satire or Bojack Horseman raunch.Despite some nifty plot twists (including big bird love for Robot) the film does get too overlong and dawdling for its slender story. Still, paring back Dog and Robot’s wild or wistful quests would have denied us the wealth of fun sight gags and sly detail (posturing punks, turnstile-jumpers, the sad pop-pop bubbles of microwaving a single portion of mac and cheese) that Berger loves to linger on.But his biggest coup is not getting too hung up on the notion of ‘soulmates’; instead, he’s created a dream-filled movie that identifies emotional realities about change and personal growth. For both Dog and Robot, it’s not who you love, but how you love that matters.Robot Dreams is in UK cinemas now. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide to2024 movie release dates.More infoGenreAnimationMoreLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest►Most PopularNemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids”GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GamesRadar+ VerdictBerger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind.Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.Do androids really dream of electric sheep? Robot reveries turn out to be far more rich and soulful than Philip K. Dick suggested in Pablo Berger’s heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) Oscar-nominated animation about a lonely New York City dog and his robot buddy.Surprisingly, this vibrant, moving story about the very human need for friendship and connection has zero humans in it, because Dog is pining for a pal in a bustling, Zootropolis-style animal-packed 1980s Big Apple. His solitary life of Pong-for-one and ready meals is transformed when he literally makes a friend, laboriously constructing Robot from a TV-advertised kit.The second sizeable surprise is that this cleverly compassionate film also has no dialogue. Director Pablo Berger’s lush silent-cinema take on Snow White, 2012’sBlancanieves, proved he was a whiz at visual storytelling. But here he uses Chaplinesque physical comedy to show Dog and Robot’s growing happiness, as they roller-disco dizzyingly in Central Park to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, which becomes ‘their’ song, commemorating the month they met.Sweet, authentic facial expressions (strictly no stretchy cartoon shtick) signal Robot’s gleeful wonder at discovering the joy of skyscrapers, fat squelchy hotdogs and a groovy octopus bucket-drummer on the subway. Rather than Ron’s Gone Wrong AI-robot chaos, Dog and Robot’s happy hang-outs have a charming Brian and Charles vibe, as Robot’s childlike delight in NYC cements his bond with grateful Dog.Berger’s first animated outing (a passion-project adaptation of Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel) is also a deliciously detailed love letter to New York City, painting a note-perfect recreation of noisy, scuzzy ’80s streetlife for his funky, retro animal characters.It’s all rendered in glowing colors and 2D ‘clean line’ Tintin-like animation. But when an idyllic day of Rockaway Beach swimming rusts Robot’s joints and battery into immovability, New York bites back: the NYPD and City Hall force frantic Dog to leave him stranded on the firmly fenced-off beach till next summer.(Image credit: Wild Bunch)Forking cleverly here, the film gets more melancholy but also pleasingly ambitious, exploring Dog’s guilty attempts at rescue and time-filling hobbies, while diving headlong into Robot’s inner yearnings.As snow-covered Robot sinks into surreal worried-or-wacky dreams about a Dog reunion, the film’s world opens wide and gets experimental. Soon he (and we) are reeling at encounters with rabbit rotters in a rowboat, twisty fantasy escapes, and a fourth-wall turnaround whisking us into a wildWizard of Oztap-dancing extravaganza.If Robot’s reveries deepen the film’s emotional themes, Dog’s try-hard quests allow Berger to bring on delightful Jacques Tati-style comedy: take the soaring winter-sports slapstick with aggro anteaters for example, or Dog’s trippy bowling date with a scary snowman.Using the same clean 2D style throughout all these episodes keeps everything unified, as do different, poignant soundtrack versions of September, the musical thread connecting distant Dog and Robot throughout. The drifty, dream-punctuated second half might puzzle younger kids, though its universal themes and visual gags are perfectly all-ages appropriate. As is the film’s sweet, un-snarky tone, free from sly Futurama satire or Bojack Horseman raunch.Despite some nifty plot twists (including big bird love for Robot) the film does get too overlong and dawdling for its slender story. Still, paring back Dog and Robot’s wild or wistful quests would have denied us the wealth of fun sight gags and sly detail (posturing punks, turnstile-jumpers, the sad pop-pop bubbles of microwaving a single portion of mac and cheese) that Berger loves to linger on.But his biggest coup is not getting too hung up on the notion of ‘soulmates’; instead, he’s created a dream-filled movie that identifies emotional realities about change and personal growth. For both Dog and Robot, it’s not who you love, but how you love that matters.Robot Dreams is in UK cinemas now. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide to2024 movie release dates.More infoGenreAnimationMoreLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest►Most PopularNemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids” GamesRadar+ VerdictBerger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind.Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.Do androids really dream of electric sheep? Robot reveries turn out to be far more rich and soulful than Philip K. Dick suggested in Pablo Berger’s heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) Oscar-nominated animation about a lonely New York City dog and his robot buddy.Surprisingly, this vibrant, moving story about the very human need for friendship and connection has zero humans in it, because Dog is pining for a pal in a bustling, Zootropolis-style animal-packed 1980s Big Apple. His solitary life of Pong-for-one and ready meals is transformed when he literally makes a friend, laboriously constructing Robot from a TV-advertised kit.The second sizeable surprise is that this cleverly compassionate film also has no dialogue. Director Pablo Berger’s lush silent-cinema take on Snow White, 2012’sBlancanieves, proved he was a whiz at visual storytelling. But here he uses Chaplinesque physical comedy to show Dog and Robot’s growing happiness, as they roller-disco dizzyingly in Central Park to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, which becomes ‘their’ song, commemorating the month they met.Sweet, authentic facial expressions (strictly no stretchy cartoon shtick) signal Robot’s gleeful wonder at discovering the joy of skyscrapers, fat squelchy hotdogs and a groovy octopus bucket-drummer on the subway. Rather than Ron’s Gone Wrong AI-robot chaos, Dog and Robot’s happy hang-outs have a charming Brian and Charles vibe, as Robot’s childlike delight in NYC cements his bond with grateful Dog.Berger’s first animated outing (a passion-project adaptation of Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel) is also a deliciously detailed love letter to New York City, painting a note-perfect recreation of noisy, scuzzy ’80s streetlife for his funky, retro animal characters.It’s all rendered in glowing colors and 2D ‘clean line’ Tintin-like animation. But when an idyllic day of Rockaway Beach swimming rusts Robot’s joints and battery into immovability, New York bites back: the NYPD and City Hall force frantic Dog to leave him stranded on the firmly fenced-off beach till next summer.(Image credit: Wild Bunch)Forking cleverly here, the film gets more melancholy but also pleasingly ambitious, exploring Dog’s guilty attempts at rescue and time-filling hobbies, while diving headlong into Robot’s inner yearnings.As snow-covered Robot sinks into surreal worried-or-wacky dreams about a Dog reunion, the film’s world opens wide and gets experimental. Soon he (and we) are reeling at encounters with rabbit rotters in a rowboat, twisty fantasy escapes, and a fourth-wall turnaround whisking us into a wildWizard of Oztap-dancing extravaganza.If Robot’s reveries deepen the film’s emotional themes, Dog’s try-hard quests allow Berger to bring on delightful Jacques Tati-style comedy: take the soaring winter-sports slapstick with aggro anteaters for example, or Dog’s trippy bowling date with a scary snowman.Using the same clean 2D style throughout all these episodes keeps everything unified, as do different, poignant soundtrack versions of September, the musical thread connecting distant Dog and Robot throughout. The drifty, dream-punctuated second half might puzzle younger kids, though its universal themes and visual gags are perfectly all-ages appropriate. As is the film’s sweet, un-snarky tone, free from sly Futurama satire or Bojack Horseman raunch.Despite some nifty plot twists (including big bird love for Robot) the film does get too overlong and dawdling for its slender story. Still, paring back Dog and Robot’s wild or wistful quests would have denied us the wealth of fun sight gags and sly detail (posturing punks, turnstile-jumpers, the sad pop-pop bubbles of microwaving a single portion of mac and cheese) that Berger loves to linger on.But his biggest coup is not getting too hung up on the notion of ‘soulmates’; instead, he’s created a dream-filled movie that identifies emotional realities about change and personal growth. For both Dog and Robot, it’s not who you love, but how you love that matters.Robot Dreams is in UK cinemas now. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide to2024 movie release dates.More infoGenreAnimationMoreLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest►Most PopularNemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids” GamesRadar+ VerdictBerger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind.Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.Do androids really dream of electric sheep? Robot reveries turn out to be far more rich and soulful than Philip K. Dick suggested in Pablo Berger’s heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) Oscar-nominated animation about a lonely New York City dog and his robot buddy.Surprisingly, this vibrant, moving story about the very human need for friendship and connection has zero humans in it, because Dog is pining for a pal in a bustling, Zootropolis-style animal-packed 1980s Big Apple. His solitary life of Pong-for-one and ready meals is transformed when he literally makes a friend, laboriously constructing Robot from a TV-advertised kit.The second sizeable surprise is that this cleverly compassionate film also has no dialogue. Director Pablo Berger’s lush silent-cinema take on Snow White, 2012’sBlancanieves, proved he was a whiz at visual storytelling. But here he uses Chaplinesque physical comedy to show Dog and Robot’s growing happiness, as they roller-disco dizzyingly in Central Park to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, which becomes ‘their’ song, commemorating the month they met.Sweet, authentic facial expressions (strictly no stretchy cartoon shtick) signal Robot’s gleeful wonder at discovering the joy of skyscrapers, fat squelchy hotdogs and a groovy octopus bucket-drummer on the subway. Rather than Ron’s Gone Wrong AI-robot chaos, Dog and Robot’s happy hang-outs have a charming Brian and Charles vibe, as Robot’s childlike delight in NYC cements his bond with grateful Dog.Berger’s first animated outing (a passion-project adaptation of Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel) is also a deliciously detailed love letter to New York City, painting a note-perfect recreation of noisy, scuzzy ’80s streetlife for his funky, retro animal characters.It’s all rendered in glowing colors and 2D ‘clean line’ Tintin-like animation. But when an idyllic day of Rockaway Beach swimming rusts Robot’s joints and battery into immovability, New York bites back: the NYPD and City Hall force frantic Dog to leave him stranded on the firmly fenced-off beach till next summer.(Image credit: Wild Bunch)Forking cleverly here, the film gets more melancholy but also pleasingly ambitious, exploring Dog’s guilty attempts at rescue and time-filling hobbies, while diving headlong into Robot’s inner yearnings.As snow-covered Robot sinks into surreal worried-or-wacky dreams about a Dog reunion, the film’s world opens wide and gets experimental. Soon he (and we) are reeling at encounters with rabbit rotters in a rowboat, twisty fantasy escapes, and a fourth-wall turnaround whisking us into a wildWizard of Oztap-dancing extravaganza.If Robot’s reveries deepen the film’s emotional themes, Dog’s try-hard quests allow Berger to bring on delightful Jacques Tati-style comedy: take the soaring winter-sports slapstick with aggro anteaters for example, or Dog’s trippy bowling date with a scary snowman.Using the same clean 2D style throughout all these episodes keeps everything unified, as do different, poignant soundtrack versions of September, the musical thread connecting distant Dog and Robot throughout. The drifty, dream-punctuated second half might puzzle younger kids, though its universal themes and visual gags are perfectly all-ages appropriate. As is the film’s sweet, un-snarky tone, free from sly Futurama satire or Bojack Horseman raunch.Despite some nifty plot twists (including big bird love for Robot) the film does get too overlong and dawdling for its slender story. Still, paring back Dog and Robot’s wild or wistful quests would have denied us the wealth of fun sight gags and sly detail (posturing punks, turnstile-jumpers, the sad pop-pop bubbles of microwaving a single portion of mac and cheese) that Berger loves to linger on.But his biggest coup is not getting too hung up on the notion of ‘soulmates’; instead, he’s created a dream-filled movie that identifies emotional realities about change and personal growth. For both Dog and Robot, it’s not who you love, but how you love that matters.Robot Dreams is in UK cinemas now. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide to2024 movie release dates.More infoGenreAnimationMoreLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest►Most PopularNemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids” GamesRadar+ VerdictBerger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind. GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Berger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind. Berger’s beautiful, heartfelt dog-and-bot bromance is a charming, wordless wonder that puts you in a New York state of mind. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Do androids really dream of electric sheep? Robot reveries turn out to be far more rich and soulful than Philip K. Dick suggested in Pablo Berger’s heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) Oscar-nominated animation about a lonely New York City dog and his robot buddy.Surprisingly, this vibrant, moving story about the very human need for friendship and connection has zero humans in it, because Dog is pining for a pal in a bustling, Zootropolis-style animal-packed 1980s Big Apple. His solitary life of Pong-for-one and ready meals is transformed when he literally makes a friend, laboriously constructing Robot from a TV-advertised kit.The second sizeable surprise is that this cleverly compassionate film also has no dialogue. Director Pablo Berger’s lush silent-cinema take on Snow White, 2012’sBlancanieves, proved he was a whiz at visual storytelling. But here he uses Chaplinesque physical comedy to show Dog and Robot’s growing happiness, as they roller-disco dizzyingly in Central Park to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, which becomes ‘their’ song, commemorating the month they met.Sweet, authentic facial expressions (strictly no stretchy cartoon shtick) signal Robot’s gleeful wonder at discovering the joy of skyscrapers, fat squelchy hotdogs and a groovy octopus bucket-drummer on the subway. Rather than Ron’s Gone Wrong AI-robot chaos, Dog and Robot’s happy hang-outs have a charming Brian and Charles vibe, as Robot’s childlike delight in NYC cements his bond with grateful Dog.Berger’s first animated outing (a passion-project adaptation of Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel) is also a deliciously detailed love letter to New York City, painting a note-perfect recreation of noisy, scuzzy ’80s streetlife for his funky, retro animal characters.It’s all rendered in glowing colors and 2D ‘clean line’ Tintin-like animation. But when an idyllic day of Rockaway Beach swimming rusts Robot’s joints and battery into immovability, New York bites back: the NYPD and City Hall force frantic Dog to leave him stranded on the firmly fenced-off beach till next summer.(Image credit: Wild Bunch)Forking cleverly here, the film gets more melancholy but also pleasingly ambitious, exploring Dog’s guilty attempts at rescue and time-filling hobbies, while diving headlong into Robot’s inner yearnings.As snow-covered Robot sinks into surreal worried-or-wacky dreams about a Dog reunion, the film’s world opens wide and gets experimental. Soon he (and we) are reeling at encounters with rabbit rotters in a rowboat, twisty fantasy escapes, and a fourth-wall turnaround whisking us into a wildWizard of Oztap-dancing extravaganza.If Robot’s reveries deepen the film’s emotional themes, Dog’s try-hard quests allow Berger to bring on delightful Jacques Tati-style comedy: take the soaring winter-sports slapstick with aggro anteaters for example, or Dog’s trippy bowling date with a scary snowman.Using the same clean 2D style throughout all these episodes keeps everything unified, as do different, poignant soundtrack versions of September, the musical thread connecting distant Dog and Robot throughout. The drifty, dream-punctuated second half might puzzle younger kids, though its universal themes and visual gags are perfectly all-ages appropriate. As is the film’s sweet, un-snarky tone, free from sly Futurama satire or Bojack Horseman raunch.Despite some nifty plot twists (including big bird love for Robot) the film does get too overlong and dawdling for its slender story. Still, paring back Dog and Robot’s wild or wistful quests would have denied us the wealth of fun sight gags and sly detail (posturing punks, turnstile-jumpers, the sad pop-pop bubbles of microwaving a single portion of mac and cheese) that Berger loves to linger on.But his biggest coup is not getting too hung up on the notion of ‘soulmates’; instead, he’s created a dream-filled movie that identifies emotional realities about change and personal growth. For both Dog and Robot, it’s not who you love, but how you love that matters.Robot Dreams is in UK cinemas now. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide to2024 movie release dates. Do androids really dream of electric sheep? Robot reveries turn out to be far more rich and soulful than Philip K. Dick suggested in Pablo Berger’s heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) Oscar-nominated animation about a lonely New York City dog and his robot buddy. Surprisingly, this vibrant, moving story about the very human need for friendship and connection has zero humans in it, because Dog is pining for a pal in a bustling, Zootropolis-style animal-packed 1980s Big Apple. His solitary life of Pong-for-one and ready meals is transformed when he literally makes a friend, laboriously constructing Robot from a TV-advertised kit. The second sizeable surprise is that this cleverly compassionate film also has no dialogue. Director Pablo Berger’s lush silent-cinema take on Snow White, 2012’sBlancanieves, proved he was a whiz at visual storytelling. But here he uses Chaplinesque physical comedy to show Dog and Robot’s growing happiness, as they roller-disco dizzyingly in Central Park to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, which becomes ‘their’ song, commemorating the month they met. Sweet, authentic facial expressions (strictly no stretchy cartoon shtick) signal Robot’s gleeful wonder at discovering the joy of skyscrapers, fat squelchy hotdogs and a groovy octopus bucket-drummer on the subway. Rather than Ron’s Gone Wrong AI-robot chaos, Dog and Robot’s happy hang-outs have a charming Brian and Charles vibe, as Robot’s childlike delight in NYC cements his bond with grateful Dog. Berger’s first animated outing (a passion-project adaptation of Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel) is also a deliciously detailed love letter to New York City, painting a note-perfect recreation of noisy, scuzzy ’80s streetlife for his funky, retro animal characters. It’s all rendered in glowing colors and 2D ‘clean line’ Tintin-like animation. But when an idyllic day of Rockaway Beach swimming rusts Robot’s joints and battery into immovability, New York bites back: the NYPD and City Hall force frantic Dog to leave him stranded on the firmly fenced-off beach till next summer. (Image credit: Wild Bunch) Forking cleverly here, the film gets more melancholy but also pleasingly ambitious, exploring Dog’s guilty attempts at rescue and time-filling hobbies, while diving headlong into Robot’s inner yearnings. As snow-covered Robot sinks into surreal worried-or-wacky dreams about a Dog reunion, the film’s world opens wide and gets experimental. Soon he (and we) are reeling at encounters with rabbit rotters in a rowboat, twisty fantasy escapes, and a fourth-wall turnaround whisking us into a wildWizard of Oztap-dancing extravaganza. If Robot’s reveries deepen the film’s emotional themes, Dog’s try-hard quests allow Berger to bring on delightful Jacques Tati-style comedy: take the soaring winter-sports slapstick with aggro anteaters for example, or Dog’s trippy bowling date with a scary snowman. Using the same clean 2D style throughout all these episodes keeps everything unified, as do different, poignant soundtrack versions of September, the musical thread connecting distant Dog and Robot throughout. The drifty, dream-punctuated second half might puzzle younger kids, though its universal themes and visual gags are perfectly all-ages appropriate. As is the film’s sweet, un-snarky tone, free from sly Futurama satire or Bojack Horseman raunch. Despite some nifty plot twists (including big bird love for Robot) the film does get too overlong and dawdling for its slender story. Still, paring back Dog and Robot’s wild or wistful quests would have denied us the wealth of fun sight gags and sly detail (posturing punks, turnstile-jumpers, the sad pop-pop bubbles of microwaving a single portion of mac and cheese) that Berger loves to linger on. But his biggest coup is not getting too hung up on the notion of ‘soulmates’; instead, he’s created a dream-filled movie that identifies emotional realities about change and personal growth. For both Dog and Robot, it’s not who you love, but how you love that matters. Robot Dreams is in UK cinemas now. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide to2024 movie release dates. 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Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”