Robot Dreams
2023
***
Director: Pablo Berger
Cast:
A lonely dog buys a robot companion to escape his solitude. Dog and Robot form a deep friendship, but a day at the beach in salt water leaves Robot immobilised, and Dog is forced to leave him behind. Pablo Berger's 2D animation is visually charming, especially in its nostalgic depiction of 1980s New York City. The sweet but melancholic story, adapted from Sara Varon's 2007 graphic novel, explores love, loss, and the nature of friendship, and it all unfolds without dialogue. However, there is enough material for a 30-minute short, but the feature-length format makes the second half feel repetitive and dull.
