-Written by Kyle Bain.
Seemingly Bound together by a piece of fabric, a man and a woman experience the highs and lows of love. As they walk through life, both both together and separate from one another, they find that their journey together is an important one, one that will shape them. Through animation and music, Bound is a story for everyone, both beautiful and heartfelt.
Working for Pixar, Writer-Director Masha Martyenko Ellsworth has played a role in projects such as Inside Out 2, Finding Dory, Up, and more–and she thoroughly understands animation. She knows how to bring it to life, how to evoke emotion through it, and how to create something breathtaking with it. I had high expectations going into Bound, anticipating that Ellsworth would be able to, yet again, create something wonderful through animation. I’ve been wrong in the past, but I was not wrong here. A beautifully unique take on animation, Bound journeys us through a love that tugs at your heartstrings, that reminds us of the importance of love and the power that it has over us.
Never before have I seen a film created entirely through embroidery, or at least animation that looks like embroidery. Bound is just that, however, and the attention to detail present in this short, three-minute film is simply impeccable. If you’ve ever seen a piece of embroidered art, it’s never crisp, blurred almost–and that’s what is present throughout the course of Bound. The detail in every stitch as characters and entire worlds are brought to life is so impressive, and interestingly immersive. To immerse an audience in a two-dimensional, embroidered world is sort of insane. Nothing moves around us, nothing jumps off of the screen–and yet this world is inviting.
My one issue with Bound is the fact that there is a lack of communication throughout. It took me a minute to figure out what was happening, to really break down the scenarios being depicted on screen. Without dialogue, subtitles, etc. it did become challenging in the beginning to fully grasp what was taking place. You can feel the intensity as a result of music playing from start to finish, but a little more explanation would have greatly benefitted the film. This really is my only complaint, but with the film only being just over three minutes long, taking over a minute to understand what’s happening in Bound is certainly a hindrance.
Condensed into a short, three-minute film, Bound is slow to start, but ultimately tells an effective story. The animation is unique, brilliant, some of the most well-developed that I’ve seen. The animation is what ultimately allows Bound to thrive, to appeal to viewers from start to finish. The attention to detail present in the animation is unlike anything that I’ve seen before, managing to immerse viewers in a touching tale for all ages. Bound is exactly what I hoped it would be: stunning.
Written & Directed by Masha Martyenko Ellsworth.
Starring Oleksandra Zabashta, Alejandro Andres Danylyszyn, Ola Herasymenko Olynyk, Taylor Hesskamp, Jennifer Rowekamp, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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