Robin (Bronte Carmichael) is a bird (yes, a robin) raised by mice. She sneaks and she steals with her little mouse family, but one day she realizes that she is not quite like them. When Robin meets an eccentric bird named Magpie (Richard E. Grant), she comes to realize that she has her own gifts to offer her family and the world. Robin Robin depicts Robin, with an aggressive cat, named Cat (Gillian Anderson), on her tail trying to find her way in the world and learn who she truly is.
Stop-motion is a tricky tricky business, it takes time, and the precision needed to make films like this work is incredible. Robin Robin feels flawless, it feels like the crew tasked with developing this film paid so close attention to the animation and the cinematography and they refused to settle for anything less than perfection. I’m impressed with the decision to use needle-felt rather than something that may be considered a little more standard, because it adds both to the detail of the animals on screen and the believability of the overall film. There’s certainly nothing wrong with claymation or other variations of stop-motion, but being able to see something that resembles fur or feathers is the perfect choice. It almost feels like you’re able to reach out and touch the creatures on screen, and the ability of the team behind Robin Robin to create realistic characters appeals to the senses of children and adults alike.
The purpose of Robin Robin, beyond entertainment, is to inform. It provides viewers, children specifically, with the knowledge that finding themselves and being true to who they are is the most important thing in the world. Sure, you can want to help others, but the fact is that you can’t help others until you first help yourself. Robin Robin talks a lot about self-worth and how appreciating who and what we are leads to a better existence. That message is conveyed clearly–in a way that even young children will be able to appreciate. Characters from all walks of life and backgrounds take the stage: adopted birds, handicapped birds, aggressive cats, and more. This wide-ranging cast of characters brings to life the reality of the world in which we live.
If I’m being honest, I’m not the biggest fan of Robin Robin’s soundtrack. The songs aren’t necessarily catchy, and they feel all around frumpy. However, they, too, play a role in the reception of the message present in Robin Robin. I really do believe that the sometimes silly nature of the songs will appeal to children–which is obviously the target audience, and they ultimately serve their purpose in the grand scheme of things.
Robin Robin aims to educate children on the ideas of self respect and finding oneself. It does these things wonderfully. From the beautiful needle-felt stop motion, to the whimsical characters, to the silly songs those characters sing–Robin Robin does everything that it can to reach children and express to them the importance of loving themselves. Through these many aspects children are exposed to something worthwhile, and parents (and other adults) are able to see the brilliance behind what directors Daniel Ojari and Michael Please bring to life.
Directed by Daniel Ojari & Michael Please.
Written by Daniel Ojari, Michael Please, & Sam Morrison.
Starring Bronte Carmichael, Richard E. Grant, Gillian Anderson, Adeel Akhtar, Amira Macey-Michael, Tom Pegler, Endeavour Clutterbuck, & Megan Harris.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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