The Red Turtle - Dir. Michael Dudok de Wit
Studio Ghibli sent animation director Michael Dudok de Wit an email with two questions: if they could distribute his short film Father and Daughter (2000) in Japan, and if he would make a feature film for them. Dudok de Wit replied answering the first question and saying he did not understand the second, as he was baffled and could not believe it. The film would go on to be produced by Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli, in association with Why Not Productions.
It’s worth noting that De Wit was a known director at this point, having won the prize for Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards for his short film Father and Daughter (2000). But with his debut feature film, Studio Ghibli we’re relying on a Director who had never made a feature length animation to uphold their long line of celebrated Films. Additionally this was the first non-Japanese produced Ghibli film, so they really were trusting him with a lot.
He didn’t disappoint and the film was eventually nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film for the 89th Academy Awards.
As an animator myself, I found the animation to be quite simple. There is little camera movement and I can’t help but wonder why; set shots are a strange thing to edit between and I felt that they jar with the pace of the film. Initially it felt slightly rudimental. I also wondered if it need to be a film, why not just a comic or a storybook, with such simple animation. But then again, there are keys things that would be amiss, music being a key one with a beautiful and moving score from Laurent Perez Del Mar, as well as the sense of scale that is created through carefully placed sound design. As the film carries on you grow familiar to the pace and the use of animation. It actually sets a quite compelling tone and makes the events that do happen all the more impactful.
I was astounded to read that there were only six animators working on this film, a gigantic achievement for 80 minutes worth of animation. There are so many clever details in the piece that add to the story, shadows become characters as you begin to watch their length to tell you the time of day. The sign of a good animated film is when you learn something you haven’t seen before. Nighttime is created perfectly, by using greyscale, I haven't seen anyone employ that technique, such a simple and effective stylistic decision.
It’s a very humbling and surreal feature, with quite a poignant messages at the heart of it: humans vs nature, the passing of time and love. It’s hard to make 80 minutes of animation engaging, but by keeping the story simple and true to it’s themes De Wit accomplishes this with ease.
If I'm honest, I don’t think it’s on the same level as other Studio Ghibli films but I do think it’s beautiful, moving and worthy of the attention it received.
7/10