#dash shaw

SYNOPSIS: Cryptozookeepers struggle to capture a baku, a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature. A Cryptid expert has been hired by the military to track down and capture these elusive creatures so they can be exploited for their military potential. Lauren Grey, a Cryptid hunter who works for the zoo, begins to wonder if they should display these rare beasts in the confines of a zoo, or if these mythical creatures should remain hidden and unknown.

REVIEW: I was raised on Disney Animation. In 1977 I saw Ralph Bakshi’s “Wizards” and my whole world changed. In the 1990’s my friends and I became devotees of Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation. We reconnected with some animated shorts we had encountered in college and were exposed to so many new filmmakers. Of course we were big fans of “Yellow Submarine,” which we had the pleasure to watch in these very same small arthouse cinemas that offered the many installments of Spike & Mike’s. From the goofy, social commentary, cerebral or political, I cultivated a diverse appreciation for the potential and power of animation.

Over the last few decades, there has been a decline, almost a loss, of the gritty hand drawn animation style. Many are computer generated, or computers are used to clean up the work of the hand drawn work. Also, the stories seem less fantastical as the films are directed towards children and pre-teens, with a large emphasis on licensing and merchandising. Some of them are cool, such as “The Incredibles,” but there are almost no adult animated shorts, much less features.

Dash Shaw’s CRYPTOZOO is a film that stands on the shoulders and pays homage to those films of the 70’s and 80’s in both it’s narrative and look. Shaw, a visionary comic book writer, artist and filmmaker crafts a dreamlike story of opposing sides on different quests to secure these mythological creatures. The images are this raw, hallucinatory style that at times feel like “Yellow Submarine,” minus the musical numbers. There are some classic creatures and some new hybrids that are a mesmerizing mix of design and color.

I really enjoyed the score by John Carroll Kirby. It is not your typical animated score that overly supports the action in the film. It adds substance to the themes and enhances the appearance of the cryptids. He crafts a variety of musical styles and themes that give an earthiness to the visuals and narratives. It adds another dream-like magical element to the film.

The visuals are supported by a classic, universal story of humanity and its place in nature. Powerful as ever, it focuses on the character of Lauren Gray, who is in partnership with Joan, who founded the CRYPTOZOO. Her nemesis Nick shares a similar background, however he views these cryptids as dangerous, while Lauren and Joan feel if people were exposed to them they would be more accepting and less fearful. When Lauren meets a psychic, who predicts what is to come, the medium asks Lauren, “Don’t somethings need to remain hidden?” to which Lauren responds, “That is how they become lost.” The very unique element of Shaw’s tale is that the zoo and the people in charge are mostly female. So there is the added element of the father figure vs. the mother figure in their different philosophies to reside over nature. In the film’s climax he presents a compelling argument as to what the ramifications of the control can take, regardless of positive or negative. He even injects an Eve-like character that stumbles upon the zoo and becomes a catalyst for the story’s climax. He presents a complex narrative when it comes to the feminine through the actions of Lauren, Joan, and the Eve-like character that is interesting in today’s socio-political climate.

From the animation to the narrative, Dash Shaw’s CRYPTOZOO is a refreshing, hypnotic and adult animated parable that is a delight. That it is rough and raw in its style is sure to make it endearing to many animation fans who grew up with those animated films, such as those that appeared under the banner of MTV Animation. You can feel the passion of the filmmakers in every frame and it would be a damn shame if CRYPTOZOO was not nominated for, and won, several awards this season.

CAST (voices): Lake Bell, Zoe Kazan, Michael Cera, Louisa Krause, Peter Stormare, Thomas Jay Ryan, Emily Davis, Irene Muscara, Grace Zabriskie and Angeliki Papoulia CREW: Director/Screenplay - Dash Shaw;Producers - Tyler Davidson, Kyle Martin, Jane Samborski, Bill Way and William G. Way; Score - John Carroll Kirby; Editors - Alex Abrahams and Lance Edmands; Animation Director - Jane Samborski; Lead Animator - Emily Wolver; Sound Designer - Ryan M. Price. OFFICIAL: www.magpictures.com/cryptozoo FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/cryptozoofilm TWITTER: twitter.com/cryptozoofilm TRAILER: https://youtu.be/bAQLmea2ocg RELEASE DATE: Everywhere August 20th, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)