‘Flow’ Is A Beautiful, Deeply Creative Future Classic Of Animation 

Few films in recent memory have been bursting at the seams with creative energy like Flow, a Latvian animated film about a ragtag group of animals surviving in a world completely devoid of humans. What sets Flow apart from other animated films featuring a cast of adorable animals, though, is that there’s no dialogue whatsoever.

But thanks to phenomenal animation work by director Glints Zilbalodis and his small team of animators, this film manages to feel far more alive than any recent Disney or Pixar effort without ever needing a single spoken word. Relying entirely on visual language to tell its story and build an eerily beautiful world, Flow is an impeccably crafted work of art that’s destined to stand the test of time.

In this world without mankind, a lonesome black cat spends his days inside an abandoned house. All of a sudden, waters begin to rise, and the cat’s relatively comfortable life is upended. A sage capybara who’s commandeering a boat invites Cat aboard, and soon more animals join the crew. Joined by a lemur, a golden retriever and secretarybird, Cat learns how to survive and make friends in this changing world.

Flow’s control over cinematic language is nothing short of staggering. Though the animals “speak” to one another in a series of meows, barks and chitters, there’s never a point where you don’t process exactly what they’re feeling. Part of this comes down to the film’s painterly art style, which allows for these animals to feel hyper-expressive in a way that mainstream animation simply cannot. (Side note: Flow has some of the most beautiful sunsets on film in recent memory!)

Flow bursts with creativity

More impressive still is that Flow was animated entirely in Blender, a free-to-use piece of software that anybody can download. The project began solely with Zilbalodis after his first film Away, and it took five years to produce with a crew that eventually grew to around 50 creatives. Though it has a miniscule budget, Flow’s wealth of creative ideas and unique approach makes it one of the most refreshing animated films in years.

On top of its truly remarkable sense of craft, Flow’s narrative is simple yet delightfully effective. Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, the film does an incredible job of wordlessly creating connections between its eclectic crew of animals as they come together to form a sense of togetherness in this world seemingly hostile to non-aquatic animals.

Simply put, Flow is an immaculately crafted animated film that’s sure to become a modern classic. Though perhaps a little too frightening for the youngest of children, it’s a film with otherwise universal appeal thanks to an earnest sense of creativity and beauty at its core that’s sure to melt even the coldest, most dead heart.

★★★★½

Flow is in Australian cinemas from March 20th.