Robot Dreams is set in an alternate 1980s New York… you can tell it’s an alternate timeline because they have robots… and “they” are anthropomorphized animals. Presumably talking animals but the film only has a handful of spare words (plus some groovy tunes). I’m not sure why everyone is an animal… possible uprising? Possibly it doesn’t matter and its a cute cartoon so just go with it? Yeah, I’ll just go with it.

In this flick, “Dog” is very lonely so he buys a robot buddy… the happiest, most joyful robot ever. They become best good friends and love doing everything together, including a day at the beach. But the salt water causes the robot to lock up and they have to separate. They then go about their lives, dreaming of reconnecting, having everyday encounters, and generally just being alive.

This is a dearly charming film that gets so much emotional currency out of a simple robot smile. It is fun, clever, poignant, nostalgic, and heartfelt. It gets by through a simple drawing and animation style that won’t blow anyone away but is charming in its simplicity (it reminds me of Futurama… though the two properties have little else in common).

It also proves my whole theory: anteaters are kind of assholes.

The use of music is great, strategically deploying great 70s and 80s tunes, weaponized nostalgia, heat seekers aimed directly at our feels. I’ll probably never listen to Earth, Wind, and Fire’s September the same way again.

It was the music that finally tipped my emotional scale into a higher rating. The whole film gave me a wistful smile, but there’s a power moment of joy, remembrance, and nostalgia right near the end that finally fully got me. This is a charm offensive and you should check it out.

Score: 85