“Fun is just a word people made up to make danger sound more appealing!” –Orion
A young boy must overcome his deepest fears in Orion and the Dark, Sean Charmatz’s animated Netflix movie is a profound exploration of what it means to be afraid and how it can affect someone through time. Thankfully, Orion (Jacob Tremblay) didn’t have to go through the process alone, and his journey is one of the most beautiful animated features Netflix has ever worked on. Orion and the Dark isn’t only a short story for children to enjoy. It was made for people of all ages who might be struggling to find their place in the world, as evidenced by how universal the boy’s inner conflict can be.
Orion and the Dark follows the titular character as he tries to be less afraid of everything surrounding him. He can’t go on a school field trip because he fears the dangers that can be found there. He can’t stand up to his school bully due to what might happen, and he can’t even talk to the girl he likes. However, everything would quickly change thanks to the unpredictable friend he made during a fateful night when everyone was already asleep and waiting for the arrival of a new day.
When Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) introduces himself to Orion, the boy is naturally afraid of the enormous magical being standing before him, even if the entity tries to be as friendly as possible. However, the central duo of Orion and the Dark quickly prove why they’re so entertaining to watch, with their different opinions on life allowing viewers to question what it means to be alive. Charlie Kaufman’s dialogue allows existential thoughts to be at the centre of the animated film without it feeling like it was dumbed down for the youngest members of the audience.
The chemistry between Orion and Dark is the movie’s soul, even after it’s explained that the entire story exists for the titular character’s family to teach the young not to be afraid of the wonderful possibilities life has to offer. After all, without the courage to take things a step further, Orion would’ve never met his wife. But even if Orion and Dark take care of their friendship over the course of the film, they’re joined by a gang of colourful characters who make sure nature works appropriately at night.
Dark’s crew includes Sweet Dreams (Angela Bassett), Sleep (Natasia Demetriou), Unexplained Noises (Golda Rosheuvel) and Insomnia (Nat Faxon) as they all try to let everyone around the world enjoy a night of rest and relaxation. The supporting cast of Orion and the Dark complements the two lead performances very well. The concept of this wonderful team travelling around throughout the planet while bringing the night cycle to humanity lets younger viewers know that even things that might look bad at first can have a gorgeous purpose. Even if Dark and the team have been friends for years, nothing compares to the things they go through once Orion is inserted into the equation.
The animation style used in the development of Orion and the Dark is very pleasant to look at, with the characters’ designs not blending into the environment, giving the story’s participants a chance to express their personalities through their body language. The size difference between Orion and Dark was also a beautiful example of how big fears can look when someone doesn’t know how to confront them. At the end of the day, the voice performances, production design and writing come together to deliver one of Netflix’s best animated productions.
With incredibly charismatic voice performances and a charming story, Orion and the Dark is a beautiful tale for the entire family to enjoy. The film mixes creative visuals with an engaging narrative about a young boy who believes he’s not strong enough to face the real world. Fortunately for him, Orion meets the friends who’ll guide him through the difficult journey., and audiences get to enjoy an unforgettable ride alongside lovable characters. The magic of Orion and the Dark doesn’t take long to grab anyone’s attention once the main characters are introduced, setting the stage for this beautiful adventure.
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