Movie Review

'Isle of Dogs': Wes Anderson animation is delightful, droll & deep

After all of Japan's dogs are deported to Trash Island, a little boy sets off to rescue his furry friend in this animated adventure story that's also a carefully-observed social critique

24 June 2018 - 00:00 By tymon smith

Director Wes Anderson has the kind of cult following that makes for divisive discussions at your local hipster communal-table craft brewery - you either love him unconditionally or else his droll, highly stylised films infuriate you to the point of wanting to chop off your waiter's top-knot with your steak knife.
I like to think that I'm not a hipster but I'm decidedly a committed fan of Anderson's work.
His new film, Isle of Dogs, is his second venture into stop-motion animation, and while there's plenty to commend, it's not without a few cultural missteps.
Following his acclaimed, endearing and painstaking stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale Fantastic Mr Fox in 2009, Isle of Dogs is conceived by the director in collaboration with Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman and Japanese DJ and sometime actor Kunichi Nomura, who also contributes voice talents.
The story is set in the near future in the fictional Japanese megalopolis of Megasaki where, thanks to an outbreak of "snout fever" that threatens to break across the species barrier, Mayor Kobayashi (Nomura) has banished all dogs in the city to Trash Island.
WATCH | The trailer for Isle of Dogs..

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