Cryptozoo, the 2nd full-length animated feature from writer and director Dash Shaw, is “adult” animation; it features nudity, violence, grand themes and complex characters. It is a distinct film in its themes and animation style, fully imbued with Shaw’s unique sensibilities and inventiveness.
The film follows the protagonist Lauren Grey, voiced by Lake Bell, in the 1960s, as she tries to save the “cryptids” of the world. Cryptids are mythic creatures from stories throughout the ages; not imaginary at all but simply “extremely rare”. These cryptids exist in our world and are hunted down to be used and sold like prizes. Lauren wants to save all these beings and keep them in the “Cryptozoo.” With her associate Joan (Grace Zabriskie), she believes that the only way to save the cryptids is to keep them safe in a semi-free captivity, the entire enterprise funded by visitors who can observe the beings and grow to love them, instead of fear them, as she does. Throughout the film, we follow Lauren’s struggle to realize her dream, and to find a particular cryptid, Baku, who can eat dreams and nightmares and is also being hunted by the United States military (who wants to harness the Baku to eat the dreams of the counterculture).
The most distinct and immediate feature of this film is, of course, its animation style. Dash Shaw, himself an animator, works with Jane Samborski, the animation director in the film, and their approach to animation is startling. Their animated bodies appear bulky and powerful; characters’ faces drawn in bold strokes, with large bright eyes, full mouths, stark shadows or no shadowing at all. Actual bodies and faces are drawn with a hard minimalism, in a round and boxy lines. The bodies and creatures throughout the film move in a more stilted fashion; instead of many animations to smooth out the movements, Shaw allows the frames to be distinct. The sense of otherworldliness, of dislocation, of a bizarre other reality, is heightened. We feel like we are seeing the images within an artful, psychedelic comic book come to life.
Somehow, we get both a sense of otherworldliness but also familiarity as the film goes on. These characters may exist in another reality, but their emotions feel grounded in ours. Something in their stilted movements and bright expressions heightens the sense of drama and urgency. Lauren truly cares for the cryptids, and her determination is palpable. Along the way, we meet Phoebe (Angeliki Papoulia), a gorgon/Medusa who has to hide her true nature to exist in the world, as she starts working with Lauren to save the cryptids. We have a villain as well, a man obsessed with controlling the power of the cryptids and harnessing them for the military and government’s use.
The creatures themselves are drawn in beautiful detail, again with a distinct, bold style, but with a certain sense of magic; the creatures are colorful, graceful, and when they appear on screen they bring a sense of power and danger to the film. We are emotionally invested in their survival and well-being, and also frightened by their abilities. When the creatures face violence, we feel the loss of something sacred lost, and are horrified by man’s violence.
Overall, the film addresses many larger themes around capitalism, violence, man’s destructiveness towards and desire to control nature and animals, the dehumanization of the other. These themes are brought to life by our investment in the characters and cryptids. In particular, the character of Phoebe has the most moving and tragic arc; stuck between two worlds, she has to hide her true form, and her powers make her an enemy and a potential weapon.
The film’s pacing is where it sometimes falters. More time might have been spent understanding the Baku itself and its significance, as it is the main motivator for the characters. We follow Lauren and Phoebe and eventually return to the zoo for much of the film, where we have an extended period of violence and destruction that might be too frenetic and sustained. At times, the dreamy, surreal quality that works well for drawing us into the film can also slow the progression of the plot. However, the film remains engaging and quite emotionally affecting. It’s an experience like no other, and quite worth a watch.
Photo: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
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