Psychonauts, the Forgotten Children (2015)

[esteban²]

Psiconautas, los Niños Olvidados.

Psychonauts is an animated feature directed by Alberto Vazquez and Pedro Rivero, from the original graphic novel of the same title by Alberto Vazquez As a feature, is the culmination of a journey started with the short film 'Birdboy', also based on this graphic novel which was awarded with a Goya Award in 2012. 'Birdboy' was also shortlisted for the Oscar in its category and earned an extensive list of awards at national and international festivals.

Aimed at young and adult audiences, Psychonauts is an atypical work that it served of the typical iconography of cartoons series to tell an intense poetic and social story. In it, the struggle of its main characters, DINKY and BIRDBOY, trying to escape of the suffocating atmosphere that is breathed in the island where they live. A place that lost its entire splendor because of a terrible industrial accident The lack of job prospects, the family and social control to whom are perceived as different from the norm, the fondness for addictive substances or a pitiful environment is the field where the characters in this story are moving in which there is no lack of friendship, love and hope to find it elsewhere, a better future The protagonists become so real travelers in mind (Psychonauts) who live isolated past sensations or emotions to avoid facing reality.

Psychonauts is a strong history of contrasts, combining a friendly, minimalist aesthetic with an adult story with a significant burden of criticism of the society in which we live.

PSICONAUTAS - Trailer - YouTube

Doing well this year at festivals all over the world, no regular (US) release date yet.
Saw some clips of this and ... well, some disturbing stuff, if you ask me.

[Roonan]

Very misleading title (for those who know the game).

[esteban²]

Noticed that during my search for the trailer. Didn't know the game. But, it's the original title of the source material (graphic novel), so ... prepare for confusion.

[NegaScott128]

You could put the Spanish title as the header.

[esteban²]

I haven't seen that many Spanish animated productions either. And I should be ashamed 'Chico & Rita' still didn't make my checked out list, since I know some animators who worked on it. The one I want to see for almost ten years now, but never got the chance for, is 'Nocturna'. I'm in love with the (original) trailer and the animation style. But it's not available in any wAy, kinda sucks. I'm thinking the TV premiere will never happen.

Ps: Just noticed the 2007 release 'Nocturna' got a 2014 release in the US.

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by esteban²

Noticed that during my search for the trailer. Didn't know the game.

It's very good. Tim Schafer (from Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango) at his best.

[esteban²]

Yes, Zarafa! One I was very curious about, but forgot it completely. Thanks for the reminder.

I love animation in general, except for the 'cheap' computer animated of studios without any ambition other than making some money the easy way. But everything else, yes. As a young teenager I had this dream of being an illustrator or -perhaps- animator. And as a kid I wanted to make stop motion. Did that with my toys, hehe ... I guess it never went away. I'm very interested in ... everything animated, loving those fascinating artbooks. So yeah, indeed, when they have the balls to do interesting things through animation, we should support that.

[esteban²]

Glad to read you enjoyed it! Now it's even higher on my watch list ...

[esteban²]

A major animation festival is coming to Los Angeles for the first time in many years. The inaugural edition of Animation Is Film is set to to take place October 20-22 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theater in Hollywood. Besides screenings, the festival will also include red carpet premieres, filmmaker Q&As, receptions, both juried and audience awards, and other special events.

This movie is screening there.

[Ray_Rogers]

If it's not an animated adaptation of the video game, consider me not interested.