At this point everyone should be familiar with the story of God flooding the earth. Well, what would really happen during the flood? How would the water rise, the animals react, and who would survive this surreal disaster? When the water rises and consumes the Earth, who would remain after it retreats and leaves our planet changed forever?
Flow was animated in Blender, sound designed, and story boarded by Gints Zilbalodis. Born in April 1994, parented by a painter and a sculptor, Zilbalodis found movie making as a way to express himself. He grew up in Latvia which had no animation school and so he decided to teach himself animation, music composition, sound-design, and story-making for films. With him having been self-taught, he is phenomenal with his talent. Just one look at his film Away and you’d be sold on his style. This was also his first project where he worked with others to make the film and it got multiple rewards. It’s truly a watch deserving of its reputation.
Green grass, tall trees, and a flowing river with a reflection of big yellow eyes glinting in the sunlight. We’re introduced to a wistful forest that looks so comfy and lush that it makes you almost want to go hiking…almost. A little slim black cat with round yellow eyes is introduced to us via the water’ s reflection. This is beautiful in the way they give us hints to the cat’s personality. It peers and stares at its reflection in the water with curiosity. The slightest sound and the cat jumps before going to hide as soon as the dogs run up. Our protagonist is curious, cautious, and alert. They don’t let down their guard but at the same time are fascinated by the things around it.
A group of dogs chase the cat away from the river for a while until the dogs lose the cat and run past it. The cat peeks out its head and suddenly the dogs run back but they ignore the cat entirely. They run by and shortly after a stampede of deer follows suit. The cat is disturbed by this after dodging both and turns to see why they were running. In just a moment we hear water running. Sounds of water get louder and louder as if a tsunami was charging towards them, but that’s silly. Water can’t do anything like that this far inland. That is, until the wave comes over the hill and floods the forest. The cat is swept away and panics to find land. They grip a branch and gasp for air just barely staying above the rising and rushing water. The branch holds them, until one of the dogs tries to do the same thing and grab the branch. The branch snaps, the dog and cat are sent spiraling into the water, until they drag themselves out on a bank of a newly created river.
From here on out the water rises, the dog and cat learn to bond, and more ways are found to survive this disaster. Watch Flow to see the full journey of our cat that learns to not only swim, but ride along the waves. An unlikely group of animals, a terrible flood of the entire world, and some strange heavenly power interfering with the skies. Flow is an animation masterpiece that deserves to be experienced.
