by Elena Bantista
On March 1, Director Gints Zilbalodis’ film Flow won an Oscar for the 2025 Best Animated Film. The hero in the movie is a black cat who doesn’t talk but still speaks volumes by his bold expressions and larger-than-life personality and adventures that jump off the screen. Notably, this simple yet mesmerizing film was made in Blender, a free animation application, which is usually regarded as a novice level technology. Ironically, this movie wasn’t solely reliant on technology to catapult people into this new dimension, which is what makes it so extremely impressive. By combining silent storytelling into the mix, it not only attained high regards from a broad audience, but it also reached Oscar recognition for the pinnacle creation.
At its core, Flow is an animated family-fantasy film that explores the mystery of existence. From the first frame, all the way through to the end, you escape into an unstoppable current that transports your mind, body and soul into another world. Flow follows the journey of a cat as it navigates different challenges and adapts to survive when it steps aboard a sailboat. The protagonist, along with his diverse friend group of other stranded animals, faces many obstacles. While the audience joins the protagonist on this journey, it causes a moment of self-reflection on the film’s core message of finding your place in the world. By design, the film appeals to the audience through astounding visuals ranging from raging waters of a thunderstorm to day-to-day boat life. Its vibrant animation style and authentic approach engages viewers who appreciate the magic of animation.
The movie overwhelmingly succeeds in appealing to those who value raw emotion versus a cartoon-like story that viewers may have expected in a cat-hero animation. Through the unique ability to stay true to real-life behaviors in their purest form, the cat delivers an unexpected, yet thrilling experience that’s drenched in emotional transparency. Notably, one of the key aspects of Flow that impressed me was the absence of dialogue, especially since the film was able to achieve such a high level of emotion. This artistic decision set it apart from most films because of the complete reliance on visual storytelling, which allowed the audience to connect with the characters on a deeper level. It leads the audience to focus on non-verbal expressions and interactions. These behaviors cultivated a personal connection that felt genuine and from the heart. I found myself deeply invested in animals’ personal struggles as I was also fully immersed in the subtle flow of their movement.
Flow is a visually riveting animation about a cat and his friends that succeeds in personally connecting with the audience through silent storytelling and raw emotion. The film’s heartfelt exploration of growth, survival and community is a unique and fascinating approach compared to other animated films. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its innovative approach to animation and storytelling. It’s currently available for streaming on Max and Prime Video.
