Netflix has released a new series compiled of animated short films. Produced by Tim Miller (Deadpool) and David Fincher (Fight Club), the series brings different animation styles and stories with a very mature nuance. With 18 episodes, some of them range as short as a YouTube ad, while others are about 20 minutes long. Unlike the animated anthology produced by the Wachowski brothers The Animatrix, LD&R’s stories are not connected to an overall plot, each short film however does have the similar themes of, well you guessed it… Love, death and robots.
The overly violent and mature themes coupled with sci-fi tropes are meant to shock and satisfy a certain audience that is pining for extreme animation, yet it’s difficult to believe that these short stories will stand out against anything you can find on the web. With the rise of Adult Swim and certainly original animated programs online, LD&R seems pretty late to the party. Certainly, the animation style in most of these episodes is impressive while others look like PS1 games. The plots however are filled with enough over sexed cyborgs, and homicidal pervs that would cause most to roll their eyes. Believe me, some of these episodes borderline soft-core porn productions.
Many episodes turn up to feed the lowest common denominator for the post millennial demographic. “Sonnie’s Edge” a story about futuristic beasts that are controlled and used in “galactic cockfights” is basically a bloodbath display, while “The Witness” parades a trippy cyberpunk getaway about a belle du jour running away from a murderer. “Beyond the Aquila Rift” is the least original episode (just skip it) where its basically a Skinemax production.
Along with the low points in the series, the few other episodes manage to not be so overwhelming with the dystopic vibe. “When the Yogurt Took Over” gives us an alternate reality where cultured bacteria evolves into a highly intelligence life form and tries to solve Earth’s economic crisis. “The Dump” provides some relief from the barrage of neon violence with a “Pixar-like” comfort about a man and his trash heap companion. There are still some violent scenes but compared to the other episodes, this one fares closest to a Paw Patrol episode.
Love, Death and Robots is simply a grab bag of some alright and some just entirely forgettable clips. If Netflix wants this series to become relevant, then it’s producers should focus on trimming the fat. Adult animation doesn’t have to be a vessel of violence and unfiltered sex. Mature themes and ideas can be expressed in a broader fashion, heck just look at all the incredible and independent animation around the world. A stockpile of extreme can only satisfy a limited audience and the focus should be more on quality rather than quantity.
Love, Death & Robots was released 3/15 on Netflix