Birdboy: The Forgotten Children

Birdboy: The Forgotten Children is a 2015 Spanish animated dark fantasy drama film, originally titled "Psiconautas, los niños olvidados", directed by Alberto Vázquez and Pedro Rivero, based on a graphic novel by Vázquez. The film features the voice talents of Andrea Alzuri, Eba Ojanguren, Josu Cubero, among others.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future that has experienced a cataclysmic event, the film revolves around Birdboy, a tormented outcast, living in isolation, struggling with demons both real and ensued from destructive addiction. The entire society has been reduced to a wasteland full of abandoned structures, trash, and drug-induced violence, where everything is bleak and hopeless. But amidst this dark environ, the film sheds light on deep problems plaguing society and humanity.

While Birdboy battles his inner devastating darkness, a mouse called Dinki becomes pivotal to the plot. Dinki, a young girl along with her two friends, Sandra and 'Little Fox', are tired of the dire living conditions and wish for escape. They covertly plan to sail away from the island on a raft, scrupulously collecting scraps of junk to build it. However, here the raft becomes the epitome of childhood naivety and hopefulness, juxtaposing the stark reality embodied by Birdboy.

The story also underpins the pervasive drug abuse on this island, where 'happy pills' are an escape mechanism to cope with the gloomy surroundings and the overall sense of despair. These pills symbolize the complex issues surrounding drug addiction, abuse, and its broad societal implications.

What sets this film apart is its dark and mature undertones, the carefully orchestrated gloominess, which firmly sets it outside of typical children's fare. Despite being an animated movie, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children doesn't sugarcoat the harsh realities and reflects upon societal issues and inner human struggles unabashedly.

The world depicted in the film seems plagued by constant fear and paranoia, but the characters grapple with these struggles in their uniquely profound ways, including their interactions with each other. This confrontation of fear and the relentless pursuit of hope serve as constant themes throughout Birdboy: The Forgotten Children. The relentless struggle of the main characters against the grim reality continuously tugs at the audience's heartstrings, making them question the societal constructs and our inherent responses to them.

Visually striking, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children blends a distinctive art style with a grimly beautiful color palette. The animation in this film takes influence from various styles and sources and results in a visually unique and memorable film, merging the surreal with the harsh realism. The gloom of the island is beautifully captured through muted hues, dark shadows, and distorted wide-angle perspectives, creating an environment that mirrors the bleak narrative.

The film also features remarkable sound design, with the heightened use of unsettling noises and chilling silences complimenting the somber themes. The overall score is distinctively eerie, accentuating the intense emotional experiences of the ever-fighting characters, contributing to the eerie, uneasy atmosphere.

Birdboy: The Forgotten Children is a film that enthralls its viewers with its dark narrative, packed with several layers of socio-political commentary. It's a compelling dystopian tale, a thoughtful representation of lost innocence and societal decay, forlorn childhood dreams, and the irony of seeking solace in escape.

It is a film that demands to be seen and then seen again, to unpack the allegories and metaphors deftly woven into its plot. With staggering animation, somber yet touching narrative, and grim depictions of societal issues, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children is a bold, poignant tale that pushes the boundaries of animated films and makes it an unforgettable experience for its viewers.