“Teamwork makes the dream work,” and that’s the exact phrase you should use when talking about the partnership between Netflix and DreamWorks. They manage to pull off another animation wonder amidst Pixar’s downfall. Written by Charlie Kaufman, the film adapts a darker tone and is gaining mass love, so let’s discuss Orion and the Dark.
Plot-
Orion, a young boy with an overactive imagination, is plagued by nightly fears, especially of the darkness. One evening, his fear materializes into a goofy, friendly giant named Dark who whisks Orion away on a whirlwind adventure.
Soaring through starlit skies, they meet playful stars, mischievous shadows, and the wise Sandman. Dark unveils the magic hidden within the night, from fireflies’ dance to owls’ silent flight.
But when light and darkness clash, Orion faces a difficult choice, learning that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but accepting it and finding wonder even in the unknown.
This heartwarming journey shows Orion that the night holds unexpected beauty, friendship, and maybe even a cure for his biggest fear.
Cast-
Voice Actors- Jacob Tremblay, Colin Hanks, Paul Walter Hauser, Angela Bassett, Ike Barinholtz, Natasia Demetriou, Golda Rosheuvel, Nat Faxon, Aparna Nancherla, and Carla Gugino functioned as the major cast members. Performance wise, Jacob Tremblay did a great job playing the role of Young Orion and talking about Orion, the older version is voiced by the seasoned VA Colin Hanks.
Narrator-
Werner Herzog
Runtime-
1 hour 30 minutes
Platform-
Netflix (With subscription)
Genre-
Adventure. Comedy.
Opinion-
Now, let’s be honest, this is no Pinocchio, probably nowhere near the greatness of that adaptation. But, in terms of quality, Netflix recently isn’t disappointing when it comes to delivering animations.
The style is absolutely phenomenal; the dialogues and music, as you watch it, you will definitely appreciate. And some of the frames are nowhere less than a painting.
Now, the craft isn’t perfect, as some songs do look out of place, and some shots will seem a bit repetitive. However, it doesn’t take anything away from the good parts.
Besides that, the characters are paired with a good character arch and emotional element, making them more humane in the way they’re portrayed.
Stream Or Skip-
Don’t question whether it’s better; it certainly had the chance to shower in excellence. The film misses a few places, but it will be a good animation experience. So, our call is, STREAM IT.