Love, Death + Robots is a series of 18 short films exploring these three subjects in various combinations. Season One is currently running on Netflix.
Those of you who may remember, I am a big fan of short films. So, why wouldn’t I embrace a series that is comprised of short films. Love, Death + Robots is the perfect series for someone like myself. Each story is unique, often told through animation, whether it be CGI, Cell Animation or a merger of the two. In at least one film, real actors are used with the animation. In others, it is almost impossible to believe that the characters are animated. That is how good the CGI can be.
Some are humorous. Some are devastating. Some are just downright scary. All are worth viewing.
I’m not going to go through all eighteen episodes. But I will highlight my personal favorites, as well as those that are incredible.
When the Yogurt Took Over
Scientists try to make yogurt sentient. Sounds crazy but it works. The yogurt sets about helping mankind improve, as long as it follows their instructions to the letter. And for this, all they want is…Ohio. Inventive, often silly, but very entertaining. Definitely one of the top five of the group.
Alternate Histories
Imagine you could have an app that could show you how history would turn out it something major happened to alter the known timeline. In this case, they demonstrate six possible scenarios of how history would change if Hitler was killed in 1908. His deaths range from being beaten in a brawl to being suffocated in gelatin. This is one that will have you laughing out loud.
Beyond the Aquila Rift
A glitch in the transport of spaceship and its crew put it millions of miles off course to a space station on the outer edge of the galaxy. And that’s all I can tell you. You have to see this one for yourself.
Ice Age
This one has a real actor and actress in the story. The couple moves into a house whose former owner leaves a very old refrigerator behind. It still works. Oddly enough, the couple finds that an alternate civilization lives in the freezer. Then watch as that world moves forward. In its own way, this is a touching piece.
Fish Night
Two traveling salesmen are stuck in the middle of the desert. That night, the ghosts of prehistoric oceans appear and beckon to one of the men to join them. This one is absolutely beautiful. The film captures the majesty of what once was.
Three Robots
Three robotic friends take a tour of what mankind, now extinct, left behind. They try to get some insight into man and just what happened to them. Lots of sarcasm at each robot’s expense.
Sucker of Souls
Vampires. That is really all you need to know. Lots of blood, too, if that helps.
The Dump
A suit comes to evict a man from his home in the dump. Seems that a new high-rise condo is going in and they need the man and the dump removed. The owner weaves a tale to try to save his home. And it’s a whopper!
The Witness
A woman witnesses a murder and is chased through the city by the murderer. The action takes on a surreal edge. This is one of the most disorienting films I have seen in a long while. Pay attention!!
Now, this is just half of the series. The rest you’ll have to draw your own conclusions on.
I would like to point out a few areas that may need to be addressed. There is nudity, mostly female, which has raised the hackles of some reviewers. Some of it seems a necessary part of the story, as in Beyond the Aquila Rift and Good Hunting. Some adds very little, like in The Witness. Your mileage may vary.
There is a good number of explosions, whether it be in war, like Lucky 13 or Secret War, or for other reason, like in Suits and Blindspot. And gore, well yeah, it can sometimes flow, like in Soul Sucker and Shape-shifters.
One thing that can be said: You won’t be bored.
Given Netflix’s current rate of ridding itself of original programming, I would recommend you see this before it disappears.
