MPAA: TV-Y7.
Release Date: 02/02/24 [Netflix]
Genre: Animation. Adventure. Comedy.

Studio: Netflix.

THE PREMISE:

"A boy with an active imagination faces his fears on an unforgettable journey through the night with his new friend: a giant, smiling creature named Dark." 

OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

Orion and the Dark is Charlie Kaufman’s first foray into the world of family features, while maintaining his ideology through and through. Sean Charmatz’ directorial debut tackles the concept of a paranoid child, forced to overcome his biggest fear by befriending the entity itself. The latest Dreamworks animation is immensely charming, quirky and aimed to challenge younger audiences to face their fears head on. 

Jacob Tremblay’s Orion has a strong, complicated connection with Paul Walter Hauser’s portrayal of Dark. As stated by the character himself, fear of the darkness is a universal fear but only one of the many Orion possesses. Over a 24 hour journey, the pair travel the globe and grow a bond overnight. Surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast of anamorphic beings representing the attributes of nightfall: Sleep (Natasia Demetriou), Sweet Dreams (Angela Bassett), Insomnia (Nat Faxon), and Quiet (Aparna Nancheria), as well as its necessary rival - Light (Ike Barinholtz).

Orion and the Dark is yet another top notch animated entry added to the Netflix catalog in recent years, the first being the outstanding The Mitchells vs the Machines in 2021. Beautifully animated, showcasing the best of what Dreamworks can accomplish with vibrant, yet muted colors in the darkness. The story and the progress to get to the ending shot, provides a powerful message that all young viewers should experience to overcome their fears, especially that of the dark and provides a teaching moment for parents the necessity to continue passing traditions down.