The Red Turtle is an 80-minute-long, animated fantasy drama film directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit. It is a co-production between Studio Ghibli and Wild Bunch and was released in 2016. The film follows a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and meets a giant red female turtle.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Release Date | 2016 |
Runtime | 80 minutes |
Director | Michaël Dudok de Wit |
Genre | Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
Studio | Studio Ghibli |
Rating | PG |
What You'll Learn
The Red Turtle is an animated fantasy drama film
The film premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 2016 and was later released in the United States on 20 January 2017. It has a run time of 80 minutes and is rated PG for some thematic elements and peril.
The Red Turtle tells the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and meets a giant red female turtle. The man, set adrift by a storm, wakes up on a beach and discovers that he is on an island with plenty of fresh water, fruit, and a dense bamboo forest. After several failed attempts to build a raft and escape the island, he discovers that his efforts are being thwarted by the giant red turtle. One evening, he sees the turtle crawling up the beach and, in anger, hits it with a bamboo stick, causing its death. The next day, he finds a red-haired woman lying unconscious inside the turtle's shell and the two fall in love.
The couple has a son, who grows up exploring the island and swimming with the sea turtles. One day, a tsunami hits the island, destroying most of the bamboo forest and separating the family. After the tsunami recedes, the young man searches for his parents and eventually finds them, rescuing his father who is clinging to a large bamboo tree. The family cleans up the wreckage and burns the dead bamboo, and a few years later, the young man sets off on his own, swimming away with a group of green sea turtles.
The Red Turtle received critical acclaim for its beautiful animation, rich narrative, and evocative musical score. It was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film at the 89th Academy Awards and has a rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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It was directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit
The 2016 animated fantasy drama film "The Red Turtle" was directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit, who co-wrote the film with French screenwriter Pascale Ferran. The film is an international co-production between the Japanese anime company Studio Ghibli and several French companies, including Wild Bunch and Belvision.
"The Red Turtle" tells the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and meets a giant red female turtle. The film is dialogue-less, relying solely on its visuals and atmospheric music to convey emotions and tell the story. This artistic choice adds to the feeling of isolation and emphasizes the gorgeous score.
The film has received critical acclaim, with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 86 out of 100 rating on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". It was also nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
De Wit's imaginative and uncompromising vision, combined with Studio Ghibli's creative excellence, resulted in a meditative film that explores themes such as loneliness, the human race's reliance on nature, love, and the cycle of life. The animation style is simple yet elegant, with meticulously detailed backgrounds and bold, ethereal colours. The music complements the storytelling, adding impact to the wide range of emotions conveyed in the film.
The film's origin can be traced back to 2008 when Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval visited the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli in Tokyo. Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki showed Maraval the animated short film "Father and Daughter" (2000), written and directed by de Wit, and expressed his interest in collaborating with the Dutch animator on a feature film. Initially uninterested, de Wit changed his mind upon learning of Miyazaki's desire to work with him.
The film has no dialogue
The 2016 film "The Red Turtle" is a dialogue-free, animated fantasy drama film directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit. The film is a co-production between Studio Ghibli and Wild Bunch.
The story follows a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and meets a giant red female turtle. The man's attempts to escape the island on a bamboo raft are repeatedly thwarted by an unseen creature in the sea, which is later revealed to be the red turtle. In a fit of anger, the man hits the turtle with a bamboo stick, causing it to die. However, the turtle transforms into a red-haired woman, and the man falls in love with her. They have a son together, and the family lives happily on the island for many years.
The lack of dialogue in "The Red Turtle" serves to heighten the feeling of isolation and allows the audience to focus on the stunning visuals and evocative music. The film's meditative pace and open-ended narrative invite multiple interpretations, making it a rich and rewarding viewing experience.
One interpretation of the film is that it is a fable about the intrinsic splendour of nature and the circle of life. The turtle, a symbol of longevity, serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between life and death and the power of the landscape. The man's journey from desperation to surrender and adaptation reflects a broader message about the human need for companionship and our relationship with the natural world.
Another interpretation is that the film is a meditation on isolation and loneliness, as well as the combative nature of togetherness and community. The quiet and lack of verbal discourse create a sense of tranquility that is occasionally interrupted by moments of anfractuous harmony, reflecting the ups and downs of life.
The absence of dialogue also allows the film to transcend linguistic barriers and reach a universal audience. Each viewer can imbue the story with their own meanings, making it a deeply personal and intimate experience.
Overall, the lack of dialogue in "The Red Turtle" is a bold and effective choice that enhances the emotional impact and thematic depth of the film.
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The Red Turtle was co-produced by Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli
The Red Turtle is a co-production between Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli. The film was directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit, who also co-wrote the screenplay with French screenwriter Pascale Ferran. The idea for the film originated in 2008 when Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval visited the Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli, in Tokyo. There, Maraval met with Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, who showed him the animated short film "Father and Daughter" (2000), written and directed by de Wit. Miyazaki expressed his interest in collaborating with de Wit and asked Maraval to locate him.
Intrigued by the prospect of working with Studio Ghibli, de Wit agreed to the project. The screenplay was written by de Wit and Ferran, and the film was produced by Toshio Suzuki from Japan. The Red Turtle is a beautifully animated film with a unique and absorbing story. It is the first non-Japanese film from Studio Ghibli and stands as a testament to the studio's legacy.
The film tells the story of a man who becomes stranded on an uninhabited island after a storm. On the island, he discovers an abundance of natural resources and a dense bamboo forest. He attempts to build a raft to escape but is repeatedly thwarted by an unseen sea creature. Eventually, he discovers that the creature is a giant red female turtle. The man's anger towards the turtle transforms into remorse, and he tries to save her. However, it is too late, and the turtle dies. To his surprise, a red-haired woman emerges from the turtle's shell, and the two fall in love.
The film explores themes of survival, connection with nature, and the meaning of life. It is a meditative and graceful narrative that captures the beauty of the natural world and the emotional bond between humans and animals. With its stunning visuals and profound themes, The Red Turtle received critical acclaim and numerous awards nominations. It stands as a testament to the power of animation and storytelling, solidifying the reputation of both Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli as masters of their craft.
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It was released in 2016
The Red Turtle, an animated fantasy drama film, was released in 2016. It was directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit, who co-wrote the film with French screenwriter Pascale Ferran. The film is an international co-production between the Japanese anime company Studio Ghibli and several French companies, including Wild Bunch and Belvision.
The film premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2016, and was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film at the 89th Academy Awards. It was released in Japan on September 17, 2016, and later in the United States on January 20, 2017. The Red Turtle received critical acclaim, with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 86 out of 100 rating on Metacritic.
The film tells the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and encounters a giant red female turtle, which changes his life. The man attempts to build a raft and escape the island several times, but his plans are thwarted by the turtle, which destroys his raft. The man's journey and transformation throughout the film capture the essence of the overarching context with grace and intuition.
The Red Turtle is a visual feast, with stunning animation and a rich, atmospheric environment. The depth and texture of the film are remarkable, and the simple character designs express a wide range of emotions effectively. The lack of dialogue adds to the feeling of isolation and allows the audience to interpret the story in their own way. The music score also enhances the storytelling and emotions, creating a haunting atmosphere and whimsical energy.
The film's narrative has been interpreted in different ways, with some finding it satisfying and others, like Nia Edwards-Behi, feeling that it relied too much on the exploitation of nature and the feminine to tell a 'universal' story from a male perspective. Despite varying interpretations, The Red Turtle is an effective and thought-provoking story that is well worth watching.
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Frequently asked questions
The Red Turtle is 80 minutes long.
No, the film has no dialogue.
The Red Turtle is a fantasy drama about a man who becomes shipwrecked on an island and meets a giant red female turtle.
The film was directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit.