Who doesn't like animation? Especially this kind of visualization, Project 77, is so cute. With Momo the dog, also cute, and his owner Mai, a punk kid with blue hair. Oh so kawaii.
What we thought of cute wasn't so beneath it. Project 77 is warrior robot complete with weapons, bells and whistles. Momo has anger issues and Mai is a growing teenager with Daddy issues. Its surprising that a lot of emotional and psychological things are in play here in an animated movie for such a short amount of time.
Although we essayed it here as something complicated, it was told to us in a rather nice way. We were prepared in the beginning by creating Mai's situation as to why she behaved like that and with the introduction of Project 77 in her life, everything changed, it may not be the change you hoped for but still the progression was subtle in most parts.
The story is told of earth at the time that people have relied on robots for even mundane things and that people interacted with them more than with each other. Sounds familiar right? But fast forward many years and people have their robots, like us now having our own smartphones.
We can't help but bring in the following movies in the fold just to make sense of the effect it had to us when we watched it. Project 77 is likened to the Baymax in Big Hero 6, with Mai being similar to Hiro there. Trying to use the robot to do certain things they thought that made them happy. Actually Project 77 is more like Sonny in I Robot for which its creator created him for a purpose, and that purpose has to be sought out during the entire film.
Since people have their own robots, similar to the movie I Robot, the main villain is (SPOILER ALERT) trying to re program these robots for an evil purpose.
Even if we have compared the plots to other movies, the film somehow was nicely written, with the story laden with lots of emotional and psychological baggage that you will feel for Mai, of her transformation, the love from a robot named Project 77, yes a robot that cares. A film nicely done you will be entertained from start to finish and picture the plot as something new.
A Netflix original movie. We love how this film played out. Truly a must watch if you ask us. Ready the tissues though as this animated film can touch your heart in ways you can't imagine.
