With stop motion animation is often quickly thought of a youthful audience

With stop motion animation is often quickly thought of a youthful audience, but the time-consuming craft is also very suitable for an adult story. Not for nothing were special effects, such as those established by the animation technique in the past, the films of Ray Harryhausen. The puppets for Spanish animated film for adults, O Apostolo (the Apostle), were made by the same team that was responsible for the figures of Miffy and the recent Norwegian Solan and Ludvig. A Dutch company probably know the name Pedri Animation. Adjacent consider these three titles is clear that there are many forms and are especially numerous audiences for stop motion.

O Apostolo is based on the ancient legend of Santa Compaña ?? ?? from the region Galicia in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish autonomous region is famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela. The (Catholic) faith, therefore, occupies a prominent place in this grim tale about hope, despair and cursing. In the opening scene two criminals escape from a heavily guarded Spanish prison. They split up and the story then focuses on one of them, treasure hunter Ramón. In search of a hidden treasure, the criminal into the village where he essentially needs. But he must be careful about disclosing his identity and intentions and decides to disguise himself as a pilgrim. In the town, which seems to dominate the darkness adhere remarkable figures. Now the Lord has once foreign boarders.

The animation style of director and screenwriter Fernando Cortizo is remarkable and seems to have adapted to the native conversations. Especially the opening where the two criminals plot their own release, is full of dialogues. For the look of the characters was a good look at the actors they locutions. Cortizo seems not only to be on pretty pictures and rapid succession of events, but want to actually invest time in his characters. However, the criminal nature of Ramón disappears quickly into the background and his past seems ever less relevant. May be required to live with him, but it scrapes the sharp edges of the characters. The preachers of the faith ?? a very vain and luxurious fixed archbishop in particular ?? get there a lot worse off. Besides the mysterious story which treats us Cortizo has criticized the Catholic Church's main theme. It is therefore unfortunate that the bishop in question ultimately only operable to pull the spoke walked right plot.

O Apostolo nobody seems to be really reliable. During the first night in the village Ramón encounters mysterious practices, which he soon the consequences will experience personally. The local priest seems straight out of an old Dracula movie to be and is far from Integer. Cortizo gets his ghost story strength in the distinctive, weathered heads of his characters and large shadows cast on gray, lifeless buildings and venues reminiscent of the old horror films. It's almost a shame that the Archbishop in a modern car is driven around, making it timeless character is brought down. Despite the solid construction and excellent visual decoration the story of Cortizo doing ?? s first full-length animated film just a tad messy to. Even though clocks O Apostolo only eighty minutes, the distribution of character development, plot and themes what unbalanced launches. Cortizo had these elements can distribute better to prevent his directorial debut especially in the middle collapses and what the end is just too rushed. Despite this misplaced accents this is a particularly animated adventure which is difficult with whatever be compared.