Movie review
December 6, 2023 · 102 min · NR · Spanish
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Robot Dreams.
Woke representation / casting
No forced diversity or identity signaling; animal/robot characters naturally fit the fantastical premise with no mismatches or visible emphasis.
Woke political dialogue
Completely wordless film with zero dialogue or explicit ideological statements.
Identity-driven story themes
Central narrative is universal friendship and loss; mild subtextual queer readings of the bond (welcomed by director) exist but remain incidental and non-central.
Western institutional / cultural critique
No modern activist critique of patriarchy, capitalism, systemic oppression, or Western institutions; purely personal emotional story.
Review
Robot Dreams is a wordless animated film about a dog's friendship with a mail-order robot that rusts and gets abandoned on a beach. The story centers on loneliness, separation, and moving on with zero dialogue or lectures. Queer readings of the Dog-Robot bond exist online and the director has said he's happy people see queer elements, but nothing in the actual narrative or visuals pushes identity themes, representation, or modern politics as central. No forced diversity, no activist dialogue, and no institutional critique appear. The film stays a simple fable about companionship and loss.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No backlash claiming the title is too woke or pushes identity agendas.
Creator track record context
Director supportive of queer interpretations in interviews but lacks history of overtly activist or identity-focused prior projects.
Production
