Children and weebs no doubt have their own picks for best animated feature film this year, but your host is still very much smitten with Jérémie Périn's Isaac Asimov inspired Mars Express (2023/24) as it's basically I, Robot (2004) without Will Smith being Will Smith in it. Also, it's probably because it's the only animated French sci-fi I've enjoyed (and most likely seen) since Ulysses 31 (1981-82).
The only real gripe I have with the film is the soundtrack is a little too generically Daft Punk.
Why couldn't Jérémie Périn incorporate some proper futuristic space sounds into his film like
anything off Brian Bennett's classic Voyage (A Journey Into Discoid Funk) EP? A timeless recording which has me picturing the human race drifting towards the furthest reaches of the cosmos without the need of any mind altering drugs.
The highlight off Bennett's EP is undoubtedly Solstice which would have been the perfect accompaniment to the epic finale in Périn's film. Solstice also happens to be a tried and tested staple of space funk as it's been sampled for decades on various rap songs. However, in more recent times, last weekend, to be more exact, your host heard it amongst all the Goblin choons, Lucio Fulci OSTs and S-Express in the background to my favourite film and television essayist Crab Apple's penultimate episode in his superb Amicus Films documentary.
Never heard the full song before 👀 Also a big fan of what Akinyele & one of his prostitute's did with it.
ReplyDeleteNono from Ulysses 31 released a single. It's in French and is absolute cack.
Robot Dreams is 2024's best animation as far as I'm concerned.
Really regret not coppin’ any of Akinyele’s albums after Vagina Diner.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely need to check out Robot Dreams.