I was sad to have missed Flow during its limited run at our local theater, but I finally caught it on MAX when it came to streaming. If you’re unfamiliar with Flow, it’s a 2024 animated film directed by Gints Zilbalodis and written by Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža. The story follows the adventures of a cat and its fellow animal companions as they find their world suddenly overwhelmed by a biblical-like flood. Very quickly, the cat and its fellow travelers must survive together against increasingly insurmountable odds.

Unlike most animated films of our era, Flow is essentially a silent movie, with no forced dialogue. For the most part, the cat simply behaves like a cat. For those who might be a little tired of Disney, DreamWorks, and Pixar films, this could be a refreshing break from wisecracking animal antics. I love those other films, but I found this approach refreshing. Early on, I wondered what voices would work for each animal, but very quickly, I dropped that thought and simply vibed with the film.

That said, there are moments where the animals behave in ways that might seem out of character—particularly a stork-like bird and a capybara, who have some of the most unusual actions. Still, it never felt distracting or immersion-breaking. Plus, very early on, it’s clear that this isn’t Earth as we know it—if it even is Earth at all—so who’s to say what’s normal in this world?

Flow (Credit: UFO Distribution)

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Flow is its animation, which my friend aptly described as both beautiful and a bit ugly at the same time. The landscapes and scenery are stunning—I’d happily watch a film just made up of its incredibly lush backgrounds. The “ugly” comes with the primary characters, whose animation style makes them resemble second- or third-generation game graphics. It’s noticeable but never a deal-breaker, and once again, it quickly faded from my thoughts as the film went on.

Since the animals don’t talk, the sound design and score play a crucial role in bringing the film together. I’ve never felt particularly qualified to discuss sound design, but I do believe I can recognize good sound when I hear it, and Flow excels in this regard. The score by Zilbalodis and Rihards Zaļupe beautifully accompanies the action, heightening it when necessary and stepping back when appropriate.

Overall, I was quite happy with Flow, and I understand why it has generated so much hype. I wouldn’t be surprised if we soon find ourselves referring to Flow as the Academy Award-winning feature for Best Animated Film. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see if that prediction holds true.