'Flow': The Animated Film That Defeats Disney

 GOLDEN GLOBES 2025

Just when it seemed like “cat content” had used up its nine lives, Flow, by the talented Gints Zilbalodis, bursts onto the cinematic scene with a hypnotic freshness and profound emotional depth. The film, recently awarded the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and a standout at festivals like Annecy, Cannes, and Seville, proves that animation remains a fertile ground for visual poetry and introspection.

I first saw it at the Seville Film Festival. It was one of those magical moments where, as the credits rolled, no one wanted to leave. I’ll admit, I entered the theater with some skepticism. But what Zilbalodis achieves here is something entirely different from “cat culture.” This is not a feline designed to rack up likes on social media; this is a character with soul. Its gaze, its movements, even its frustration and curiosity, are as human as we are.

Visually, Flow is a masterpiece. Zilbalodis employs an animation style that could be described as minimalist, but that would be an oversimplification. Every frame is composed with near-obsessive care. The camera seems to float, glide, and envelop you in a constant motion that mirrors the omnipresent water. At times, I felt as if I were inside the film—not as a spectator, but as a fellow passenger on that vessel. It was an almost physical experience, heightened by a soundtrack that doesn’t merely accompany but converses with the imagery.

The recognition Flow has received is more than well-deserved. The Grand Jury Prize in Seville, the Best Editing Award, and the Puerta América Award were just the beginning. Its recent victory at the Golden Globes, surpassing titans like Inside Out 2 and Moana 2, is a statement. In the words of Guillermo del Toro himself, “If I could make one wish for the future of animation, these images would be a magnificent and astounding beginning.”

Flow is not just a film; it’s a gift. A reminder that even amidst the noise and pace of modern life, we can still find beauty in silence. And that sometimes, to survive, all we need is to learn to flow.

If you get the chance, see it on the big screen. On January 25, Flow hits Spanish theaters, and it’s a release that will undoubtedly spark conversation in 2025 (as it already has). Don’t miss it.

@LOVACAINE