‘Cryptozoo’ proves that cartoons are for adults, too
Sundance Institute/Courtesy
Last Updated February 5, 2021
Grade: 4.0/5.0
Dash Shaw’s “Cryptozoo” is like “Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends” on acid and capitalism. Premiering as one of the only feature-length animated films at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, this movie is a hand-drawn dive into the world of cartoons meant primarily for adults. This film won the festival’s NEXT Innovator Award, and “innovative” is definitely one of many ways to describe the fever dream that is “Cryptozoo.”
“Cryptozoo” follows an ensemble of characters and their encounters with “cryptids,” or animals assumed to be mythical. The story’s creatures and humanoids griffins, a real Medusa, Dobby-esque trolls are ostracized from society, forced to live out their days in a special zoo that faces a threat of military takeover.
Nine standout Sundance films that we hope make it to streaming services soon
FacebookTwitterEmail Judas and the Black Messiah screened at the Sundance Film Festival and will premiere on HBO Max on Feb. 12.Glen Wilson
Like most everything in 2020 and 2021, the Sundance Film Festival looked very different.
The cancellation of in-person screenings in Park City, Utah undoubtedly disappointed regular attendees, but the show went on, with screenings at drive-ins across the country (including Fort Mason) as well as surprisingly affordable tickets to stream the individual films online. Most films don t have yet have details on distribution (aside from Judas and the Black Messiah coming to HBO Max on Feb. 12), but given their success, expect them to land on streaming services sometime in 2021 or early 2022. Here s nine of our favorites.