Dandelion’s Odyssey is a visually resplendent animated adventure in the same tenor and the same level of quality as Flow and Wall-E. Focusing on a quartet of unlikely, nonverbal heroes in way over their heads, Dandelion’s Odyssey is another great example of the emotional power and boundless creativity animated films can have when people start thinking outside the box.
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A nuclear apocalypse has broken out on Earth, destroying the ecosystem in the blink of an eye. Amid the chaos a bundle of dandelion seeds (also known as achenes) are shot into space. As seeds break off and tumble throughout the universe, four unlikely survivors make their way to a vegetation rich planet not too much unlike Earth, but one where things grow at an alarming rate of speed.
Each of the travelling seeds has its own distinct look and personality, and even though they only communicate through movement and the occasional noise, Dandelion’s Odyssey has a surprising amount of personality. One can sense the fear, confusion, stress, humour, and sadness experienced by these weary vagabonds, and as the film progresses, director and co-writer Momoko Seto will make viewers care so deeply about these little ones and their familial bond that they’ll be on the verge of tears at various points.
Employing a revolutionary new form of time lapse photography to help make the story come to life, Dandelion’s Odyssey takes familiar anthropomorphizing tropes from recent animation and makes them look vibrant and new. Hulking frogs, swelling tsunamis, sulfurous fungi, and even an elaborate looking potato boat all showcase Seto’s unique vision and attention to detail. It’s a simple scenario that takes the form of a microcosmic epic.
Saturday, September 6, 2025 – 6:50 pm – Scotiabank Theatre 7
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 – 4:30 pm – Scotiabank Theatre 12
