Gustavo Steinberg, André Catoto, Gabriel Bitar are the creative geniuses that directed the film Tito and the Birds. This visually stunning Brazilian animation combines art and animation in a new and creative way, winning the audience’s hearts through the theatrical aspects from both Roald Dahl and Tim Burton. The film captures its audience through its uplifting message of hope and determination expressed through the symbolism of pigeons in the film.
The central premise follows Tito (voiced by Pedro Henrique), a young schoolboy who sought to recreate his scientist father’s (voiced by Matheus Nachtergaele) machine which could help translate the language of the birds to help stop the fear epidemic spreading through the country. The patients that catch this disease shrink into mute immobile lumps of rock. The idea that fear turns people essentially into rocks is an interesting idea, but, in a world where people rely on birds to save them from fear, it works.
This is an unusually candid political allegory for young audiences, tapping into the dangers of fake news, propaganda and social separatism that have granted power to extremist right-wing leaders from Bolsonaro to Trump.
As well as the story being a unique concept to watch unfold on screen, the visual component of the film makes it stand out against other animation films. The paint doesn’t seem to be dried which adds a layer of texture to the scene. The use of colours is used throughout the film with green colours associated with the fear disease while the orange/blue colours bring hope to the scene reflecting the fight against fear.
Written by Callum Elliss and Jennifer Klepczarek