Kid Koala’s Space Cadet

Good authors are often imitated. Ray Bradbury was a great author, who is still getting ripped-off over ten years after his death. It has already happened twice this year. Ostensibly, Klara and the Sun was adapted from a Kazuo Ishiguro novel and this film is based on the director’s graphic novel, but both are heavily “indebted” to Bradbury’s story “I Sing the Body Electric,” which was already adapted as a Twilight Zone episode in 1962. To his credit Kid Koala (a.k.a. Eric San) also adds an interesting space-faring adventure in Space Cadet, which opens this Friday in theaters.

Tragically, astronaut Stella Astridia died during a mission, but her daughter Celeste was not left alone. She has largely been raised by her unnamed guardian robot, who bears a slight resemblance to Rosie on the Jetsons. Celeste’s guardian does not talk much. Technically, nobody does, because Space Cadet is entirely dialogue-free. However, we can tell from her memory banks just how much she cares about young Astridia.

Eventually, Astridia graduates from the academy and leaves on her first 6-month mission to explore strange new worlds, but it takes an unexpectedly dangerous turn. Meanwhile, Celeste’s guardian misses her dearly. Unfortunately, he aging tech also starts catching up with her.

It is more than safe to say Space Cadet greatly parallels the Bradbury story. Nevertheless, it is still incredibly touching. The lack of dialogue gives it a Tati-esque poignancy that is quite arresting. Yet, Astridia’s misadventures in space are also surprisingly surreal. Consequently, Space Cadet represents a much larger canvas than other films that “build” on “Body Electric,” including the acutely sensitive Robot and Frank.

In fact, Kid Koala’s animation is genuinely charming. Kid Koala and screenwriter Mylene Chollet patiently establish their two primary characters and their surrogate parenting relationship. This is a very sweet coming-of-age story that takes on classic science fiction dimensions.

Space Cadet is a refreshingly subtle film in many ways, including the director’s minimalist score. (That might disappoint fans of his electronica DJ performances, but it well suits the film.) It is endearing and visually stylish, but it probably owes Bradbury at least a “thank you” in the acknowledgements. Highly recommended for fans of sophisticated animation, Space Cadet opens this Friday (11/13) in theaters, including the AMC Empire in New York.