Kontakt

Obviously the main thing that the viewer notices about Vladimir Tarasov's "Kontakt" is the "Godfather" love theme (called "Speak Softly Love"). But what really caught my eye is that the animation looks like the animation in "Yellow Submarine". The main character even looks like the cartoon version of John Lennon in that movie, and the alien shapes itself in a pair of boots that look like the kinky boot beasts (that try to stomp on the submarine).

Of course, I'm sure that this is a pure coincidence. The main thing about this short is that it's a good cartoon. The alien has one of the most interesting looks that I've ever seen in popular culture.

"Kontakt" is the first non-series-related thing that I've decided to review on IMDb. I've been _rating_ some non-series-related things, sure, but as I've been pretty universally strongly disliking them and cutting my time with them short, I wasn't going to be writing a review for one. Finally, though, here's a thing that I didn't absolutely hate, so I ought to write a review... Thing is, the only reason why I didn't hate it is that it's pretty brief and its problems don't have the time to pile up quite as much.

The short miraculously manages to be very boring even in that runtime, but when it's not boring, it tends to be unpleasant and unsightly to look at, so pick your poison, I guess. The only thing I liked was the much-praised alien design. Yeah, it's cool, I like this psychedelic slug-thing. No point in wasting your time to see it, though.

Really liked the concept for 'Contact', which sounded very interesting and different. Vladimir Tarasov very quickly fascinated me and what has been seen of his work has been great, 1988's 'The Path' being a major standout which has really stood out among all the science fiction animations seen in uniqueness. His style is very imaginative and quite bold and one can never accuse him of playing it too safe. Soyuzmultfilm were responsible for many gems and have yet to see a dud.

'Contact' is far from a dud and is closer to being a gem. Have seen better from Soyuzmultfilm, but almost everything so great about the studio is here and almost everything works. 'Contact' is not quite as good, as inventive or as ambitious as 'The Path', but it absolutely shows why Tarasov is/was such an interesting animation director and does so well at doing something fresh with the old theme of unlikely friendship. Of the two, it's perhaps a little more accessible.

So much works here, almost everything in fact. The animation has a more Western-looking style compared to other Tarasov animations and also than most of Soyuzmultfilm's output, and it was done in a bold way. It's wonderfully colourful, the blues and greens for instance almost beautifully piercing and the attention to detail is far from simplistic while not trying to do too much. The alien character design is one that won't be forgotten in a hurry and personally have never seen an alien character design quite like the one here in 'Contact'.

The music is also very lively, such as the jazzy vibe in the chase sequence (a well animated and fun one at that). Really loved the idea of the two unlikely friends communicating through music, which did resonate actually with me being somebody that has communicated with some people through music. "Speak Softly Love" is beautiful. 'Contact' is wordless, but again like with for instance 1984's 'The Lion and the Bull' this is a benefit and this is a scenario where dialogue would have felt intrusive and detract from the mood.

Which is a very charming and good-natured one, a difference from the dark moodiness and surreal one of 'The Path'. The two lead characters are so easy to like and identify with and their relationship plays a large part in 'Contact's' appeal. So adorable and touching and it was hard to not feel uplifited at the time.

Only the slightly vague message of freedom disappoints a little.

In summary, wonderful. 9/10.