The Iron Giant is a traditionally animated tale of the friendship between a giant robot and a little boy. Set in 1957, a "meteor" crash lands into the ocean and through chance, a boy named Hogarth discovers that it is in actuality a giant robot. Mysterious in its own ways, having lost its memories, we never learn where it came from and what its purpose was. However, surprisingly, you feel it doesn't matter so much because the plot is about how the two develop a strong friendship. It is impressive that in such a short amount of time, the viewer feels as strongly about the two as they do themselves. As you watch the giant learn to speak discrete words, learn about death and other horrors of reality, every step of the journey feels like a treasured moment. It helps that the animation is top-notch. The villain is quite annoying and never redeems themselves though and is the weaker aspect of the film. It blends in humor at appropriate moments, making it natural and enjoyable. The Iron Giant is a touching film that will leave a smile on your face at the ending scene.
