Pablo Berger manages to express so much with so little in his first animation film Robot Dreams.

Don’t be fooled by its appearance: underneath its air of a simple 2D animated film between a dog and his robot companion, Robot Dreams turns out to be a fabulous, charming and bittersweet story.

The word love story and friendship almost merge between Dog and Robot, sharing every moment of their daily lives together in 80s New York. The cosmopolitan of the city atmosphere shines through on screen, with its mix of activities, its Infinity and its gigantism. Pablo Berger delivers a true tribute to the city and its unique character, a colorful city that can only be shared by many. And that’s why Dog, bored and depressed in his apartment, decides to have a tailor-made companion delivered.

Like a child, Robot welcomes life with open arms and is a breath of fresh air for Dog, who sees his daily routine and life change for the better from one day to the next. That’s precisely why the change is all the more brutal after Robot gets stuck at the beach, blocked by salt seeping into his system. And the beach closes for the season, leaving our two friends stranded for several months.

While children will see Robot Dreams as a tale of two separated friends who must reunite, older children will see it as a tale of life. About how fate can separate us from our loved ones, and how, despite our encounters along the way, we always remember them. Pablo Berger puts remembrance at the heart of his story, through the dreams and hopes of our characters to one day meet again.

Never lacking in visual or comic ideas, Robot Dreams manages to convey its emotion and feelings without ever using dialogue. Instead, it uses glances, smiles and small movements. It’s actually quite fascinating to see Robot Dreams manage to do so much with so little. Every single element has its own importance, both visually and emotionally, and pushes the film’s psychological depth a little further. Characters come and go in Dog and Robot’s lives, each with varying degrees of importance, influence, disappointment and happiness. But the bond and memories of the two friends remain intact, no matter the distance.

It would be hard not to find beauty in Robot Dreams, whether in its animation, colors or emotional richness. Yet Pablo Berger seems to tell this story without any effort, grand finale or flamboyant animation style. A simple continuity of life doing things its own way.