The program guide for the New York Asian Film Festival began its description of this film with the following statement: “If you’re still on the fence about whether animation is a genre or an art form, The Missing is here to smack some sense into you.” Those are bold words, but ones that should resonate with anyone tired of animation being considered “kids’ stuff.” An independently made feature and the first animated film to be submitted for the Best International Feature Oscar by the Philippines (which is how I first heard about it), The Missing is an example of animated drama that uses the medium, and its association with and capabilities for the fantastical, in masterful ways to discuss some very dark subject matter. While I don’t think it 100% works, this should still be one to keep an eye on.
Eric works as an animator, and for whatever reason can’t speak—he doesn’t have a mouth. He communicates with a whiteboard he hangs around his neck. One day, his mother asks him to check in on his uncle, only for him to find that he’s been dead for several days. At the same time, an alien from his past has returned to Earth in order to finish something that started years ago. In the wake of his uncle’s death, Eric begins losing more and more of himself—literally, yet nobody seems to notice any of the strange happenings going on with him. It’s up to his fellow animator Carlo (who he’s also in love with) to help Eric figure out the mystery of the alien and what’s happening to him.
The film is rotoscoped–shot in live-action and then animated over. While some may consider this a cheat to “actual” animation, the truth is that this was really the best way to tell the story. The combination of the realistic art style and fantastical imagery perfectly set the tone for what’s about to follow. Meanwhile, in contrast, Eric’s childhood flashbacks are presented in cartoony, crudely drawn 2D animation, which I also thought was fitting, especially with how it’s used in the premise.
While the plot description may make it sound like a sci-fi movie, it eventually becomes apparent that there’s more happening than what can be taken at face value. This is a much darker movie than it initially lets on, and I really appreciated the use of animation to tell that story in a way that makes it stand out. Granted, i didn’t feel it entirely worked well in execution, but by the film’s ending, a scene that will probably stay with me for a while, I understood what this movie was trying to do and I really admired it. Some of the film’s best images are when the animation and production mediums themselves actively revolt against the protagonist, in ways I don’t want to spoil, but also don’t think can be conveyed with words.
A great and creative example of animation being used to discuss difficult subject matter in ways that purely live-action films simply can’t, The Missing is a genre-defying drama that often must be seen to be believed. It’s not perfect, but still should be of strong interest to adult animation enthusiasts. With recent play on the festival circuit, I hope it gets more exposure soon, as well as US distribution. For now, though, all I can do is spread the word.
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