INSPECTOR SUN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW

Spain, 2022, 88 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Ronnie Chien, Iain Batchelor.

Directed by Julio Soto Gurpide.

Here is a different animation film. The novelty of its characters can be an entertainment for children. And, the novelty of its characters may also offer some tantalising entertainment for adults.

While Inspector Sun like an Oriental Policeman, in fact he is. He is from Shanghai, 1934, which offers its own intriguing atmosphere and history. While he is related to the police chief, he has a knack of solving difficult cases although his fellow officers dismiss his success as his being lucky. And, the evidence of his character, his rather haughty attitude towards everyone else, his skill in finishing off sentiment is that other people are saying and receiving the plaudits for their ideas, he is not really an initially likeable character.

Coming back to the animation! This is not an Asian production. Rather, it is from a Spanish studio. The animation is very bright, colourful, a lot of action, a range of eccentric characters. And, while Inspector Sun is suspended because, though he captured the criminal, he lit a match which caused an extraordinary fireworks display and the destruction of the factory. He is off to America.

If this brief description has sounded attractive, what is next can be considered a considerable Spoiler. If you don’t mind the Spoiler, then read on.

This review has neglected to note that all the characters are insects, though there are some humans in the background just as there are insects in the background of human stories!).

So, all ranges of insects, and their being humorous caricatures of humans in their appearance, dress, style, remarks. In Wikipedia review states this is anthropomorphism.

Most of the action takes place on the most luxuriously interior design plane on its way to San Francisco, a mysterious death, lively wood-be apprentice detective, a master criminal, and an intriguing plot which can turn ordinary insects, cocooned, into a swarm of criminals. Which gives the opportunity for the plane swerving through the streets of San Francisco, flying towards the Golden Gate which is under construction…

So, a different animation, and with the voice of comedian Ronnie Chang as Inspector Sun.

(One of the writers is Rocco Pucillo, Pucillo in fact means flea!)                          

1. Animated entertainment? Younger audiences? Something different for older audiences?
2. A Spanish production, Spanish studio and style of animation, voice cast, English voice cast?
3. Style of animation, the different styles of insects, blend of realism and stylisation, human characters, costumes and decor, the period, Shanghai, the plane, San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge in construction? The musical score?
4. The focus on Inspector Sun, his relationship with the chief inspector, his reputation, -like rather than skill, his foppish style, dress, manner of speaking, taking advantages of situations? Interactions with the scorpion, his summaries, taking the words out of the mouth of the police, their hostility towards him? Self-confidence, confronting the scorpion, the match and the flame, turning the tables, the fireworks, the capture of the criminal and his imprisonment? Called to task, dismissed? His decision to go on a holiday?
5. Janie, lively, admiring Sun, wanting to be his assistant, her persistence, chatter, making him lose his flight, on board the flight to San Francisco, Stowaway, having to stay in his room, her words of admiration? The situation, the Black Widow and her husband, his death, the investigation?
6. The range of insects, the visualisation, voices, parallel to human behaviour? The flight, smuggling? The scorpion, the loyalty of the swarm? The creation of the swarm, the other insects, the power, in their cocoons, transformed?
7. The flight, the variety of characters, comic, serious, activities on-board?
8. The Inspector, the investigations, the captain and his self-assertion, the confrontations, the turbulence, the landing?
9. The scorpion, his swarm, swooping through the air, the plane going through the streets of San Francisco, Golden Gate, the confrontation, Janie and her interventions, everybody cocooned, including the Black Widow?
10. The final confrontation, in the air, the transformation of everybody back to normal?
11. Inspector Sun as comic, pompous, achieving?