The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act

CinemaSerf

This is honest upfront about what it is: parts eight and the grand finale of a long running television series and if you haven't seen the previous episodes, this isn't going to make a great deal of sense. Barring a thirty seconds recap and an opening scene that reminded me of Norman McLaren's line-based artwork, that is correct and so for much of the rest of this I had only a developing clue as to what was going on. The gist appears to be that "Caine" - an animated and slightly menacing set of dentures bedecked in a circus-master's costume - is holding some characters captive in his nether realm where he tries to keep them entertained but without them ever having any hope of returning to the human world from which they originated. What follows sees each of those given a few moments in the digital sun as we start to understand a little of their characteristics and of what drove them to seek refuge in what turned out to be this purgatorial existance. Each has a story to tell, and gradually they learn that only by working together and by being honest about themselves can they ever hope break the cycle. The quality of the animation is pristine, but that's what computers do so I wasn't so impressed by that. What it does offer us, though, is an interesting observation of introspection and modern-day isolation driven by an obsessive use of technology that alienates rather than engages. It ultimately extols the benefits of honesty and inter-reliance and of course, there is a clear message for bullies too amongst this brightly coloured and quickly paced film. There's a tremendous amount of imagination in play here, and though there is far too much dialogue throughout, there is more to this than I initially expected. If you are going to see it in a cinema, though, it is probably best to watch the earlier programmes first.