Netflix has created a new vision of the world called The Electric State with the Russo Brothers directing:

It’s set in a retro world where robots have taken over from the humans, and then there are the underground robots who support the humans.

Basically, you have a story of a woman whose brother has been abducted by the bad guy into a linchpin due to his intellect, to complete the robot takeover, and her search for him. He shares her search as a robot, Cosmo, channeling the real boy.

The Electric State. (L to R) Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) and Keats (Chris Pratt) in The Electric State. Photo Credit: Paul Abell, ©2024 Netflix, Inc.

The film is based on the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag with a screenplay written by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

The adventure of her seeking out her flesh and blood brother, coupled with the characters met along the way, is almost a wizard of Oz type journey.
But it’s not.
The complexity of the human characters and their relationships to the comically branded bots, who are there to help them on the journey, becomes the threads of the movie.

Now, having most of the characters be CG, and created via incredibly talented mocap actors (mocap = motion capture suits with tracking dots all over them to be replaced in post) is a feat, and adding in an emotional quality with the interaction between them and the live actors will bring you into this world, and you’ll buy it all.

Millie Bobbie Brown, especially, has tender moments with her brother as bot, bringing the storyline to new levels.

The Electric State. Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) with Cosmo (voiced by Alan Tudyk) in The Electric State. ™/© 2024 Netflix. Used with permission

Chris Pratt as the “good guy/scoundrel”, brings his charm we’ve seen in his more recent roles in the Jurassic series.

The Electric State. (L to R) Colonel Bradbury (Giancarlo Esposito) and Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci) in The Electric State. ™/© 2024 Netflix. Used with permission

Stanley Tucci as the evil manipulator, couldn’t be better cast. Do all actors love a bad guy part?
Giancarlo Esposito is a guarantee for a great performance, and having him perform mainly as part of a CG armor, illustrates why he is a consummate performer. Oscar Winner Ke Huy Quan rounds out the human talent, in a pivotal backstory role.

The voice actors are stellar, and I’ll hold off naming them as you will have fun guessing the talent as you hear familiar voices.

OK, let’s get to the technical aspects.
The combination of live action and animation in this film breaks a barrier of connection.
With an incredible collaboration between the directors, VFX supervisor, DP, and designers, they have built a world bringing you into a seamless story of an adventure and search, and emotional connection.
Shot in only 84 days, Production designers Dennis Gassner and Richard L. Johnson and the production design team constructed more than 100 sets for the film over the course
of two-plus years.
Many of the film’s robots were designed by the production design team, and the VFX supervisor Matthew Butler, with his team, animated them in a true to life way.

The Director of Photography, Stephen Windon, comes with a major list of credits, as you can see via the link. An incredible cinematic achievement, as the combination between live actors and people in mocap suits, or animated, brings all of the skills to ensure a seamless storytelling environment.

This was shot with an Alexa s35, with Atlas Orion Anamorphic lenses, and mainly shot with one camera.
.
Most if this was shot in an abandoned mall in Atlanta with a major battle scene shot outdoors with the luck of having overcast light saving the need for huge lighting packages.

One of the main practical, or real props, was the Planters Mr. Peanut Mobile.

The Electric State. ™/© 2024 Netflix. Used with permission

When the Mr. Peanut character is introduced, it’s an immediate call back to a brand you know and love, and adding in the real Peanut Mobile, or NUTmobile, is a touch of authenticity that will just make you smile!

Actually, all throughout this move you will get your memory bank touched, and tapped, bringing you even closer to the story.
And if you are too young for those references, this is a family friendly movie that is accessible to all.

Overall, the challenge of engaging an audience into a story with so many CG characters, is massive.
They cast right. MBB does an incredible job.

There is one fun thing I will share: apparently Stanley Tucci had Pasta Fridays every week, where he would share his amazing culinary skills with the filmmakers during the production!

That’s the way to work on a film!