A friend said Sara Varon (Chicago, 1971) only knew how to write happy stories, so ‘Robot dreams’ first comic bookThis illustrator and author of children’s books admitted in the American press a few years ago: “I had intended for it to have an unhappy ending.” This emotional and applauded story, starring a dog who buys a robot from a catalog and befriends it, was appreciated by people of all ages, and was published in Spain in 2007, with the help of Norma, although it could not reach Spain until 2022. Editorial on children’s label Astronave. Now he’s in the race the OscarWhere it competed for Best Animated FeatureThanks to the adaptation directed by the filmmaker from Bilbao Pablo Berger (“Snow White”, “Torrremolinos 73”).
Comic book recommended even by influential people at the time Oprah Winfrey, talking about loss and how to overcome it, friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation. Although it lacked humorous notes, some parents at the time found it very sad for their children that the dog and the robot lost contact after going to the beach together and the sea water played tricks on the metal parts. Android was made. Varon knew and was clear when he started the film that “the characters would not be reunited, even though he had no idea how it would end”: “Pets die. Friends move on. These things happen.”
‘Robot dreams’ as both comics and movies a silent, wordless story. Varon, a graduate of the New York School of Visual Arts who had only done illustrations until then, thought of him while walking his dog on the streets of New York and looking for ideas for an anthology of short stories about robots. He was getting ready for a friend. He eventually did not cooperate on this, but it grew until the first short story, eight pages long, was added (at the recommendation of an agent). 12 chapters, one for each month of the year Where the dog and the robot face their lives separately. The first misses him but is looking for new friends, while the second is anchored in the sands of the beach, dreaming of his lost friendship.
Varon assumes that “Pretty bad” at drawing people, they come out “ugly”. And this is the main reason for the characters in both ‘Robot Dreams’ and the majority of the characters that populate his other books. animals or anthropomorphic things (from cake to eggplant or chicken). There is another reason. In her opinion, “non-human characters are more relatable” and she doesn’t have to worry about their race, gender or age. Moreover, according to the artist, it made sense to choose a dog for “Robot dreams” because it was a faithful animal in a story about friendship.
I was impressed as a child Sesame Streetcartoons Jay Ward and his books Richard Scarry, and as an adult William Steig (‘Shrek!’)Varon likes comics over picture books because it allows him to “create a huge world” into which he can include “very funny” additional details, parallel stories, and secondary characters.
According to ‘The New York Times’, Varon is the author of “cute and unusual stories”. editor Mark Siegel From Macmillan’s comic imprint First Second Books, which isn’t afraid to bet on ‘Robot dreams’. She wasn’t the only person he fascinated. This silent story was so exciting Pablo Berger that the director stepped into the world of animation with the approval of the illustrator. After being recognized and awarded at the Sitges, Annecy and Philadelpia festivals European Film Award for best animated film, Forqué, three Feroz and two GoyaFrom Sunday to Monday, the next dawn will appear if it is crowned with an Oscar.