Mariana Rekka
Put on your best suits, boys and girls, and let me hold the door for you because yes, it’s that special time of year again. While some of you may be confused, animation fans around the world know exactly what I’m talking about. No, Halloween is still a few weeks away, what I mean is that it’s time for the Gobelins graduation films! This year, the world’s leading animation school comes out swinging with Layla, a bold and provocative story about three 11-year-old boys who buy a sex robot and then have to decide what to do with it.
Can you still remember the vertigo you felt at that age? Where everyone and everything felt new? The narrative of Layla kicks off with Lucky, one of the three friends, deciding it’s time to “become a man” by losing his virginity to Layla, a sex robot. However, everything turns upside down when neither Lucky nor his two friends can bring themselves to use the robot for its intended purpose. This leaves them with one simple question: “What do we do with her now?” And that’s where their adventure begins.
Directed by Oscar Baron, Diego H. Blanco, Emma Ferréol, Rachel Gitlevich, Lucille Reynaud, and Narda Rodriguez, Layla transports its viewers back to the heart of childhood, a nostalgic journey that resonates deeply not only with the topic but with the clear influence of Genndy Tartakovsky. This homage to classics like Dexter’s Laboratory gives the short a sense of both familiarity and freshness. The young animators skillfully embrace the sharp edges and strong geometric designs that define Tartakovsky’s style, allowing the characters to portray exaggerated expressions and capture a spectrum of emotions that are only available to those in their early years.
Alongside a beautifully executed style, the filmmakers incorporate text interventions at carefully chosen moments to reinforce the emotional impact of their short. The text highlights the framing, without ever unbalancing it, helping the audience explore the naivety of a group who, in their quest to become adults, must now decide whether to fight against their true nature or to just be kids. What makes us in such a rush to grow up when we’re young? Those of us that are *ahem* past that age can attest—you regret it. Layla invites its viewers to ponder the eternal conflict of growing up, capturing that fleeting moment in childhood when the world feels limitless and allowing its audience a nostalgic break from adulthood in order to reminisce about their own youthful adventures.
Layla premiered on the Gobelin’s YouTube channel two days ago and has already eclipsed a quarter of a million views. As I mentioned, grad film season is its own international holiday! Kudos to the short’s six creators for ringing in the season with such a strong start— we can’t wait to see where these enthusiastic artists go next on their cinematic journeys, and look forward to their classmates’ films which will be released weekly in the coming months.