Lost Ollie

I never read the book and just saw the trailer and thought that it might be something similar to Toy Story franchise. And yeah there's some of it that actually reminds you of Toy Story and a bit of Homeward Bound but Lost Ollie is its own thing. And boy did it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I feel if you have a similar experience this show will punch the gut more. I have an Ollie of my own though I never physically lost it but I went through what Billy experienced... the last episode just made me wish I could have the same moment... I was just bawling my heart out by the end of this show.

Anyway this has some dark moments to it. Not at all light hearted and easy fun if that is what you're looking for. Now I was already predicting what could happen, it's not like there's much to do to make some mind boggling twist which for this type of show I don't think is really necessary. It's predictable but it delivered what it needed.

It's the typical slow-paced show so this might feel boring to some. It cruises you to the stages per episode as you unravel the backstory bit by bit. I quite liked the stories of the other main characters featured here as well. They had some depth to them. Not giving a 10 because there's some glaring awkward scenes and acting that didn't deliver well. Some moments were still too dim even though they gave some lighting to soften it up.

The star of this show is the CG animation. The details and animation on Ollie and the rest is just superb. They're expressive but still bound by how much toys can scrunch their faces and how they move so they feel like actual talking walking toys and not a drawing popped in the scene.

Also Gina Rodriguez. Her scenes really packed a punch.

Amazing !! Ok like finally something to justify Netflix price hikes. Also ummm how is this not a huge Franchise right now?? Well maybe it will be, idk.....limited series (thats my only complaint) This reminds me of the first time i saw the original toy story but way better. Guys if you want to show your lady you have emotions this one will pull them tears out of ya.

Very few movies or shows have touched me emotionally as much as Lost Ollie. It is a dear, sweet, tender, and beautiful show about life, death, pain, happiness, friendship, love, and loss.

Life is cruel, and life isn't always all sunshine and rainbows. This movie shows how cruel the world can be, but it also shows that If we persevere and we keep love and hope in our hearts... we can find happiness with the ones that we love.

I think we would all be better people, and the world in general would be a much happier place if there were more shows like this.

Even though there are a few very dark and disturbing parts, I do feel like everyone should watch this! (As a kid from the 80s; I survived so-called "children's" movies like The Brave Little Toaster and Return to Oz, but kids were different back then). So parents beware!!!

I usually just dole out stars and look around at reviews, but this is on another level. Superb skill from all the actors. Rich music & color. Writing that tugs on your soul. The immersive live action animation is literally seamless. They should all be immensely proud of this. Get a box of tissues ready you'll probably need it. Just breathtaking. To the top of the lightest light down to the pit of darkness. It's a rollercoaster of high quality showmanship put in a neat little package to be enjoyed through the ages.

Behind the landscapes of "Lost Ollie" lies a serious background with various emotions centered around loss, home, betrayal and friendship. The four-part Netflix miniseries at first glance may seem simple but it is done pretty well with depth and you can judge by the prism of WS Merwin's opening quote "Your absence has gone through me Like thread through a needle. Everything I do is stitched with its color." The main plot line revolves around Ollie (bringer of peace) who with the help of Zozo, Rosy and a Map reconstructs his memory and prowls the streets in search of his best friend Billy. The film goes on a quest intertwined with the flashbacks, tragic events, without making them adults only or overtly comical keeping in mind the TV-PG 7+ rating. The first two episodes strongly leans towards relationships and the character introductions and apart from obvious theme of loss, this is first and foremost a story about the process of grief and overcoming it.

My favorite is the 3rd and 4th episode, i Loved the Bali Hai introduction as Zozo dances with Nina against the background of a fair, with inanimate toys as it begins to rain - accompanied by an amazing score, it will definitely put a sincere smile of joy as the sequence is filmed so beautifully. Right after this the tone of the series changes as it moves into a bleak territory, it reveals how the difficult fates of Zozo, Ollie, Rosy are closely connected with each other. On the other hand, Zozo really wants to settle a pending account with the past and it really gets interesting with the connections that are revealed. By the way, bleak doesn't mean it plunges into despondency and depression. It makes no sense to tell further, because there is a mix of emotions and timeline in the good sense of the word.

As for the cons, there aren't many except for a little acting, staging problems in few scenes. Also, it seemed the soundtrack could have been better catering to all ages, but this is a purely subjective opinion.

In closing, this is another pleasant surprise from Netflix after The House (2022), Bogdan Boner: Egzorcysta (2020), Kotaru Lives Alone (2022) and The Summit of the Gods (2021). I know many will draw comparison to The Velveteen Rabbit, Sweet Tooth, Toy Story and Where the Wild Things Are. But trust me, in the balance between loss, tragedy and love of life lies the simplicity of Lost Ollie. For young viewers, this mini-series is full of adventures, enveloped with mystery, friendship that will be fascinating. Adults will draw parallels to the incidents that we have encountered in life as it explores the very structure of the human emotions. This will be a good watch with family, friends or if you have little couch time for yourself, it will be worth the time.