In his animated film We Are Aliens, writer-director Kohei Kadowaki tells the story of a brief but close friendship between two children, their subsequent falling out, and its repercussions as they grow into adulthood. It explores whether one seemingly insignificant event from childhood can ruin someone’s life forever.
The use of multiple perspectives and fragmented storytelling requires the viewer to put the pieces together. It also contributes to an overlong runtime. The themes of friendship, first love, bullying, and social anxiety are relatable and often moving the way they are presented here, but the overly dramatic narrative lessens the film’s impact.
The animation is truly beautiful and is what makes We Are Aliens worth watching despite some of its shortcomings.
