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This film explains the cycle of life and death in such a gentle way, that it all makes sense.

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Doggy Poo

Review by Honey Thunder

Stop Motion Korean Short Film

Company: Central Park Media

Running Time: 30 Minutes

Region: 1

Rated:G (ages 3 and up)

EXTERNAL EXAM

Shortly after Doggy Poo is "born", he discovers that he's disgusting and "the worst kind of poo there is".

Thus he begins his journey in life to find meaning and purpose in his existence. On his journey, he meets different beings, some gentle, some not, that provide him with wisdom and experience.

Will he ever find the purpose he so desperately longs for?

DVD VISION TEST

VIDEO: Stunning. The image quality is excellent. There are no noticeable flaws, all the motion is fluid.

AUDIO: The audio is 5.1, and is consistent in both the English and Korean versions. There is a noticeable dropout of the background music at the 16 minutes 7 seconds in the "Making of Doggy Poo" extra for about one second.

EDITS: The Korean version differs only in language from the American version.

EXTRAS: Loaded with extras. Included are photo set, behind the scenes galleries as well as the Korean Pilot and US Trailer. There is also a brief write up about the author of Doggy Poo as well as alternate angle story boards. There is no Korean language option on the Story board extra. Finally, there is "The Making of Doggie Poo". While this extra runs a little longer than the actual feature, it's worthwhile.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: Don't be fooled. The cute anthropomorphic creatures you meet tackle the daunting question of "What is the meaning of Life?" Although the story is geared to the youngest of viewers, the simplicity of the answers will challenge even the most intellectually astute. This is a very deep and moving story.

ACTING: Unfortunately, the credits do not include a list of the names of the Korean actors, so I cannot give praise where praise is due. Both the English and Korean actresses that voice Doggy Poo sound exactly the same in tone and spirit. They play Doggy Poo as a lonely and naive soul, longing for the meaning of his existence. When his new friend Leaf has go, the heart break is palpable. The rest of the English actors closely follow the Korean ones.

The only difference between the two groups is the way Leaf was cast. In the Korean version, Leaf is a man, if not an older boy. In the English reading, Leaf sounds either like a young boy or girl. Full of wisdom, the age of the Korean portrayal feels more appropriate. Yet, the tenderness of the English Leaf voice fits well with the character. They are different readings, but both versions are appropriate.

FAN SERVICE: This film is based on the beloved children's book. That is a close to fan service you will find here.

FINAL EXAM

Have you ever lain in bed and asked yourself "Why has "God" made me?"

"Doggy Poo" is an exploration of that age old question. This film explains the cycle of life and death in such a gentle way, that it all makes sense. It's no one's fault that we will all someday die. It's just the way things are. This concept is truly HUGE. Especially the way it is presented to its target audience, children. Grief and loss aren't hidden from the viewer, each aspect is presented openly and gives the viewer a loving space where acceptance can take place. Instead of introducing the concept of death to a child via the loss of a beloved pet or another family member, Doggy Poo does it in a loving and warm way.

Death isn't the only loss introduced. Loss of expectation, loss of contact with dear friends and family, and the loss of preconceived notions of "self" are all addressed. These are all forms of loss that the adult audience of "Doggy Poo" is too well acquainted with. Finished with college, starting a new career, single and out on their own or newly married with children, facing life without direction or a clue as to what's next in life is nerve racking at best. The concept of death isn't the struggle, it's the angst ridden quest for purpose and meaning of existence that dogs many of us. "Doggie Poo" offers comfort and wisdom with the knowledge that even though you may not know what it is, you do have a beautiful purpose for existing, and one day you will know what that is.

Apart from the soothing guidance through the journey of loss and discovery, there is another strikingly magical aspect of Doggy Poo. Clearly evident in the elegant simple beauty, is the love of the story and for the entire project felt by all of those involved in bringing Doggy Poo to life. Normally I don't enjoy "Making of..." extras on any DVD because I like to stay in the magic of the film. In this case, "The Making of Doggy Poo" really shows the love of the work of everyone involved. This feeling was especially apparent in the interview with soundtrack composer Yiruma. His love for "Doggy Poo" simply radiates from him: in his voice, his body language, and most incredibly evident: his eyes. Initially, I thought the soundtrack was a little too precious and he was trying just a little too hard to elicit emotion. After Hearing Yiruma speak, I haven't been able to stop humming or whistling the score. Yiruma's honesty and unabashed love gave me a whole new respect for him and his work.

Doggy Poo is really beautiful, lean and innocent. It makes us realize what we are, and we are going. Once you watch it, you will remember its lesson for the rest of your life.

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