Beautifully animated, heartfelt look at relationships. What appears to be cute and delightful is shown to be that, but more so; our principal characters, a dog and his robot companion, have complex inner lives and needs, that evolve over time.

They also go roller skating in Central Park to 'September'.

While this is one example of their sparky connection, the film also deftly establishes that maybe they are not quite right for each other (that overly squeezed hand!). They are separated through bizarre circumstance (I loved how heavily guarded the beach was), and while they pine for one other they also find a way to move on (with some regrets).

Having swooned at the visuals, and laughed at the antics, I was not expecting such a wrenching final act. It made me think of absent people, other times. In a lovely-sad way, this film gets at something universal; our emotional lives will always be complicated, and our shared experiences will always leave a legacy.

So it is for robots and dogs, so it is for all of us.

A wonderful and surprising film.

Note: Forget ChatGPT, whoever invents 'Pal' robots will make a trillion billion dollars.