27 Years Later, This 96%-Rated Masterpiece Is the Only Animation Every Kid & Adult Must Watch

In 1999, Brad Bird's The Iron Giant was a box office flop – the studio didn't know how to market the movie, audiences passed it by, and although critics praised it, they couldn't turn it into a hit.

Today, 27 years later, The Iron Giant looks even better: the dark subtext that was once hinted at has become eerily relevant, and the visuals remain timeless and captivating.

What Is 'The Iron Giant' About?

It is 1957, the height of the Cold War. Hogarth Hughes is a restless young man who lives with his mother in the town of Rockwell. One day, he sneaks off into the woods and discovers a huge alien robot.

The robot came from another planet and has lost its memory. Though the Iron Giant looks terrifying, he is not aggressive – he simply needs to be taught the rules. However, fearful of any anomalies, the government sends an agent to investigate.

'The Iron Giant' Is an Anti-War Parable Disguised as a Children's Animation

Hogarth shows the robot his favorite comic books: one is about Superman, an alien who protects people, the other is about the evil robot, who destroys everything around him.

Visually, the guest resembles the latter more – he's huge and metallic. However, the boy teaches him to be like Superman – kind and supportive.

This simple technique conveys the main idea that appearance and origin don't determine essence. Only the moral choice matters, and all the characters in The Iron Giant, from the junkyard owner to the general, must make it.

'The Iron Giant's Visual Style Was Ahead of Its Time, Influencing a Generation of Animators

Brad Bird and his team deliberately mixed styles: the 1950s town and human characters are drawn in the style of old animations, with bright colors and exaggerated features. In contrast, the Iron Giant is created using 3D animation to emphasize his otherworldly nature.

This contrast is rare even today, but in 1999, it was revolutionary. 25 years later, the same technique was used in The Wild Robot, where a 3D character was blended into a painted forest.

The Iron Giant didn't try to be modern, so it hasn't aged – it simply became a classic. The scene in which the characters encounter a deer in the forest and the robot contemplates death for the first time, as well as the final scene, are shots that stay with the viewer forever.

The Iron Giant is a movie for all ages – for children, it's a story about the friendship between a boy and a robot, and for adults, it's a parable about fear, intolerance, and choice.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Iron Giant'?

• The Iron Giant has 96% from critics and 90% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Iron Giant scored 4.3/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Iron Giant'?

The Iron Giant is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.