Ray Gunn Exists

Overview

The video offers an enthusiastic but conflicted look at Ray Gunn, Brad Bird’s long-gestating sci-fi project, revived from a script dating back to the ’90s. The narrator is thrilled that Bird finally got to make it and admires the trailer’s mid-century design, Art Deco architecture, noir lighting, careful framing, and distinctly old-fashioned “pew pew” laser-gun seriousness.

They argue that Bird’s animation has always had a strong sense of direction and staging, pointing to The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and especially the heightened retro style of Incredibles 2.

The Style—and the Concern

The trailer looks almost exactly as the narrator expected, and that is also the worry. They wonder whether Ray Gunn has a memorable story, emotional heart, or unusual hook beneath its gorgeous retro-futurist surface.

The aliens look playful and well-designed, but a green Martian and fish-like beings may not be enough to make the premise feel fresh. One character’s camera-aperture-shaped iris inspires more hope: perhaps it hints at a funny visual trait that will matter to the story.

Story Over Style

The essay’s central point is that strong direction and striking visuals matter, but they cannot replace a compelling story. Bird’s earlier work made familiar ideas feel inventive, and the narrator hopes Ray Gunn has that same spark rather than offering nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.

They also push back against people dismissing the film—or wishing it would fail—because it is not 2D. Such reactions, they argue, can pit animation fans against one another and undervalue artists’ work.

Final Thoughts

The narrator remains optimistic. They are glad Bird escaped what they call a “cinematic prison” to realize an old dream, and hope the film’s murder-mystery and noir elements add depth beyond its aesthetic.

Their plea to Bird is simple: the style is already there—now give it something meaningful to say.

Personalities Mentioned

Brad Bird, Damon Lindelof, Matt Reeves, and George Lucas.