Terrific Animated Take on 1950's Sci Fi

Rating: 8/10 (12 December 2005)

Unlike most folks I know I really like Pete Townsend's "Iron Giant" album. It inspired me to get the Ted Hughes' book and read it to my kids, who really liked it.
The animation in the movie is terrific (except for the faces, which are distractingly bland, especially the kid).
There was clearly a dig at Disney by opening with an ocean storm as most Disney animation starts with that (i.e. "Little Mermaid" and "Tarzan," etc.) or maybe animators just like doing storms.
This is done very much like "Day the Earth Stood Still," a throw-back to old '50's sci fi films with a dash of "The X Files," including a satire of Fox Mulder's character. There's references kids won't get, like the "Duck and Cover" cartoons, Sputnik and general Cold War paranoia, which I remember quite well.
Nice that there's actually some sympathetic adults in this, especially the sculptor/junk yard dealer where the Giant hangs out.
But I did miss Townsend's music, even if they bought him off with a producer credit.
(originally written 8/22/1999)