A24 has released the trailer for The Legend of Ochi, their latest fantasy adventure film that feels like a genre-bending mishmash of E.T. and Gremlins. And yes, it is a more family-friendly offering than The Green Knight. Despite the positive reactions the teaser has received, some people online have accused the film, directed by Isaiah Saxon, of being partially created with AI. The filmmaker has since vehemently come out against these seemingly false claims about The Legend of Ochi.
Shortly after the trailer was released online, Saxon went to X/Twitter to respond to unfounded allegations about the film’s use of visual effects. The Legend of Ochi follows a young girl and a (very cute) mythical creature trying to make its way back home, brought to life using both practical puppets and CGI effects. For some, it seemed like the unexpected mix of filmmaking techniques felt unnatural and “AI generated.” The director revealed how exactly the low-budget production pulled off the ambitious concept without the use of AI.
“this film took 6 years to make on $10m budget. i personally made 200+ matte paintings. i’ve been making handmade films that feel painted since 2005. along came AI, and now we have crusaders like you sh***ing on people who’ve dedicated their life to craft.”
In another post, Saxon confirmed that “every shot of the baby ochi in the trailer is 100% animatronic puppet operated by 7 people live.” It should be noted that the director has a distinctly storied background in handcrafted animation, having founded the production company Encyclopedia Pictura in 2004. The studio created the music video for Björk’s “Wanderlust,” a truly sweeping combination of hand-drawn animation, puppetry, CGI, and other practical effects.
It’s truly unfortunate that some uninformed (and ignorant) folks online believed The Legend of Ochi used AI, a very controversial technology, simply because it had a distinctly human-made filmmaking style. Taking clear inspiration from Spielberg’s E.T., Ochi feels like a refreshing update on a premise that feeds into what audiences fell in love with before. Ochi is not only adorable, but the puppetry seems truly unique and innovative, especially because of its combination with digital effects. Above all, The Legend of Ochi seems like a film that is concerned with cultivating a relationship between the cute creature and its savior, who is a young girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel). Every stylistic choice that makes it stand out is meant to reinforce those important themes.
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The coming-of-age fantasy pic is a timeless movie that mixes contemporary and nostalgic imagery, recruiting a fresh crop of talent perfect for the setting. In addition to Helena Zengel, The Legend of Ochi stars Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard and Emily Watson. In addition to Encyclopedia Pictura, Traci Carlson and Richard Peete of Neighborhood Watch also produced the film. The official synopsis can be read below:
“In a remote northern village, a young girl, Yuri, is raised to never go outside after dark and to fear the reclusive forest creatures known as the ochi. When a baby ochi is left behind by its pack, she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to reunite it with its family.”
The Legend of Ochi
is set to hit theaters on February 28, 2025.