The Inventor is written and directed by Jim Capobianco and it is one of the biggest surprises I have seen this year. My theatre had a screening of this and I said, what the hell, and decided to give it a go. This is a stop-motion-style animated movie and it is an absolute work of art.
How to Download The Inventor
The Inventor was released on 15 September 2023. You can expect it to become available for download or streaming about three months after its release. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and check the availability. Additionally, check out other great stop-motion moves that we have reviewed, for example, Mary and Max, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, or Chicken Run.
The Movie Review
The movie is about Leonardo da Vinci, more specifically, the later years of his life. Da Vinci is in France and he is trying to find the meaning of life all the while dealing with the courts in France. I think that the story is something that can be appreciated by both kids and adults. Kids get a great and fun history lesson here and as an adult, the whole Da Vinci searching for the meaning of life thing was not lost on me at all.
Key Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | The Inventor |
| Director | Jim Capobianco |
| Release Date | 15 September 2023 |
| Download and Streaming | Expected availability for download/streaming around three months after release (approximately October 2023). |
| Main Genre | Stop-motion-style animated movie |
| Main Plot | The movie explores the later years of Leonardo da Vinci’s life in France as he seeks the meaning of life while dealing with the French courts. |
| Voices | Notable voice cast includes Stephen Fry as Leonardo Da Vinci, Marion Cotillard as Louise of Savoy, Daisy Ridley as Marguerite de Navarre, and Matt Berry as Pope Leo X. |
| Animation | The film features stunning stop-motion animation mixed with other styles, using captivating colors and designs that blend real history with fiction. |
| Target Audience | The movie is suitable for both kids and adults, offering a fun history lesson for children and exploring deeper themes for adults. |
| Reception | The Inventor is considered a hidden gem of the year, offering charm, wit, and emotion. |
Voices
The Inventor has a fantastic voice cast. Leonardo Da Vinci is voiced by Stephen Fry who is an absolute national treasure! However, as well as Stephen Fry, the rest of the voice cast is great too! We have Marion Cotillard as Louise of Savoy who has some great back-and-forth with Da Vinci. The Last Jedi, Daisy Ridley is great as Marguerite de Navarre and we also have Matt Berry voicing Pope Leo X.
Stunning Animation
The movie is brought to life by some of the most gorgeous stop-motion animation that you have ever seen. Yet, it is the mixing of this amazing stop-motion animation with other styles that makes it truly captivating to look at. The use of color and the way things are designed are just fantastic and help you get lost in this world. There are lots of bits of real history here, but they do blend in bits of fiction too in order to make the story more interesting and exciting.
Da Vinci’s Fascinating World
I got a huge kick out of seeing Da Vinci working on all his crazy machines, studying the human body, and just doing what you would expect Leonardo Da Vinci to be doing! However, at the end of the day, the movie plays him just like the rest of us, a man simply trying to find the reason for life. Honestly, it is impossible not to get pulled into this world as it is just so fascinating.
Suitable for All Ages
This may sound like it is a bit more of a mature kind of story for an animated movie, but this truly is a movie that can be enjoyed by anyone. I watched this with my niece who is 9 and she was at first captivated by the way that it looked, but was also became very invested in the story as well. Making this a movie that really can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter their age.
A Hidden Gem
The Inventor is one of the hidden gems of the year and I hope that this movie does very well. The release over the globe is all over the place though with some countries not getting it until 2024! If you are looking for a charming, witty, and emotional animated movie, they do not come much better than this. Although, I would say that much younger children may have a hard time getting into the plot so that is something to consider.
