Firstly, I'd like to propose two alternate titles for the piece: "Robin Mouse" and "Robin' Robin". The former relates to the way in which the protagonist is a robin named Robin who belongs to a family of mice with the surname Mouse, whereas the latter relates to the way in which our hero is a robin who is robbing crumbs and other small foodstuffs alongside her sneaky siblings. The actual title of "Robin Robin (2021)" just doesn't really do it for me as it has little narrative significance beyond the fact that the main character is a robin named Robin (she's never referred to by that double name, either). This is a minor issue, of course, and it isn't something I'm going to hold against the actual film, but I felt it was worth mentioning. This stop-motion short tells the tale of a bird who finds it hard to fit in with the mice who raised her, primarily because she's extraordinarily clumsy and seems to draw attention to herself at the most inopportune of moments. Aardman once again deliver the goods when it comes to tactile, frame-by-frame animation, this time opting for a fluffy felt aesthetic instead of their usual fingerprinted clay look. It works really well, establishing a distinct visual presence that matches the piece's generally low-key and soft-spoken nature. The flick is a subtle musical, in the sense that its few songs aren't particularly grandiose or, even, any louder than the actual dialogue. The musical sequences aren't particularly formalistic, either; the characters just do a bit of singing as they go about their usual business. This isn't a bad thing, though. The music is calm and charming in its own way, enhancing the generally relaxing nature of the overall affair. It's difficult to properly describe, but the picture is pretty much the opposite of the typical hyperactivity usually associated with family fare (which isn't to imply that hyperactivity is inherently bad). The film features a basic but important central message and several endearing core characters. The voicework, especially that of Richard E. Grant and Gillian Anderson (whose voice is oddly soothing considering how dangerous her character is), is really solid, too. Ultimately, this is an enjoyable and, for lack of a better word, nice experience right the way through. It's lovely. 7/10.
