A Scanner
Darkly is a 2006 animated, science-fiction thriller film directed by Richard Linklater, based on the
novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, who was also known for writing Bladerunner.
Staring Keanue Reeves,
Robert Downey, Jr. and Winona Ryder, the story follows a secret agent who attempts to uncover a drug ring, unfortunately (And as expected) things do not go well as he himself becomes addicted to a drug known as Substance D, where he slowly and painfully begins to lose his mind.
The film uses a method
of animation known as interpolated rotoscoping, a technique where animation is
simply traced over live footage, frame by frame, for use in live-action and
animated films, over the original footage itself.
Despite the film's low budget, a large animation department was hired for it, consisting of five
teams of ten animators. And one of those teams worked solely on Keanu’s scramble
suit that is used throughout the film, showing how much effort was required in using such a process (If it hadn't been for the scramble suit, I felt that this would have been a pretty tedious animation method to use for the overall film).
You are probably
wondering now about why would they go through the trouble of animating the entire film when they it could have just been normally filmed as a live action with some VFX thrown here and there, would it not be less of a hassle?
Director Linklater answered in an interview that there really were not that many animated films targeted at
adults at the time, and so this was an opportunity to have another addition made for the mature animation collection.
And in all, the animation technique and art style
does work for the narrative style of the film. With the outlines being in constant motion (Without being too distracting), it does give the film a stylish neo-noir, graphic novel sort of look. It also allows for a more surreal feel especially since the story is being narrated through the eyes of characters who are not exactly right in the head to begin with.
Overall, I always felt that the subject of drug abuse has always been difficult to execute effectively, the right amount of emotion is needed in portraying your message to the people, and I think this film didn't do that bad a job in showing how addicts tend to struggle in life, be it for those that give in or for those that still try their hardest to fight it (But then again these are based on the experiences of Philip himself.).
At least it is in no way as bad as this animation:
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