Welcome to the recap and review of Orion and the Dark (2024), an animated fantasy adventure comedy film that is a full of fun loving characters. In this movie, you will meet Orion and the Dark characters like night entities, Quiet and Insomnia. Directed by Sean Charmatz and produced by DreamWorks Animation, Orion and the Dark explores the themes of overcoming fears, friendship, acceptance and self-discovery, and the wonder of the night.
Orion and the Dark was released by DreamWorks Animation in 2024 and is based on Emma Yarlett’s 2014 book. The movie follows 11-year-old Orion, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, who battles his multiple fears. With the help of Dark, his embodiment of fear, voiced by Paul Walter Hauser, Orion begins to overcome his fear of the dark. The film premiered in Los Angeles on January 27.
To watch the trailer and for more movie details. visit Orion and the Dark’s movie page. Also, Orion and the Dark made it onto out Best Feel-Good Comedy Movies on Netflix list. Be sure to check out that article next!
- Directed by: Sean Charmatz
- Written by: Charlie Kaufman (based on the book by Emma Yarlett)
- Animation by: Mikros Animation
- Music by: Robert Lydecker and Kevin Lax
- Release Date: January 27, 2024 (Premiere), February 2, 2024 (Netflix release)
Orion and the Dark Voice Actors
In Orion and the Dark, Orion, an anxious 11-year-old, goes on a journey guided by Dark, the embodiment of his deepest fears. Together, they encounter a night-themed cast of characters and embark on an adventure. Meet the talented voice cast of the Orion and the Dark characters:
- Jacob Tremblay as Orion
- Colin Hanks as Adult Orion
- Paul Walter Hauser as Dark
- Angela Bassett as Sweet Dreams
- Ike Barinholtz as Light
- Natasia Demetriou as Sleep
- Golda Rosheuvel as Unexplained Noises/Debbie
- Nat Faxon as Insomnia
- Aparna Nancherla as Quiet
- Carla Gugino as Orion’s Mom
- Matt Dellapina as Dom Mendelson, Orion’s Dad
- Mia Akemi Brown as Hypatia
- Shannon Chan-Kent as Adult Hypatia
- Shino Nakamichi as Sally
- Ren Hanami as Adult Sally
- Jack Fisher as Richi Panichi
- Nick Kishiyama as Tycho
- Werner Herzog as the Narrator
Where to Watch Orion and the Dark
Orion and the Dark is available for streaming on Netflix with a subscription.
The Plot
The plot centers on Orion and the Dark’s main character, Orion, a fearful schoolboy worried about rejection by his crush, Sally. In fact, at the beginning of the movie, Orion lists all of his fears which include: Dogs, the ocean, falling, locker rooms, girls, mixing up words, being humiliated by his bully Ricky, clogged toilet, monsters, bees, and haircuts, among many others- that’s a lot of fears!
One night, Dark mysteriously appears and offers to help Orion conquer his fears by letting Orion tag along with him for a night, showing him the wonders of the nighttime.
As they journey, Orion meets other night entities like Sleep and Quiet. However, Orion’s preference for Light over Dark causes chaos, leading to Dark’s disappearance and the disruption of natural balance.
The story unfolds as the narration changes between kid Orion, adult Orion, and Orion’s Daughter. Adult Orion tells the tale to his daughter, Hypatia, to help her overcome her fears of the dark.
Don’t Miss:
The Animation
Orion and the Dark is visually stunning. The animation style combines traditional hand-drawn elements with modern computer-generated imagery (CGI). The animation style is characterized by its vibrant colors and fluid movements.
I particularly enjoyed the use of sketch art from Orion’s diary in the scenes of the movie. The sketch art characters effortlessly flew out of the pages of his sketchbook. Adding to the overall theme, the use of this technique was visually appealing and raised the bar of what animation can do.
Orion and the Dark Characters
In Orion and the Dark, we are introduced to several night entities. The night entities and their respective powers are:
- Sleep: Responsible for inducing slumber in people, Sleep ensures that individuals experience restful nights.
- Quiet: Removes surrounding sounds during the night, providing a serene and peaceful environment for sleep.
- Insomnia: Causes anxiety and disrupts sleep by inducing wakefulness in some individuals, representing the restless aspects of the nighttime.
- Unexplained Noises: Creates various nighttime sounds, adding mystery and atmosphere to the nighttime environment.
- Sweet Dreams: Generates wonderful dreams for people, offering pleasant and imaginative experiences during sleep.
In the beginning, the night entities are not so keen on Orion interfering with their jobs. However, they agree to allow him to tag along with Dark as long as he eventually gets over his fear of the dark and stops bothering them.
These characters are very comical. I especially enjoyed Quiet’s character, who is shown as a little white, glowing mouse. The other entities comically talk over Quiet. You can hardly hear Quiet, but, in the end, his message is the one that gets through to Orion.
My Take: Messages and Themes
While watching the movie, I was blown away by the messaging. The theme does not fit into many of the old tropes of quick fixes and perfectly crafted endings. Orion and the Dark is more introspective and focuses on looking inward to examine Orion’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
In the same way, it focuses on the daily challenges that we all had as kids growing up that we may still experience as adults- acceptance, overcoming fears, and navigating school and work life. There isn’t even a real villain in the movie. Orion is both the protagonist and antagonist, meaning that his fears are getting in the way of his everyday life.
Orion and the Dark Favorite Quotes
Orion and the Dark is full of great quotes! One of my favorite quotes in the movie comes from Orion’s mother, “ Sometimes, you just have to feel the fear and do it anyway.” I love this quote because it doesn’t dismiss the fears that we feel. We can have feelings like fear and sadness and still move past them to achieve our goals.
At this moment, Orion’s mother tries to teach him to push forward, even when it’s scary. Orion’s rebuttal to these words of wisdom is hilarious- that is “This is, without question the worst advice I’ve ever heard.” Obviously, by this time of the movie, Orion did not get his mother’s message.
This leads to the next quote, which is “Being scared is a part of life.” Life is full of scary moments- like preparing for your first interview, flying on a plane,or even speaking in front of the class. By the same token, some fears are not entirely negative- they can teach us valuable lessons in life.
Instead of running from our fears, we need to learn to face them head-on. That doesn’t mean that it is easy or that it won’t be a bit painful.
For instance, I always had a fear of job interviews. So, I made sure to read up on the topic which gave me more insight. This, in turn, really helped me learn the tips and tricks of the interviewing process. That being said, you will never find me saying ‘Whoo, let’s go on that next job interview!’ However, instead of burying my head in the sand, I attempted to face my fear.
Moving forward, Orion was not the only character that was struggling in the movie, at one point in the movie Dark exclaims “I just wish people would give me a chance.” To this, Orion replies “I just wanna be not afraid anymore.”
These two statements are significant because they illustrate both characters’ deepest personal struggles. Dark is looking to be accepted by people and not be hated and feared, while Orion, on the other hand, is trying to leave his irrational fears behind. Both characters, like all of us, have something they need to overcome.
Lastly, the quote by Orion’s Daughter, Hypatia, is “The only stories that help are the real ones.” I love this quote because it illustrates that we most likely will not get over a fear in one night. Just like the saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day, it takes time to truly overcome something.
In this scene, Hypatia is encouraging her dad to tell the real story and not fabricate the details. Orion needed to tell the real story even if he didn’t entirely get over a fear. That is because his journey can help others that are struggling with their own fears. Exclaiming that you conquered all your fears in 1 day- though impressive, is not very helpful to others if it is not true.
Even If it takes time to get over a fear or hurdle in life, that’s better than not starting the process at all. That brings me to a quote by Mark Twain “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.”
My Favorite Scene
I really enjoyed the scene where Orion and Dark enter a dream through the night entity Sweet Dreams. Orion inadvertently turns the dream into a nightmare. This is when it gets interesting- Orion’s bully Richy appears, and the surroundings begin to cave in on themselves. The amazing animation techniques used really emphasized the storytelling – it was suspenseful and stunning.
Recommendation
I would recommend Orion and the Dark to anyone interested in a thoughtful movie with great storytelling and amazing visuals. Check out Orion and the Dark’s movie page for more details and to watch the trailer!
What do you think?
Already seen the movie? Do you have a favorite character/night entity? A favorite quote or message? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. And as always- keep watching!
As a movie lover, especially classic 2D animation, I launched this blog as a guide to keep fellow enthusiasts updated on the latest news and information about films and shows. Through Movie Prairie, I strive to share my insights and recommendations, inviting you to explore and appreciate the magic of movies just as much as I do. Join me on this as we delve into the captivating world of film together.
