The Inventor: Unveiling an Extraordinary Animated Journey into Leonardo da Vinci's Untold Origins [Exclusive]

Summary

The film employs a combination of hand-drawn animation and stop-motion animation, following the recent trend of incorporating multiple styles in a single movie.

Experience an animated journey that pays tribute to Rankin/Bass productions' animation technique from the 1960s, particularly Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Get ready for The Inventor trailer, an exclusive preview of a captivating film that delves into the life of one of history's most renowned artists. Written and co-directed by Jim Capobianco, an Oscar nominee for Ratatouille, this stop-motion masterpiece is set during the Renaissance Era and showcases Leonardo da Vinci's desire to break free from the confines of conservative Italian customs. Accompanied by loyal companions, da Vinci embarks on a quest to join the French court, where he can freely pursue his ideas, from designing a flying machine to studying the human body and unraveling the mysteries of existence.

Screen Rant is excited to present the exclusive premiere of The Inventor trailer, just in time for its wide release in less than a month.

This trailer provides viewers with their first real glimpse into the captivating world of this stop-motion adventure film. It follows the extraordinary journey of da Vinci as he embarks on a voyage to France, accompanied by his friends, which allows him to fully explore his inventive abilities. Additionally, The Inventor trailer offers an exciting look at the talented cast of actors who lend their voices to the characters in the movie, such as Stephen Fry from The Sandman, who portrays da Vinci, and Daisy Ridley from Star Wars, who voices Princess Marguerite.

The Inventor Keeps The Most Unique Animation Alive (& Revives An Old One)

In an era where experimentation is increasingly embraced in the field of animation, The Inventor is dedicated to preserving the unique style of stop-motion. While stop-motion has not completely disappeared, it has become less commonly used by many studios in recent years. There is an exception with Laika, who has received Oscar nominations for all five of their theatrical projects, the most recent being 2019's Missing Link. In recent times, other filmmakers have also explored this technique, including Guillermo del Toro for his Oscar-winning Pinocchio adaptation.

What makes The Inventor particularly interesting is that it not only keeps stop-motion alive, but also brings back an old animation technique inspired by the styling of Rankin/Bass productions from the 1960s. The film pays homage to Rankin/Bass's iconic holiday children's stories, such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy, and Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, which were known for their trademark process called "Animagic". Co-directed by Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon, The Inventor draws inspiration from the cartoonish designs featured in these classic productions, especially in the character of Pope Leo X, portrayed by Matt Berry.

The Inventor, set to release nationwide on August 25, incorporates hand-drawn animation alongside stop-motion, following the recent trend of merging different styles in films. This approach, seen in popular examples like the Spider-Verse movies, sets The Inventor apart. Despite competing with Marvel's animated movie during awards season, its heartwarming story and nostalgic style could position it as a potential Oscars contender next year.