Brad Bird's 35-Year Dream: Ray Gunn Animated Future

Director Brad Bird unveiled details about his animated film Ray Gunn, a passion project spanning 35 years. The production, a collaboration between Netflix and Skydance Animation, transports viewers to Metropia, a colossal city imagined with a 1939 aesthetic, where humans and aliens coexist.

The narrative centers on private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, who becomes entangled in a murder investigation involving a star named Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Bird described the setting as an idealized future where, despite the utopian environment, characters still experience murder and deception.

Composer Michael Giacchino discussed his approach to the film's score, highlighting that New Zealand singer-songwriter Kimbra created original songs for Venus Nova. Giacchino and his team employed vintage recording techniques using 1920s and 30s microphones at Abbey Road with an 80-piece orchestra, blending organic sounds with subtle vintage synthesizers.

Bird shared that Ray Gunn was a project he attempted to get made years ago but faced financing challenges. The film was set aside until the opportunity arose to revive it, a testament to Bird's enduring belief in the concept.