Isle of Dogs: A Love Letter

It has often been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If we are to follow this line of thinking, Wes Anderson has created a film in Isle of Dogs that flatters Japanese cinema and some of the master filmmakers that came before him. He was most notably influenced by Akira Kurosawa and Hayao Miyazaki. The homage paid to the these two filmmakers and Japanese cinema strikes a perfect balance of respect and admiration.

Kurosawa and Miyazaki, regarded as two of the most important filmmakers of all time, have made monumental classics such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Spirited Away. In a Q&A with the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Anderson discusses how these filmmakers influenced his work on his latest film. into his inspiration for his latest film.

Anderson has normally made films with stop-motion animation as the primary focus, but in this film, his inspiration would be heavily based off Kurosawa. In an interview, Anderson stated, “The new film is less influenced by stop-motion movies than it is by Akira Kurosawa." More of the parallels between Anderson and Kurosawa are discussed here. 



A close examination of just some of the scenes from Dogs, and the overwhelming influence of Kurosawa films becomes evident. For instance, in the first act of Dogs, there is a scene with a group of the "good dogs" standing off against the "bad dogs." There is a stillness, patience, and build up of anticipation that mimics a similar scene in Seven Samurai. Anderson captures the essence of what made Kurosawa's film great.

Kurosawa wasn't the only influence in Dogs. Anderson also pulled from Miyazaki in ways that influenced his filming on this project. Specifically, he used the silent approach that makes Miyazaki and Kurosawa so famous. In an interview, Anderson states, “[Miyazaki] brings the detail and also the silences I think,” he continued. “With Miyazaki you get nature and you get moments of peace, a kind of rhythm that is not in the American animation tradition so much." 

In the end, Anderson has created a film that pays homage respectfully to some of the master directors of Japanese cinema. He combines their unique visual storytelling with his comedic wit. What we get in Isle of Dogs is a love letter to the past.