Flow beats The Wild Robot, Moana 2, and more as the Best Motion Picture Animated at the 82nd Golden Globes

Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis’ animated feature Flow pulled off a major upset at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Motion Picture – Animated.

It edged out big-budget contenders like Pixar’s Inside Out 2, Disney’s Moana 2, DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot, Adam Elliot’s Memoir of a Snail, and the return of Aardman’s beloved characters in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

The win marked a historic moment for Latvia, making Flow the first film from the country to win at the Golden Globes.

Flow tells the story of a cat forced to survive a devastating flood by joining other animals on a boat, pushing them all to overcome fear and differences to work together. The movie gained attention for its unique approach—no dialogue, hand-animated sequences, and being created entirely with free, open-source software.

It premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and won top honors at Annecy, Ottawa, and Toronto festivals. With a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and nominations at the BAFTAs, European Film Awards, and Annie Awards, the film became a standout success.

Flow’s win at the Golden Globes has also boosted its chances for the Oscars, where it’s shortlisted in the Best International Feature category.

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What is Flow about?

Flow (Image via UFO Distribution)

Flow follows a black cat whose solitary life is upended after a massive flood destroys its home. The story begins in a dense forest where the cat observes a pack of dogs fighting over fish near a river. Seizing an opportunity, the cat steals a fish but is quickly chased by the dogs.

It escapes, only to be caught in a sudden tsunami that forces it to higher ground.

As the floodwaters rise, the cat crosses paths with a yellow Labrador Retriever, who later boards a boat with other dogs while the cat clings to a submerged cat statue for safety.

Eventually, the rising water overtakes the statue, leaving the cat stranded until a sailboat carrying a capybara appears, offering refuge.

The boat sails through flooded forests, but survival proves difficult. The cat nearly drowns after falling overboard, only to be rescued by a whale.

Later, a white secretarybird attacks the cat but eventually joins the group after being injured and losing its ability to fly.

Along the journey, the group also takes in a lemur with a basket of supplies, adding another layer of tension as personalities clash.

The animals must learn to work together, especially when faced with food shortages, dangerous storms, and the constant threat of predators.

Flow (Image via UFO Distribution)

Midway through the film, the crew arrives at a half-submerged city surrounded by towering stone pillars. Here, the group encounters more dogs trapped in a bell tower.

Despite initial hesitation, the secretarybird helps rescue them, showing a shift in trust and cooperation among the animals.

As they continue navigating the flood, the secretarybird regains its ability to fly and leaves the group, signaling both its recovery and the end of its journey.

The final stretch takes a darker turn as the cat once again falls overboard during a storm and washes up near the towering pillars. It briefly reunites with the secretarybird, who is carried away by a mysterious light, leaving the cat alone again.

After a dramatic drop in the water level, the cat finds the abandoned boat hanging in a tree and helps the others pull it down.

Just as things settle, a stampede of deer reveals a beached whale, hinting at the ongoing consequences of the flood. The film ends with the cat and its companions looking at their reflection in a puddle, symbolizing survival and change.

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Flow will be available to steam on Prime Video from Jan 7, 2025.