English Dub Review: Decorado
Overview (Spoilers Below):
Arnold, an unemployed middle-aged mouse, suspects his entire world is nothing more than a set. When his best friend mysteriously dies, he traces the conspiracy to a monolithic corporation whose influence reaches every corner of his daily life.
Our Take:
Sometimes we think our lives resemble something out of a movie or a play. Whenever we think everything’s going our way, life takes some unexpected turns for the sake of entertaining our audiences. One such character has a suspicion that there’s more to his own life than what it appears to be, and they may be right. The term “Decorado” translates to “decorate,” implying that various elements can be added to enhance appeal or liveliness. In the context of this movie, the term also refers to something designed as theatrical scenery, regardless of size, encompassing a false life. It’s basically the creator’s world, and we’re just living in it.
This serves as the basis of Alberto Vázquez’s expanded adaptation of his Goya Award-winning animated short film. Alberto Vázquez is known for directing “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children” and “Unicorn Wars”, both of which won the Goya Award for Best Animated Film. Unsurprisingly, this became another addition to Vázquez’s winning streak regarding the ceremony, and after experiencing this bizarre, complex piece of adult animation, I can understand why. Regarding its plot, “Decorado” expands on the narrative of the short film, in which an anthropomorphic mouse named Arnold discovers the home he resides in, the City of Anywhere, isn’t what he thinks it is. This prompted him to embark on a surreal and psychological journey that led him to discover a shocking secret from the ALMA corporation, a company that has complete control over everything.
This is another animated film that may appear harmless to kids because of its anthropomorphic animal characters, akin to “Zootopia” and “Sing”. But I can tell you right now, this film will surely terrorize your children, not just by its imagery but also by its metaphorical narrative. “Decorado” is the latest movie to feature mature themes such as systemic corruption, class discrimination, and depression, with the latter depicted through a fairy resembling Maria’s demoralization. In this case, the movie follows Arnold’s psychological torment after discovering the truth behind ALMA’s objective: that everything, including the city, is a fake representation of a perfect society. This led him to an existential crisis about what’s real and what is fake, forcing him to confront the true meaning of life. It’s equivalent to “The Truman Show”, if the movie leans toward psychological horror rather than comedy-drama as advertised. Seriously, I don’t know why they would label this movie as a black comedy-drama if it’s not even funny.
Despite the genre mislabeling, “Decorado” actually blew me away by how complex, unsettling, and boldly surreal it turned out to be. Rather than making it a carbon copy of “The Truman Show”, Alberto Vázquez used this inspiration to conjure a darker and uncanny side of a controlled society, packed with psychological terror and even genuine emotion. It’s almost rare for a film this unnerving to balance its discomfort with deeper character moments, let alone one from the animation medium. Fortunately, “Decorado” became one such example that almost perfected this balance. It did have some rushed parts that left me a bit lost in its narrative, but the precision of its structure ensured that its emotional grasp remained throughout the experience.
The animation was also very impressive for its 2D style and some fluidity in the character movements. But its biggest highlight is how it portrays this world metaphorically. Utilizing its various color palettes and character designs, “Decorado” envisioned the cold-hearted truth behind this seemingly “normal” society, in which its bleakness resembles systematic control. The most notable examples are the various dogs portraying police officers, symbolizing the corruption of law enforcement stemming from a powerful corporation. It’s bleak, creepy, and somehow terrifying, but it also has a hint of gorgeousness in its artistry, especially in its emotional depth.
In terms of its concept, “Decorado” can be best described as a mature, animated version of “The Truman Show”. However, its idea is more of an inspiration than a carbon copy, and it’s all the better for it. “Decorado” successfully decorates its adult themes and complex story with psychological flair, ambition, and artistic value, even if it can feel a tad rushed at times. The English voice cast also elevated the film’s dubbed version with their solid performances, highlighting the genuine effort behind language dubbing outside a movie’s country of origin. Regarding Alberto Vázquez’s direction, great animation, engaging psychological themes, and a strong blend of horror and drama, the film is certainly a mind-bender that one should see to believe. I would even put it slightly above “Toy Story 5” as my favorite animated film of 2026, even though it came out last year.
