Review: The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus the Aardvark

 

 

Overview:

Getting into a tavern brawl, Cerebus the Aardvark has caught the attention of two men in search of help. They hire the animal to steal a powerful jewel from an overpowered wizard. Unfortunately, as Cerebus sells off his barbarian helmet in exchange for a disguise, it sets off an unstoppable chain of events. The helmet was integral to the awakening of a giant pig god. Now, Cerebus and a whole slew of other characters are entwined in a battle with Necruss the Mad, a wizard set on destroying the universe.

 

Our Take:

Comic book movie adaptations have been all the rage recently, especially with the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominating the box office for the last decade. It was only a matter of time when the other side of the comic book industry looked for their due justice, the independent market.

Quickly, for context, the duality of the funny book industry should be acknowledged. Truly, no other creative industry has been more at the centre of artists rights and claims than comic books. Dominated by two heavy-hitter publishing companies, artists have struggled to gain claim to their work or faced insurmountable odds of having their original creations see the light of day.

Still, independent comic books have made their mark in media, with recognizable projects such as Spawn and The Walking Dead being creator-owned franchises. Despite that, even those titles have been backed by larger corporations feeding off potential gains when adapting a feature film. The only successful indy comic book to ever off-shoot a blockbuster independent film would be the 90s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although even that feature had some money behind it.

The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus the Aardvark is the first full-length movie officially adapted from an independent comic book with a budget of absolute zero and distributed for sale.

To rewind a bit, Cerebus the Aardvark is by no means a small-time independent comic book character. The Conan the Barbarian inspired furry animal has had an impressive 30-year run boasting over 300 issues. Created by the controversial Dave Sim, his stories have spanned from the fantastical to the highly political. All the while, remaining 100% creator-owned in a market dominated by the Supermans and Spider-mans.

Either the character or his origins were inspiring enough to get over 200 volunteer artists and creators to invest over a decade into making an original independent animated feature around the grey aardvark’s adventures. Headed by Oliver Simonsen, The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus, the Aardvark is a painstaking labour of love and as independently natured as the source material.

Of course, the no-budget film is not without its flaws. The computer-generated animation is cursed by taking over a decade to produce, and equally for being done on mostly home equipment. Despite the hurdle for the eyes, many scenes and elements are done surprisingly well. The same could be said for the low-quality audio recording and anything else that could be nitpicked. Truthfully, it is best to watch the movie under the filter of understanding the sheer love and willpower that went into its manifestation.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the movie-making spectrum, the film is a prime example of why comic book adaptations cannot be filled with pure fan service. The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus the Aardvark isn’t just an overly convoluted title; it is challenging to follow. Without knowledge of characters, events, and settings, there is not much context to what is happening throughout the feature. Specifically, character introductions and plot points lack the necessary acknowledgement to bring audiences along. Mixed with the try-as-they-might animation, watching the film as a newcomer can be headache-inducing.

Again though, The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus the Aardvark is a love letter. A 14-year-long investment from dedicated fans to see their favourite character get the silver screen treatment that all the more prominent names receive. Overcoming the odds and manifesting this feature out of literally nothing is impressive, to say the least.

For long-standing fans of Cerebus the Aardvark, your day has come. For anyone else, it is worth acknowledging the efforts all these creators have gone through to create something of their own and avoid being overly critical. For the sake of giving this movie a score, it is best to come from the general audience point of view. However, this final rating should not take anything away from the accomplishments or importance of the character.