Overview
A poignant exploration of connection and isolation unfolds as a man meets an extraordinary stranger.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- uncanny
- intimate
- quiet evening
- introspective viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a distinctive, thought-provoking, and emotionally shattering work of introspective stop-motion animation, while noting occasional narrative unevenness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Michael experiences nearly everyone as sharing the same face and voice, making alienation a formal property of the story.
The stop-motion puppets have detachable facial seams and mask-like uniformity that externalize Michael's disconnection.
Michael's meeting with Lisa offers an intense but precarious escape from his repetitive isolation.
The hotel, convention, phone calls, and customer-service world turn mundane contemporary life into a somber nightmare.
Films like Anomalisa, and why
Being John Malkovich
shares introspective alienation, surreal psychological storytelling, and darkly comic examination of emotional disconnection
Waking Life
shares adult animation, melancholy romance, existential themes, and an unconventional visual approach
Lost in Translation
shares lonely urban introspection, fragile romantic connection, and bittersweet emotional realism
Mary and Max
shares stop-motion artistry, adult themes, dreamlike unease, and dark humor
Movie Details
- Directors
- Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson
- Release Date
- 2015-12-30
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1874)
Cast
- David Thewlis
- Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Tom Noonan
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Anomalisa about?
- A lonely customer-service author sees the world as a chorus of identical voices until an unexpected hotel encounter briefly makes one person singular.
- What is Anomalisa like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Anomalisa as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Anomalisa violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Anomalisa.
- What did critics think of Anomalisa?
- Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a distinctive, thought-provoking, and emotionally shattering work of introspective stop-motion animation, while noting occasional narrative unevenness.
- Which films are like Anomalisa?
- Films with a similar feel include Being John Malkovich, Waking Life, Lost in Translation, and Mary and Max.
- How long is Anomalisa?
- Anomalisa runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Anomalisa?
- In United States, Anomalisa is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
