LOS ANGELES — A courageous cat, a capybara, a lemur, a bird and a dog. Five distinct animals come together to survive after their homes are devastated by a great flood in a thrilling animated spectacle with profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community.

Nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards is Gints Zilbalodis’ “Flow.”

In an interview with Spectrum News, Zilbalodis said the film is unique and something most have not seen before. There is no dialogue in “Flow.”

(Image courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films)

“I think people are going to be surprised that animation can be all sorts of things,” he said. “We are telling this story through images and sounds. It’s all about the experience and creating emotion.”

“Flow” may be Zilbalodis’ first film he has made with a team, but the idea of it began when he was in high school when he had a cat and inspired him to make a short film — a short film about a cat being afraid of water.

“Many years later, I decided to expand it to a feature, and this time adding a much bigger cast,” he told Spectrum News. “There are no heroes or villains. They are all identifiable. The dog is inspired by dogs I’ve had. Each of them [the animals in the film] are there for a reason. They are part of the theme of the story, which is looking for a place you belong or a group that accepts them.”

(Image courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films)

For Zilbalodis, cinema is a language itself, and with “Flow,” because there is no dialogue, there is no need for it to be translated because it’s the language of movement and editing.  

“Flow” marks the first time a film from Latvia is nominated at the Oscars. For Zilbalodis, not only has it been an incredible year for films, but it is incredible to see independent films like “Flow” noticed — and noticed outside the animated category.

“Often you only get that kind of recognition, but to also be noticed in the international category shows that animation is a medium and not a genre. It’s about stories, and it doesn’t matter what technology you use. I am really glad these boundaries are becoming more and more blurred,” he said.

While the Oscars are competitive and winning can be tough, Zilbalodis said he is glad to see people embracing “Flow.”

“It really means a lot to me because it is a personal story. It feels personal that I am sharing ideas and emotions that I care about, and to get a response, it feels really nice,” he told Spectrum News.

Earlier this year, “Flow” won Best Animated Film at the Golden Globes. It is now streaming on Max.

Click the link above to watch the full interview with Gints Zilbalodis.