Unfortunately, the English dub (produced for the US market) failed to capture the nuance of the original script. For the purest experience, watch Ana y Bruno in Spanish with English subtitles.
For those interested in discovering or revisiting this unique film, Ana y Bruno is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, making this hidden gem of Mexican animation easily accessible.
After a 13-year production period, the film was finally released in Mexico on August 31, 2018. It was notable for being, at the time, one of the most expensive animated films ever produced in Mexico, with a budget of $5.35 million USD (approximately 104 million pesos). Ana y Bruno
Directed by Carlos Carrera (famous for the Oscar-nominated live-action short El Crimen del Padre Amaro ), Ana y Bruno is not your typical Saturday morning cartoon. It is a complex, visually stunning, and emotionally dense psychological drama disguised as a fantasy adventure.
Critics were divided but often noted the film's unique merits. One review on Letterboxd summed up a common sentiment: "This movie has heart. It doesn't always pull everything off as well as it could, but fuck if it doesn't try... a really good movie with a unique style of animation". Another reviewer appreciated its handling of historical mental health treatment, calling it "weird and quirky". However, some critics found the execution inconsistent, suggesting the premise was more interesting than the final product. Unfortunately, the English dub (produced for the US
Mexican cinema has a rich history of storytelling, but its animation industry long struggled to find a definitive, globally recognized voice. That changed with Ana y Bruno (2017), a dark fantasy comedy-drama directed by Carlos Carrera. As one of the most expensive and ambitious animated features in Mexican history, the film represents a landmark achievement. It blends surreal visual design with a deeply mature narrative about mental illness, grief, and family bonds. The Plot: A Surreal Journey Through Imagination and Grief
While some parents initially questioned its darker thematic elements, the film has been widely embraced by educators and psychologists as an excellent tool for discussing difficult topics with children. It proved that Mexican animation could move beyond commercial comedies and deliver world-class, auteur-driven storytelling. After a 13-year production period, the film was
One night, Ana discovers that the hospital is inhabited by a bizarre assortment of colorful, fantastical creatures. These are the imaginary friends and hallucinations of the psychiatric patients. Among them is , a strange, green, asymmetrical creature who is fiercely loyal but easily frightened.
Suitable for children 10+ due to thematic intensity (parental catatonia, scary imagery). Perfect for adults who grew up with The Secret of NIMH or The Last Unicorn —films that respected a child’s ability to process darkness.