This embedded narrative is one of resilience and humanity. Taking us on a journey from an Irish home to the streets of Saint Petersburg, it introduces us to a little girl waiting for Father Christmas, and her grandfather who looks just like him. This wait provides the time for the story to unfold, and it is up to Grandpa to begin: “Once upon a time there was a poor young man named Akaky…”. The poor clerk's complicated daily life leaves little hope for improvement, but Akaky's strength lies in the fact that he always sees the bright side of things. The coat he so desperately wants, which he manages to acquire through hard work, seems to be a fitting conclusion to this tale. At last, life is smiling on him! However, this is only the beginning of his adventures... This innocent character, confronted with harsh and mean people, creates a natural bond with the audience. The Overcoat criticizes a world ruled by money and selfishness. The surprising emergence of the fantastical adds a new dimension to the plot. Even though the tale has a sad part, Akaky's kindness teaches the other characters a lesson and brings joy and hope: Anna, his love interest and colleague, decides to write a story about him and the commissioner stops being selfish. Akaky is the man who changed Saint Petersburg, because "it's not where you come from that matters most, but what you do".
This adaptation of Gogol’s short story has a Pixar movie vibe: moving rhythmic music, a cute story, nice characters, and a style close to cartoon aesthetics. The mix of 2D and 3D animation allows us to travel from the past (Akaky’s tale) to the present (the grandfather telling the story). It’s a touching, understated and effective story with a bright and beautiful animation that brings back memories of Andersen, Grimm and Dickens’ tales.
