The Iron Giant is a 1999 animated movie directed by Brad Bird, in his directing debut. Based on the novel by Ted Hughes, the movie is set in 1957 Maine, where nine-year-old Hogarth (Eli Marienthal) finds a giant robot (Vin Diesel) that fell to earth. Hogarth and the Giant become friends, with Hogarth teaching him about the world. Their peaceful friendship is interrupted, however, by a government agent who sees the Giant as a foreign threat. Along with his artist friend Dean (Harry Connick Jr.), Hogarth tries to keep the Giant safe.
The movie was a box office flop, with Polygon citing the studio’s poor marketing and lack of promotion as the main reasons why it failed. It also faded in the wake of major movies that were released later that year, like Toy Story 2. Despite this, the movie received high praise from critics, who enjoyed the characters, design, and themes. In the years since, The Iron Giant has become a beloved cult classic. Here’s why it deserves a revisit.
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It Has a Timeless, All-Ages Appeal
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A young kid meeting and befriending something is a timeless trope, and in the movie, it’s interpreted as a boy becoming friends with a giant robot. This is something everyone can relate to, and it sets the tone for the movie. The other characters, like Dean, an artist advocating for freedom, also work for any time period. Even Mansley, the government agent antagonist who’s suspicious of anyone who’s different, is perfect for the movie’s Cold War-era setting, but still applicable to the present. Despite being set in the past, the movie doesn’t come across as dated at all. Instead, it maintains a timeless appeal with characters and situations that anyone can relate to.
There is also something for audiences of all ages to enjoy. Younger viewers will find delight in the Giant, and will understand his desire to be a hero. Older viewers will enjoy the nostalgic childhood friendship, and will have a deeper grasp of the movie’s era and how it speaks out against senseless violence. There is plenty of humor and fun that keep the movie from being too dark, but make the serious, emotional moments really land. Finally, the animation also contributes to this timelessness. Done in 2D, hand-drawn style with some CGI elements, the design is classic but still feels modern, and holds up today.
It Has a Sweet and Genuine Friendship
The heart of the movie is the friendship between Hogarth and the Giant. Hogarth takes on a teaching role with the child-like Giant. They read Superman comics and swim together, enjoying peace in a time that was fraught with tension. However, their relationship also has a surprising emotional depth. This is apparent after they find a hunter killing a deer in the woods, and Hogarth explains the concept of death and souls to the Giant. It’s a heavy topic for a kids’ movie, but Hogarth’s approach makes it simple for the Giant, and for the audience. We get to see the world through Hogarth’s eyes, and as he teaches the Giant about life, we learn about it, too, sharing in their friendship. Hogarth shows the good side in befriending someone different, and does the right thing in protecting him even against a large enemy. He really comes to care for the Giant, and the Giant cares for him too, with their closeness becoming the heart of the movie. Without their bond, the movie wouldn’t work – the Giant would just be a nameless robot. But with Hogarth, he becomes nearly human, with feelings and ideas, and this makes the audience truly love him.
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It Has Powerful Themes and Messages
According to Indie Wire, Bird centered the project around the question, “What if a gun had a soul?” This question informs most of the movie, and its main themes. Midway through the movie, Hogarth learns that the Giant has powerful self-defense programming that gets set off by seeing a gun. He was created to be a weapon, but he doesn’t want to be. Hogarth tells him that what he was created to be doesn’t matter. Instead, he tells the Giant, “You are who you choose to be.”
When Mansley gets the Army involved, they attack Hogarth and the Giant. Hogarth is unconscious after the attack, but the Giant thinks he’s dead. In an expression of grief that shows how much he loves Hogarth, the Giant surrenders to his defense system and attacks the Army. This causes Mansley to launch a missile that will destroy the town. However, the Giant takes Hogarth’s message to heart and decides he wants to be a hero, like Superman, sacrificing himself by intercepting the missile and saving everyone. It’s a testament to the movie’s power and beauty that the Giant’s sacrifice is an incredibly rewarding display of character, and a truly heartbreaking moment for the audience that has come to love him.
Along with showing the dangers that hatred, weapons, and violence can bring, the idea of choice is a central theme of the movie. Hogarth and Dean make the choice to accept the Giant, even if he’s different. The Giant, who has been learning about life from a human boy, commits a fully human act in choosing who he wants to be, despite how he was programmed. No matter who they are, or what situation they’re in, everyone can choose who they really want to be. It’s a deep and hopeful message that perfectly pairs with the movie’s timeless qualities and makes it worthy of a revisit.
