Sonnie’s Edge is the first episode in Love, Death & Robots and it’s directed by Dave Wilson with animation by Blur Studios.
Sonnie’s Edge follows the story of Sonnie, a woman who has been through hell and back, she had been snatched, used and cut up. She competes in an underground fighting tournament which has it’s competitors pilot, through their mind, ferocious monsters. When Sonnie refuses to lose the fight deliberately she must prove her skills and her edge in the ring.
The animation for Sonnie’s Edge is similar to that of a video game’s cinematic trailer. The animation is trying to emulate real-life imagery whilst also keeping a lot of its digital elements. From a design perspective, everything is electronic, neon and underground, even the score is a low electronic hum in most parts. The fight scenes show off the amount of detail and work that the studio can accomplish. Bright colours are chosen to shine out of the screen amongst the dark backgrounds whilst it feels like the world and it’s stories lay within the shadows of every scene.
This is the first episode of the series and it starts things off well. It gives you a sign of the ride you’re about to go on. Sonnie’s Edge is a lot packed in for a 17-minute short film but everything is necessary for its overall effect. The story is simple and easy to get a hang of but at the same time, Sonnie’s Edge throws punches at you when you least expect it. Its fight scene alone tells the story of Sonnie’s experience whilst being snatched and it’s some very powerful imagery. Sonnie’s edge is a fantastic start to the series.