
Initially, when the trailer for “The Legend of Ochi” by A24 debuted, some people on social media speculated (unreasonably) that the movie was created using artificial intelligence, causing an unusual online uproar. The brief glimpses into its fictional universe seemed too pristine, too saturated with a familiar sheen of AI-style aesthetics, to appear as if they could be real-world locations. This peculiar debate escalated so much that the film’s writer-director, Isaiah Saxon, felt compelled to address it. Contrary to the speculation, the effects were primarily achieved through intricate puppetry and animatronics, with many settings being a blend of Romanian landscapes and matte paintings. Saxon, a music video director who dedicated years to this project, his first feature, oversaw these elements. Upon watching the film (which premiered at Sundance before its April 25 theater release), it’s evident that a great deal of care and sensitivity has been poured into crafting this predominantly handmade world and the peculiar furry characters at its core. “The Legend of Ochi” appears incredibly lifelike, making it hard to believe that it is, in fact, a work of fantasy.