(2017) is a landmark Mexican animated horror comedy-drama directed by Carlos Carrera, based on the novel Ana by Daniel Emil . It is notable for being the most expensive animated film in Mexican history, with a budget of approximately $104 million pesos ($5.35 million USD). Plot Summary
The narrative begins when Ana’s mother brings her to a psychiatric clinic, seemingly for treatment. However, Ana discovers that the facility is not what it seems. She encounters a series of fantastic, somewhat bizarre imaginary friends (the "creatures") who have been abandoned by their children.
But this is where the film diverges from the standard rescue narrative. Ana y Bruno
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The film went on to win the and received international acclaim at festivals like Annecy. It proved that Mexican studios could produce high-quality 3D animation that carries deep intellectual and emotional weight. Why You Should Watch It (2017) is a landmark Mexican animated horror comedy-drama
The visual style is often compared to a "Tim Burton-style project," featuring a dark 3D world and character designs that lean into the grotesque to reflect the internal struggles of the asylum patients. It holds the distinction of being Mexico’s first stereoscopic 3D film, though its long production meant some critics found the animation technology slightly dated by its eventual release. Reception and Awards
The film portrays the psychiatric facility and its residents with empathy rather than horror. The "monsters" are not threats; they are coping mechanisms, externalized manifestations of trauma, loneliness, and depression. By framing these creatures as companions, Carrera offers a compassionate view of the human mind under duress. Processing Childhood Grief However, Ana discovers that the facility is not
To be useful, a review must be fair. The film has flaws:
The story follows , a creative and imaginative 10-year-old girl who lives in a mental health institution with her mother, Carla . Ana has never met her father, Bruno , but dreams of reuniting the family.