Zog imagines himself as a strong and fearsome dragon. But that fantasy could not be farther from the reality, which is that he is sensitive, clumsy and endearing!
Nevertheless, he does his utmost to fit into the mould and do what is expected of him. Despite his best efforts and his tenacity, he just can’t earn the famous gold star awarded to the best dragon for each of the year’s tests. The narration, which follows a rhyming system, chronicles the defeats he keeps racking up. Viewers develop genuine empathy for this struggling character.
Meeting Princess Pearl marks a turning point in his journey. Pearl sees Zog as he is. She likes him and becomes his ally. What’s more, she has the same problem as him, as she is also captive to her image. She feels capable of much more than is permitted by the role of princess that she has been assigned. “I’m not cut out for that,” both Zog and Pearl shout at different times. Even the knight, Sir Gadabout, reveals that he too is trapped in a mission that doesn’t suit him.
But there’s strength in numbers! Together they resist the functions imposed on them and free themselves by asserting their individuality. They show courage by disregarding how they are seen by others and refusing to always seek external approval. They also liberate their creativity, as they have the idea of setting up an innovative enterprise that will benefit society.
Zog is a film that questions norms and invites viewers to deviate from beaten paths. It encourages everyone to think about what real happiness is, beyond cliches. Society tends to value strength and competition and to promote success above everything else and at any cost, in spite of individuality and imagination. “The world’s already far too full of cuts and burns and bumps,” declares Pearl quite rightly. Zog backs that up in a gentle and pleasing way, helped by digital textures that bring to mind playdough and soft colours.
