Isle of Dogs 2018

The curtain opens on a centuries-old tale of three warring clans, their allegiances marked by the creatures they revered: canines for two, and felines for the Kobayashi clan. A young warrior’s bold stroke would forever seal the fate of this ancient feud. As we leap forward in time to the bustling metropolis of Megasaki, a new narrative unfolds. Two decades hence, the city is plagued by “snout fever,” a mysterious affliction ravaging the canine population. In response, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura), driven by a mix of concern and calculation, issues a decree that sends all infected dogs to Trash Island, a quarantined wasteland. Among the first arrivals is Spots (Liev Schrieber), loyal companion to the orphaned nephew of the mayor, Atari (Koyu Rankin).

As the city’s resident sage, Professor Watanabe (Akira Ito) of the Science Party, laments the state of affairs, Interpreter Nelson (Frances McDormand) poses a poignant query: “Whatever happened to man’s best friend?” Meanwhile, on Trash Island, a pack of five dogs - Rex (Edward Norton), King (Bob Balaban), Duke (Jeff Goldblum), Boss (Bill Murray), and their enigmatic leader, Chief (Bryan Cranston) - eke out a meager existence amidst the garbage-strewn landscape. A chance discovery of a rival pack sparks a fierce struggle for sustenance, with Chief’s pack emerging victorious but scarred.

The dogs’ fortunes take a turn when they encounter a ravishing female canine, Nutmeg (Scarlett Johansson), who strolls into their midst. Just as tensions ease, the sound of a crashing plane pierces the air. Atari, his head beset by a shard from the wreckage, is rescued by the pack and brought to what they believe is his prison cell - only to find a dog skeleton within, a grim reminder that none had known how to liberate the captive. The young pilot’s despair gives way to fury as he realizes the futility of his quest for Spots.

In a poignant flashback, we revisit the fateful day when Atari first welcomed Spots into his life following a devastating car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. Kobayashi’s loyal Major-Domo (Akira Takayama) presents Spots to Atari with an air of disapproval, seemingly unimpressed by the boy’s tender affection towards the canine companion. As Atari whispers sweet nothings into Spots’ ear, tears welling up in his eyes, he reveals to the dog that he has somehow gained the ability to comprehend their conversations.

Meanwhile, the island’s inhabitants are stirred into action when Rex notices a crucial detail - Boss, the ruthless alpha male, is wearing the exact same collar as the dog caged nearby, bearing the name “Sport” rather than Spots. Following yet another catastrophic plane crash, the dogs collectively decide to join forces with Atari in his quest to locate Spots, much to Chief’s initial reluctance, which ultimately yields to the persuasive powers of his new companions.

As night falls, Chief strikes up a conversation with the enigmatic Nutmeg, whose mysterious past as a former show dog is slowly revealed. With Chief’s curiosity piqued, he learns about her tumultuous history and her desire to help Atari in his search for Spots. The Chief agrees to join forces with Atari, driven by a growing sense of camaraderie with the dogs.

In a cutting-edge laboratory, Watanabe makes a groundbreaking discovery - a cure for the canine flu that has ravaged the island’s inhabitants. Alongside his dedicated assistant, Yoko Ono (Yoko Ono), he presents their findings to Kobayashi, only to be met with indifference and a determination to continue exploiting the dogs on Trash Island. Watanabe’s curiosity is piqued by a mysterious file containing classified information about the canine flu and Trash Island, but his Major-Domo intervenes, whisking away any potentially incriminating documents before he can uncover any secrets.

As the dogs embark on their perilous journey to find Spots, their conversations turn to their shared love of sustenance. When probed by his companions, Chief reveals a painful past - one that saw him shift from being a beloved pet to a stray after biting the hand of the eldest boy who attempted to pet him. He claims the boy’s reaction was so severe that he almost severed his fingers entirely. Chief’s tale concludes with an escape from the family’s shed, facilitated by the grandmother’s compassionate gesture of bringing him hibachi chili, which became his favorite food. The experience ultimately led him to abandon his domestic life and take up a solitary existence as a stray.

As the rescue mission unfolds, a trio of unlikely heroes - a drone, a robot dog, and Atari’s rescuers - converge on the captors’ stronghold. The ensuing battle rages on, with Chief taking center stage as he valiantly fights off the mechanical hound, incurring injuries that will have lasting repercussions. Meanwhile, the captors’ defenses are breached, and Atari is finally freed from his prison-like confines. In a display of technological malfunctions, the drone crashes to the ground, its usefulness extinguished.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Tracy Walker (Greta Gerwig), an exchange student with a penchant for uncovering hidden truths, presents her theory to her classmates at Megasaki City’s school. Her bombshell assertion: that the Kobayashi party is rotten to the core and Mayor Kobayashi is corrupt. Determined to prove her hypothesis, Tracy organizes a televised rally, mobilizing her fellow students to demand change in the way their canine companions are being treated. As the kids hold up pictures of their beloved dogs, it becomes clear that Tracy has a personal stake in the matter - she’s Nutmeg’s devoted owner.

As Atari and his newfound pack set out on a perilous quest to locate Jupiter (F. Murray Abraham) and Oracle (Tilda Swinton), two canine sages rumored to possess extraordinary abilities, they stumble upon the enigmatic duo. It becomes apparent that Oracle’s mystical visions are actually just her remarkable ability to decipher TV broadcasts. With this newfound understanding, the group discovers that Spots, a crucial figure in their search, is none other than “Dog Zero,” and his disappearance may be linked to a sinister plot involving a pack of feral canines.

The group’s journey hits a snag when Chief and Atari become separated from the rest of the pack. As they struggle to reconnect, Atari attempts to win over Chief with playful antics, slowly gaining the gruff dog’s trust. In a heartwarming display of bonding, Chief even allows Atari to groom him, revealing that beneath his rugged exterior lies a deep connection to Spots.

Back in Megasaki City, the culinary world is rocked by the sudden and mysterious demise of Professor Watanabe, allegedly the result of a suicide fueled by despair. However, Tracy’s insatiable curiosity leads her to suspect foul play. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a web of deceit that will take her on a perilous journey to expose the truth and bring justice to those affected. With the cure for the canine curse within her grasp, Tracy prepares to face the sinister forces head-on in Part Three: The Rendez-Vous.

As the stalwart duo, Atari and Chief, reunite with their trusted comrades Rex, Boss, King, and Duke, they face a critical juncture: a precarious bridge marks the threshold to the aboriginal tribe. The four canine companions, however, find themselves stuck on the trash lift that brought them this far, while Atari and Chief manage to cross over. But their respite is short-lived, as they’re confronted once more by Kobayashi’s relentless cohorts and an army of robotic canines. Just when all hope seems lost, a heroic intervention arrives in the form of none other than SPOTS.

In a poignant flashback, Spots’ past is revealed as he’s taken in by the aboriginal dogs, led by the wise Gondo (Harvey Keitel). Gondo shares with Spots that their tribe’s reputation for cannibalism stems from a desperate act to survive during a time of scarcity. The revelation stirs deep regret within Gondo and his pack, who had been forced to consume their fallen leader due to the dire circumstances. As they free Spots from his cage, he meets his future mate, Peppermint (Kara Hayward), marking a new chapter in his life.

Back in the present, Spots employs his military-grade explosive teeth to take down the robotic canines, then springs into action with Chief and Atari, leaping into the river to escape their pursuers. As they drift downstream, Spots tenderly shares his decision to relinquish his role as bodyguard and protector, citing his new responsibilities within the tribe and impending fatherhood. He also confirms his brotherly bond with Chief, who initially recoils in disgust at the thought of replacing his loyal companion. However, Spots sees an opportunity for Chief to assume his former mantle, bestowing upon him the tools of their trade: a microphone and earpiece.

With this newfound responsibility, Chief is poised to take on the mantle of leadership as Atari, Chief, and Spots prepare to face the next challenge: a messenger owl bearing crucial news from Jupiter. The trio learns that Kobayashi has concocted a sinister plan to eradicate the city’s canine population through toxic gas. Undaunted, Atari leads his loyal companions onto makeshift rafts, charting a course back towards the city to thwart this heinous scheme and save their fellow dogs from the brink of disaster.

As the city of Megasaki converges for Kobayashi’s election ceremony, whispers spread that Atari has met his demise after a fateful leap off the bridge. Meanwhile, Tracy and her classmates arrive at the scene, determined to expose the corruption that has plagued their canine companions. Her crusade, however, is met with swift retaliation as she is stripped of her student visa and faces deportation. Amidst the turmoil, a sudden twist emerges as Atari, Chief, and the pack of dogs appear, bearing with them the key to Chief’s recovery from the debilitating canine flu. As Atari takes the stage, his impassioned speech and haiku stir Kobayashi’s conscience, prompting him to reverse course on his malicious endeavors.

The former mayor’s about-face is short-lived, however, as his underlings press on with their sinister plans. The activation of a poison designed to eradicate the canine population sparks a chain reaction, with the robot dogs and exterminators on Trash Island falling prey to the toxin’s effects. Amidst the chaos, Spots bravely intervenes, taking down one of the malfunctioning robots at the cost of his own eye. Atari, meanwhile, suffers a critical injury, with a metal fragment lodged in his skull.

As the dust settles, Kobayashi’s corruption is brought to light, and he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions. The former mayor’s nephew, on the brink of despair, receives a life-saving kidney transplant courtesy of Atari. With Kobayashi behind bars, the tables are turned, and Atari assumes the role of Megasaki’s new mayor.

Under his leadership, the city undergoes a transformative shift, as all dogs are reunited with their owners and granted the freedom to reintegrate into society. The once-thriving dog treat factory is revitalized, allowing Chief to reunite with Nutmeg. As the city heals, Atari and Tracy solidify their bond, paving the way for Chief’s growing closeness to his beloved canine companion.

In a heartwarming coda, Spots, now sporting a prosthetic eye, shares a tender moment with Peppermint and their pups as they find peace within the Kobayashi manor.

As the Japanese metropolis of Megasaki is beset by a canine affliction, Mayor Kobayashi (character) decrees that all dogs be quarantined on Trash Island. His nephew, Atari, takes to the skies to search for his beloved dog, Spots. Upon arrival at the island, he encounters a pack of canines led by the enigmatic Chief, a stray who initially rebuffs Atari’s advances but eventually warms up and agrees to assist him.

As they journey together, Chief forms an unbreakable bond with Atari, and the two become inseparable. Their quest ultimately leads them to Spots, now part of an aboriginal tribe on the island, but Spots has grown content in his new life and chooses not to rejoin Atari. Instead, he passes the mantle of trusted companion to Chief, as he prepares to become a father.

Meanwhile, Professor Watanabe makes a groundbreaking discovery – a cure for the canine flu – only to fall victim to a ruthless assassination orchestrated by Kobayashi’s cohorts. The mayor then concocts a nefarious plan to exterminate all dogs on Trash Island by releasing a toxic gas. Determined to expose the truth, Atari, Chief, Spots, and their pack of companions embark on a perilous journey back to Megasaki to prove the efficacy of the cure.

Coincidentally, an exchange student, Tracy Walker (character), has been secretly gathering evidence against Kobayashi’s atrocities. As the dogs and Tracy’s group converge, they join forces to bring the mayor’s regime to justice. After a dramatic showdown involving a malfunctioning robot canine, Atari and Spots find themselves gravely injured. In a surprising turn of events, Mayor Kobayashi donates a kidney to save Atari’s life, while Spots is granted a new prosthetic eye.

In the aftermath, the dogs are reunited with their long-lost owners, and Kobayashi and his accomplices face the consequences of their actions, behind bars. As the dust settles, Atari assumes the role of Megasaki’s new mayor, embarks on a romantic journey with Tracy, and finds solace in her canine companion, Nutmeg. Chief, meanwhile, forges an unbreakable bond with Tracy’s loyal hound. Spots, having found a new sense of purpose, goes on to raise his family within the Kobayashi estate, a testament to the transformative power of love, loyalty, and redemption.