I remember back in 2019 when I stumbled upon “volume 1” of Love Death + Robots on Netflix, the 18 episode series had me glued to it from the start and I ended up binge-watching the series over two days, it reminded me of The Animatrix with its collection of bite-size episodes with some stunning state of the art animations in various formats along with live-action as well.
Now two years on we are gifted with Love Death + Robots Volume 2 and after seeing the teaser trailer for the new “volume” I couldn’t wait for it to arrive on Netflix and yes you guessed right, I binge-watched this collection of more bite-sized episodes, but this time it didn’t take so long as Volume 2 only has eight stories. The series much like the first one covers many genres including science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy.
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The opening animation is certainly a lesson to be learnt when it comes to how we take technology for granted as senior citizens enjoy their golden years with the help of tech around the house, that is until the robotic servants decide that they need to kill their human owners. Brilliantly animated with some fantastic comic moments, this first story just made me want to carry on watching in my binge-watching session.
ICE
I have to say that the next story took me a while to get used to the animation, the look is very different with the characters having a very distinctive look, but the story is family orientated as to brothers are split due to one being “unmodded” and the other being “enhanced”, trying to keep up with his enhanced brother he joins him on a deathly race on the ice to prove himself. It’s a fantastic story that although set on the ice has warmth, look out for the ice whales they look stunning.
Pop Squad
We return to the CGI for the third story in Love Death + Robots, this first reminded me very much of Bladerunner with its dystopian future with the rain lashing down, flying cars and a cop that is charged with enforcing the policy of keeping control of the poor who are having “unauthorised offspring” as the rich want to live forever and want to control the population crisis. Again, this is a stunning piece of animation with the characters looking real, I almost forgot I was watching a CGI short.
Snow in the Desert
I have to say that when the title came up for this one, I had no idea how it was going to go. This episode has some amazing CGI with some stunning scenes that are jaw-dropping. We are taken to a scorched planet where an ageless albino named ” Snow” is being hunted by various hired killers, but a beautiful stranger named Hirald helps him. As with most of the stories in Love Death + Robots, it has some nice twists and turns.
The Tall Grass
I loved the animation style in The Tall Grass, it was like watching a painting coming to life and after watching this one it really makes you want to stay on the train and not leave it! When the train has to make an unscheduled stop in the middle of nowhere, a lone passenger is told to stay on the train but he needs to have a smoke, while outside the train he notices some strange lights in the tall grass and can’t resist finding out what they are. But after he finds out the hellish horror that is causing the lights he soon wishes he hadn’t left the train!
All Through The House
What a fantastic twist on a Christmas fantasy as two young children hear a noise downstairs followed by the sound of jingle bells, as with most children they sneak downstairs to take a peek at Father Christmas, but they discover something very different to what they were expecting. Fantastic animation again in this one and it’s the shortest of the stories but it packs a punch at the end, brilliant.
Life Hutch
This live-action short features Michael B. Jordan as Terrance a Combat pilot that crash lands on a desolate planet during a battle, with his air running out he has to make his way to the automated shelter to survive but upon arrival things don’t go to plan as he has to fight for his life in the only place he thought he would be safe.
The Drowned Giant
Now this was strange one to end Love Death + Robots Volume 2, imagine what would have happened if Gulliver hadn’t survived and died on the beach of Lilliput, that’s very much like this short as a naked giant is found dead on the beach outside a small fishing village, the story of the giant washing up on the shore is documented by a local scientist as he visits the giant from the time it arrives to its surrender to nature and to the town. This may a very macabre story but it is beautifully animated and narrated, it was a bit uneasy to watch as it brings home our own mortality but what a way to end the second volume.
Love Death + Robots Volume 2 has been a joy to watch. It is a shame that it only ran for eight episodes rather than the massive 18 of the first volume, but the stories have been great to watch, and the eight are perfect for a binge-watch on Netflix.
More Amazing Animation in Volume 2
Name: Love Death + Robots Volume 2
Description: A collection of animated short stories that span various genres including science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy.
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Ice
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Pop Squad
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Snow in the Desert
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The Tall Grass
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All Through the House
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Life Hutch
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The Drowned Giant
Summary
Love Death + Robots Volume 2 is packed with some amazing animation and stories that make this Netflix series very binge-watchable.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
