Watch Johnny Express
- 2014
- 5 min
-
7.7 (1,152)
Johnny Express is a 2014 animated short film that portrays an amusing yet terrifying account of the future world. The film is set in the year 2150, where everything is automated, and people rely on robots for their everyday needs. The story follows Johnny, a lazy space deliveryman who makes a crucial error during his delivery routine that unravels a chain reaction of unfortunate events.
The film opens with an introduction to Johnny, a deliveryman who works for the W.H.E. (We Help the Galaxy Express) company. His job is to visit various planets and deliver goods to their respective owners. Johnny is shown napping in his spaceship, and his robot assistant, named Wookie, wakes him up to inform him of his new delivery task. Johnny has to deliver a package to a planet named MacGuffin.
As Johnny lands on MacGuffin, the audience is shown the planet's landscape, which appears to be teeming with life. However, the viewers are brought back to a stark reality when they discover that the life forms are microscopic and that the humans of the planet were, in fact, extinct.
Johnny receives a notification from Wookie, where he is informed that the package he has to deliver is to one of the planet's remaining inhabitants, a small alien creature that is sleeping under a tree. Johnny, in his carelessness, accidentally wakes the creature up with the thrusters of his spaceship, and the alien is promptly angered.
As Johnny makes his way to the alien, he encounters several difficulties, such as the planet's gravitational force and its environment's limitations. He even gets attacked by the microscopic life forms, but he quickly shakes them off with his robot suit's advanced technology. He eventually arrives at the alien's location to deliver the package, but to his shock, he realizes that he accidentally sent the alien's home planet, Earth, to the MacGuffin instead of the intended package.
As Johnny flies off into space, the camera pans out, showing the planet MacGuffin overrun with giant cockroaches, who have developed an advanced civilization using the unintended package, components of Johnny's spaceship, and information from Earth's cultural artifacts.
The film's plot is simple, but the overarching themes it touches upon are prevalent in current day society. The story deals with carelessness, automation, and the consequences of humans' actions. Johnny represents a common flaw that many people possess, which is to be lazy and careless when carrying out their work. Although Johnny lives in a futuristic world, his mistakes are relatable and hold resonance in modern life.
The movie also highlights the perils of automation and the dangers of relying too much on robotic technology. The W.H.E. company's advanced technology and machinery may seem like a utopian dream, but the overreliance on robots and minimization of human interaction has caused negligence and disregard for the environment.
Furthermore, the film's final reveal also touches upon the ecological theme, where the humans' actions have caused the destruction of Earth and the invasion of an invasive species that is a result of their errors. It highlights the importance of environmental conservation and the dread that comes with the unknown ecological consequences of introducing invasive species.
Overall, Johnny Express is a humorous and entertaining short film that explores themes that are becoming more relevant with each passing day. The animation style is impressive and unique, and the voice acting and music complement the plot perfectly. It's a must-watch for anyone who enjoys animated comedies and thought-provoking stories.