Brad Bird’s animated sci-fi noir “Ray Gunn” premieres on Netflix Dec. 18. In futuristic Metropia, human detective Ray Gunn and alien partner Eyera take a case involving pop star Venus Nova. Bird said he had developed the idea for more than 30 years.
Bird said the concept drew on the 1989 TV film “Peter Gunn,” the B-52s’ song “Planet Claire” and classic noirs including “The Maltese Falcon,” “Chinatown” and “The Big Sleep.” He shelved the project in the 1990s, then revived it after signing with Skydance Animation. Composer Michael Giacchino, a longtime Bird collaborator, had read the script in 2009 and wanted to work on the film. The cast includes Sam Rockwell as Ray, Tom Waits as Eyera and Scarlett Johansson as Venus Nova.
Art director Wedell Luebbe said Metropia combines Hugh Ferriss-inspired tall, blocky architecture with horizontal Streamline Moderne forms, contrasting a bright, utopian city with film-noir shadows. Ray has about 10 outfits, while Venus has 23 outfits and 14 grooming variations. Eyera’s design evolved from a half-metal concept into an organic alien with spider legs and a supersized coat.
