Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow

Director: Julio Soto Gurpide
Starring: Ronnie Chieng, Catherine Martinez, Vincente Gil, Jésus Barreda
Distributor: Rialto Distribution
Runtime: 88 mins. Reviewed in Feb 2024
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Mild themes, some scenes may scare young children

Inspector Sun boards a seemingly normal plane for a much-needed vacation, but when an enigmatic millionaire receives a threat on his life, Sun is back on the case. Trapped in a web of lies, Sun must find the culprit before it’s too late.

Here is a different animation film. The novelty of its characters can be an entertainment for children and the novelty of its characters may also offer some tantalising entertainment for adults.

Inspector Sun is from Shanghai, 1934, which offers its own intriguing atmosphere and history. While he is related to the police chief, he has a knack of solving difficult cases although his fellow officers dismiss his success as his being lucky. And evidenced by his rather haughty attitude and habit of receiving plaudits for others’ ideas, initially he is not really a likeable character.

This is not an Asian production but rather from a Spanish studio. The animation is bright, colourful, with a lot of action and a range of eccentric characters. The film begins with a holiday to America for Inspector Sun who, though he captured the criminal, is suspended because he lit a match that caused an extraordinary fireworks display and the destruction of the factory.

If this brief description has sounded attractive, what is next can be considered a considerable spoiler. But if you don’t mind spoilers read on.

This review has neglected to note that all the characters are insects, though there are some humans in the background just as there are insects in the background of human stories. So, all ranges of insects, and their being humorous caricatures of humans in their appearance, dress, style, remarks. A Wikipedia review states this is anthropomorphism.

Most of the action takes place on the most luxuriously interior design plane on its way to San Francisco. There is a mysterious death, lively would-be apprentice detective, a master criminal, and an intriguing plot which can turn ordinary insects, cocooned, into a swarm of criminals. Which gives the opportunity for the plane swerving through the streets of San Francisco, flying towards the Golden Gate which is under construction . . .

So, a different animation, and with the voice of comedian Chieng as Inspector Sun. (One of the writers is Rocco Pucillo with Pucillo meaning flea.)