Kid Koala

TIFF Lightbox Space Cadet Kid Koala NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Canada | 2025 | 86m | No Dialogue Centrepiece Film Description Directed and scored by Kid Koala and based on his graphic novel, Space Cadet is a poignant animated feature with original songs by Karen O and Digable Planets’ Mariana “Ladybug Mecca” Vieira. TIFF Presented by Rogers Based on acclaimed Canadian musician and deejay Kid Koala’s award-winning graphic novel of the same name, Space Cadet is a dialogue-free animated film that portrays the tender story of a young girl, Celeste, and the first-generation Guardianbot she loves. Celeste is in an astronaut academy and, while her mom is in space, Robot takes care of her. They form a familial bond. When Celeste grows older and is able to go on her own adventure, she leaves Robot behind. As we see Celeste find samples of life on the planet she’s on, and the joy she gets in outer space, Robot is struggling with loneliness. He revisits all of his memories with Celeste, but his technical systems begin to shut down. Kid Koala scored the film, which also includes original songs by Karen O and Digable Planets’ Mariana “Ladybug” Vieira. Beautifully animated by a fully Canadian team with 2D designs from Toronto-based animator and illustrator Lillian Chan and 3D modelling from Montreal’s Gilles Renault (How to Train Your Dragon), Space Cadet is a story for the whole family. It’s a film about discovery and memories, loneliness and connections, anchored by a smart, independent girl obsessed with outer space. And the music? Out of this world. KELLY BOUTSALIS