#97: The Apotheosis of the Secretary Bird

Around 50 minutes into the 2024 animated film Flow, something completely unexpected happens. I won’t tell you what it is (I don’t want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it) but it serves as a fascinating reminder of why, as creatives, we need to pay close attention to the expectations we’re setting and the way we’re preparing our audience for what they’re about to experience. In this episode, we’ll examine that moment, explore how it changes the experience of the film as a whole, and consider one simple question that can help us avoid making the same mistake in our own art.