With so many biographical films coming out every year, it is surprising to see not many have highlighted the acclaimed inventor, artist, and architect, Leonardo da Vinci. The Inventor sets out to tell da Vinci's story, through silly dialog and stop-motion animation. One can tell that co-directors Jim Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon took this on as a passion project, as every scene is meticulously crafted and painstakingly executed. The Inventor fast-forwards through the later stages of da Vinci's life, focusing on the transition from Italy to France, but really dives into his obsession with finding the human soul, potentially unlocking the meaning of life.
Set in 1516, Leonardo da Vinci (Stephen Fry) spends his days learning, studying, and trying to unlock the secrets of the universe. Aside from studying the stars and inventing contraptions, da Vinci has taken an interest in dissecting the human body, as he works on cadavers in secret. His goal is to find the human soul and the meaning of life, while he documents his findings along the way. Of course, his research is looked down upon by the church, as Pope Leo X (Matt Berry) orders him to stop his work at once. Shackled by the rulings of the church, da Vinci sets out to work for the young and enlightened king of France, Francis I (Gauthier Battoue), only to find much of the same. Although discouraged, da Vinci is not completely broken, and he links up with the king's sister, Marguerite (Daisy Ridley), to bring some of his projects to life.
The animation is impressive in The Inventor, as Capobianco and Granion make the choice to rotate between stop-motion and hand-drawn. The contrast between the two styles is a welcome sight, and the film seems to flow at ease, transitioning back and forth between the two styles. Where the film falters is in its disjointed storytelling. Maybe this is some sort of reflection of da Vinci himself, who seemingly never finished a thought or a project without moving on to the next one. Capobianco, who also wrote the film, takes the story in the same manner, moving at blistering speed from scene to scene. It makes The Inventor seem more like a high-level educational film that focuses on his final quest to find the soul.
With so many accomplishments in da Vinci's lifetime, it is a welcome sight to see a movie touch on his more abstract mission, the continuous search for the meaning of life. Leonardo has so many tangible accomplishments that it is almost impossible to fully tell his story, a point this directing duo convey to some extent. The Inventor is worth a watch for anyone interested in da Vinci's life, or even the never-ending search for knowledge unknown. Just don't expect to be blown away.