The Japanese are still traumatized after being nuked twice in the 1940s.

Well, that was a criticism I never saw coming. All of Wes Anderson's movies seem to me to be joyous, and Isle of Dogs is no exception.

I think to 'get' Anderson you have to either have lived thru the 60s or 70s or be fairly familiar with all the cultural minutiae he pulls into his movies. With this one it's a loving homage to all the late Showa Era movies and cartoons that incongruously found their way into Western television children's programming half a century ago. The aesthetic in this movie, despite stop motion not being something associated with Japan, is spot on.

And all of the quirky, funny stuff that is Anderson's trade mark is here. It's a bonkers, fun story.

My only quibble is that some of the many diversions from the narrative don't work as well as others and they have the effect of slowing the story. But otherwise, imo it's near enough a masterpiece.