Netflix has released the official trailer for Ray Gunn, the new animated feature from Brad Bird, and it is packed with everything you want in a retro-futuristic neo-noir adventure. The clip shows flying cars, jet packs, laser guns, aliens, and a sultry femme fatale, all set against a neon-lit city that feels like a cross between Blade Runner and a 1940s detective movie. Bird is directing, and the film arrives on Netflix in December.
Bird’s resume speaks for itself. He directed The Iron Giant (1999), The Incredibles (2004), and Ratatouille (2007), with the latter two winning Oscars. Now he is back with a project he has been developing for three decades, and the trailer suggests he has finally found the right visual language to bring it to life.
The Inspiration Behind Ray Gunn
The idea for Ray Gunn came from a moment of musical confusion. Bird heard the opening of the B-52s’ “Planet Claire,” a song he describes as a personal favorite, and initially assumed it was a cover of Henry Mancini’s theme from the classic TV show Peter Gunn.
The misreading became the spark. When he heard the song, Bird thought it was a cover of Henry Mancini’s theme music from the classic TV show Peter Gunn.
From there, the concept grew. Bird is a lifelong fan of film noir and hard-boiled detectives, and he decided to create a futuristic version of that world. The title is a pun on “raygun,” and the film takes its cues from the classic private-eye stories that defined the genre in the mid-20th century.
A Detective Story With More Comedy and Action
Bird has been working on the Ray Gunn script for 30 years. The finished product is a collaboration with Matthew Robbins, who co-wrote 1987’s Batteries Not Included with Bird. Together they developed the story, which Bird describes as a blend of genres.
“It’s film noir and a hard-boiled detective story, but it’s got a lot more comedy and a lot more action than the average film noir,” said Bird.
The trailer shows a city full of danger, but the tone is playful. There are jokes, chase scenes, and moments that feel more like a cartoon than a gritty crime thriller. That balance is what makes the project stand out. Bird is not trying to remake a classic crime thriller; he is building a universe where a detective named Ray Gunn can fly a jet pack and still crack a smile.
The Script’s Long Journey
The Ray Gunn script has been in development for a very long time. Bird has worked on many other film projects during that period, but the script “stayed in a filing cabinet at Warner Brothers,” as he put it. Only now, with the film finally moving forward, has it emerged.
The fact that the script sat for so long speaks to the challenges of bringing a project like this to life. Finding the right creative partners takes time. Bird waited until the stars aligned, and now the project is moving forward.
What the Trailer Shows
The trailer is a visual feast. It shows a city filled with flying cars, jet packs, and laser guns. Aliens appear, and the femme fatale is clearly central to the plot. The color palette is neon and retro, with a sense of the future that feels both familiar and strange.
Here is a quick rundown of the key elements:
- Flying cars
- Jet packs
- Laser guns
- Aliens
- A sultry femme fatale
- Neon-lit cityscapes
Each of these elements is a nod to a different corner of pop culture. The flying cars recall Blade Runner. The jet packs are pure 1960s sci-fi. The laser guns are a staple of the genre. And the femme fatale is a classic noir trope. Bird is mixing all of them together, and the result is a trailer that feels both fresh and nostalgic.
Comparing the Films
Bird’s previous work offers a clear sense of what he brings to animation. Here is a look at his major films, ranked by release date:
| Film | Year | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| The Iron Giant | 1999 | Animation |
| The Incredibles | 2004 | Animation |
| Ratatouille | 2007 | Animation |
All three films were hits. The Incredibles and Ratatouille won Oscars. Bird has a track record of making films that entertain adults and children alike.
Why the Project Matters
The Ray Gunn project is significant for several reasons. First, it is a return to animation after a long break. Second, it is a collaboration with a writer who has worked with him before. Third, it is a chance for Bird to explore a genre he loves.
The film’s description as a “neo-noir science-fiction mystery” is accurate. It is a detective story set in a futuristic world, with all the trappings of the genre. The trailer confirms that the film is stylish, funny, and full of action.
A Decade of Waiting
Bird has been working on the idea for Ray Gunn for the last 30 years, juggling other film projects along the way while the script — co-written by Matthew Robbins, who also co-wrote 1987’s Batteries Not Included with Bird — stayed in a filing cabinet at Warner Brothers, as he put it.
The film is scheduled for release on Netflix in December. That means audiences will see it soon. The trailer has generated excitement.
What We Know So Far
The trailer is the clearest signal yet of what Ray Gunn will be. It is a comedy-heavy neo-noir detective story with a lot more action than the average film noir. It is also a visual spectacle, full of retro-futuristic elements that fans of the genre will love.
Bird has made some of the best animated films of the past few decades. His work on The Incredibles and Ratatouille proved that he could handle big budgets and complex storytelling. Now he is taking on a different challenge.
The film is a chance for Bird to revisit a genre he loves. It is also a chance for Netflix to add a high-profile original animated feature to its slate. The trailer has done its job.
The Ray Gunn trailer is a reminder of why we love this kind of storytelling. It is a mix of genres, a dash of humor, and a dash of danger. It is a film that knows what it wants to be and delivers on that promise.
For fans of Brad Bird, the trailer is a reason to be excited. For anyone who loves animation, it is a reason to pay attention. Ray Gunn is coming to Netflix in December, and it looks like a blast.
The film’s combination of noir, comedy, and action is a bold move. It is a risk, but it is a risk worth taking. The trailer shows a world that is both strange and familiar, a city where a detective named Ray Gunn can fly a jet pack and still solve a crime.
The wait is nearly over. The film arrives in December, and the trailer has already done its job. It has shown a neo-noir detective story with more comedy and more action than the average film noir. That is a promise worth keeping.
See the video the story is built around at Ars Technica.
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