Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Cops and Robbers’ on Netflix, a Must-See Animated Short About Racial Injustice

Cops and Robbers joins Canvas and If Anything Happens I Love You among Netflix’s new Oscar-hopeful animated shorts. The film derives from a spoken-word piece written by Timothy Ware-Hill in May of 2020, in response to Ahmaud Arbery’s murder; he co-directs with Arnon Manor, who conceptualized the Ware-Hills poetry as an animated film. More than 30 artists and animators contribute to the film, which is a powerful patchwork of visual styles bolstering its critical message about racial inequality and violence.

COPS AND ROBBERS (2020): STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: We see Ware-Hill’s face in closeup in real life, but soon painted over with animation. He smiles as he rhymes about a time when he used milk crates as basketball hoops, when “‘hands up don’t shoot’ was for people who was blocking jump shots.” Images of threatening, armed policemen hover over children. A plasticine Colin Kaepernick takes a knee. Chalk on sidewalks used to be for hopscotch; now it’s for outlines of bodies.

His voice wavering, Ware-Hill misses the days of playing Mother May I and hide-and-seek; now mothers ask, “May I” identify bodies, “May I” understand why he’s dead when he did nothing wrong. Our perspective flips upside-down; a Black woman with angry eyes holds her fist in the air; cops, faceless behind helmets and armor, line streets awash with blue; a woman kneels, teeth clenched and tears rolling. KKK hoods loom outside windows; shots are fired and bullets clatter. Ware-Hill’s face reappears, asking questions that maybe have no answers.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Cops and Robbers would bundle nicely with Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods or BlacKkKlansman.

Performance Worth Watching: Ware-Hill’s voice cracks with despair and rage.

Memorable Dialogue: “Instead of hoop dreams, it’s now cell blocks. Instead of hoop dreams, it’s now grave plots.” — Ware-Hill

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: We only ever hear Ware-Hill’s voice in Cops and Robbers, but the diversity of the film’s many visual styles and textures make it a loud, loud chorus. A chorus of raw feelings — rage and grief and frustration. A sprawling support team for one man and his words. The message is obvious: There is no reason for this. There should be no more of it. The credits roll, and roll, and roll, an army of collaborators in support of one voice, making one voice. You can spiritually add yours by watching their work.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Cops and Robbers is another moving, poignant short from Netflix. Like If Anything Happens I Love You, it’s very much about now, and is very much a must-see.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter: @johnserba.

Stream Cops and Robbers on Netflix