‘Orbit Z, heading zero by zero seven. Attempting rescue’, says a member of the Delta Force Mission. The mission, which is also the title of the animation film from Romania, is perpetually rescuing someone. That someone is Alma (Mirela Gorea’s voice), a green humanoid from another galaxy who joins the mission. Ships from the mission zip within the void of space to rescue her and do it post haste. Some planets, Earth like, are easier, even with monsters who look like they comprise literally of boulders. Others are less so, like a swamp planet with energy beams coming from machines that fly.

I don’t have problems with the film’s aesthetic, us millennials like our Saturday cartoons regardless of origin. The biggest problem here is the storytelling that starts out heavy, introducing the mission first and then Alma. There is , however, less concern for the mission’s other members (Marcel Iureș, Dan Condurache, and Ion Chelaru). There is also less concern for narration and worldbuilding after the spoon feeding during the first act. The film shows us spaceships jetting towards whatever planet Alma is stuck in, which, sure, is okay. But there is a big worry as to whether or not Delta Force Mission will stick its landing.

Delta Force Mission does get brownie points for effort and for being Romania’s first animation feature, and even if the mission’s members are there to support Alma, I give them an ad hoc pass. Even Ceaușescu era Romania sees diversity as a utopia, maybe moreso then than most Eurocrentic minds now. No, this is not Ceaușescu apology and I am also acknowledging that this rips off Star Trek. And yes, I’m ok with all of this even though most of the animation depicts spaceships over people. Like most animation, it’s imaginative, a spirit that Alma possesses even in the midst of danger.

The planet with psychedelic swamps is where, as strange as this sounds, Delta Force Mission finds its footing. The colour schemes make the swamps look corrosive, which makes viewers concern for Alma and her dog. The bubbles also made me worry but that’s just the dog breathing under thick and purple-green water. Purple water isn’t the big bad here, and the mission is there again to rescue Alma. Does the mission realise that they’re alway there to clean up the pieces after Alma’s mess – maybe not. But what is space and new planets, if not a place where one can have some adventures?

Delta Force Mission comes soon to OVID.