What Is Away About?
The premise of Away in 267 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a Sun‑scorched realm where dunes bleed into endless forests and jagged cliffs loom over restless seas, a teenage wanderer awakens to a world that feels both alien and oddly familiar. The boy discovers that his parachute, a relic of a forgotten crash, is the only tether to a life left behind, and that an expansive, untamed island stretches out before him, riddled with hidden valleys, whispering caves, and terrain that shifts from scorching desert to mist‑shrouded mountains. The island itself feels alive, its geography a puzzle of stark contrasts that beckon exploration while hinting at stories buried deep beneath its soil.
Accompanying the boy is an unlikely, feathered companion—a small, bright‑colored chick whose presence injects both levity and a sense of purpose into the otherwise solitary trek. Their bond is quiet yet steadfast, each relying on the other for comfort, guidance, and the occasional spark of hope. Together they navigate the island’s mysteries, guided by a tattered map and a survival kit that suggest a path toward a distant port village—a promise of rescue and a way home that fuels their resolve.
The tone of the film hovers between wistful wonder and quiet suspense, painting every sunrise and storm‑laden night with a palette of vivid color and lingering melancholy. The atmosphere feels both magical and unforgiving, inviting viewers to linger on the delicate balance between discovery and danger. As the boy and his feathered friend press onward, the island’s enigmatic landscapes become a character in their own right, offering clues, obstacles, and fleeting moments of grace that keep the journey’s ultimate purpose tantalizingly out of reach.
What Happens in Away?
The complete story of Away, from the first scene to the last, in 582 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
A stark desert dawn opens the tale as a teenage boy wakes with his parachute snagged on a tree branch, the ground dry and pale beneath him. A colossal black monster rises out of the dust, advancing with slow, ominous intent. The creature aims to swallow him, but the boy wrestles free from the parachute and bolts away, realizing the monster is almost fully transparent as it lumbers after him. He follows a dark, winding road that leads to a cave, where a motorcycle sits beside a forest that brushes the edge of the ocean. After a quick bite and a wash, he encounters a small yellow chick, and his backpack reveals a survival kit and a map of the island he’s on, marking a path toward a port village on the far side. With the monster still looming at the cave entrance, the boy chooses to spend the night in the forest, gathering his wits and supplies for what lies ahead.
The next day unfurls in a sequence of cautious steps and daring moves. The boy rides the motorcycle around the cave, and as a flock of white birds darkens the sky, the chick follows the flock—only to be swallowed by the monster. In a tense sprint, the boy threads between the monster’s grasp and, somehow, manages to rescue the chick. That night, he stockpiles fruit and water and rides onward with the chick in tow, exiting the cave together. Their journey pushes through arches and into open desert, then into grasslands, while the monster trails behind, slowly consuming every creature in its path. On a ridge of rock, the boy climbs a mountain decorated with balancing stones and topples a boulder toward a wooden bridge. A white fox darts in, giving chase to the chick, and he succeeds in destroying the bridge, sending the monster plunging—though the chick is knocked off a cliff too. A white bird guides the chick back to the boy, and mid-journey, the chick unfurls its wings and parts from the boy, joining a soaring flock.
In the midst of this odyssey, the boy dreams of parachuting from a plane, surrounded by black, human-like figures who resemble the monster as they fall to their deaths. Back in the real world, the chick and the flock circle the bridge only to discover the monster still alive and relentlessly pursuing the boy. Days drift by, and the boy discovers the wreckage of the plane he previously rode within; he takes shelter inside the fuselage as rain falls. The flock persists in following the monster, but then all the white birds suddenly die, their bodies tumbling toward the monster, and the chick flies back to warn the boy of the looming danger.
Dawn breaks on a colder, steeper test: the boy rides his motorcycle through snow-capped mountains, the monster close behind. A blizzard roars to life, exhaustion presses in, and the boy faints. He wakes to find himself tumbling into the monster’s depths, but the chick arrives just in time, pulling him free as the monster explodes in a final, explosive release. The pair then races downhill toward a port village, dodging disaster as an avalanche bears down. The motorcycle slips toward the water, and the boy dives into the ocean to escape the collapse, swimming to shore. He removes his goggles and finds villagers approaching in the distance, with the white bird soaring above, a quiet sign of hope as the island’s mysteries begin to settle into view.
Away Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Waking in the desert and the translucent threat” to “Arrival, gaze of safety, and a new presence”. 14 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Waking in the desert and the translucent threat
A teenage boy wakes up in a desert with his parachute tangled in a tree branch. A giant black monster rises from the dust and approaches him, trying to consume him. He escapes by breaking free from the parachute and discovers the monster is transparent.
When:Early morning Where:Desert
- 2
Discovery of the motorcycle and ocean-edge forest
He follows a dark road toward a cave and discovers a motorcycle waiting there. Beyond the cave, a forest lies beside the ocean, hinting at the island's varied landscapes. The motorcycle gives him a means of travel as he begins his search for safety.
When:Day Where:Road toward cave and forest by the ocean
- 3
Meeting the chick and finding supplies
After eating and washing in the forest, he meets a small yellow chick who seems lost. He discovers a backpack containing a survival kit and a map of the island. The map points toward a distant port village on the other side of the island, offering a possible escape.
When:Day Where:Forest
- 4
Night at the forest with the cave looming
With the monster still looming outside the cave, he spends the night in the forest. The surroundings feel ominous as the map and kit prepare him for what lies ahead. The giant creature remains nearby as he rests.
When:Night Where:Forest near cave
- 5
Desert chase and a hero’s rescue
Next day, he rides the motorcycle around the cave, while a flock of white birds fills the sky. The chick follows the birds and is swallowed by the monster, triggering a desperate chase. He charges through the monster's form and rescues the chick.
When:Day Where:Around the cave
- 6
From desert to grasslands under pursuit
That night, he stocks up on fruits and water and leaves the cave with the chick. They cross desert into grasslands as the monster relentlessly pursues, devouring every animal in its path. The journey shows the monster's growing hunger and the boy's determination.
When:Night to day Where:Desert to grasslands
- 7
Balancing rocks, bridge, and a dangerous chase
He climbs a mountain decorated with balancing rocks and pushes a boulder toward a wooden bridge. A white fox appears and chases the chick, complicating the escape. He destroys the bridge, sending the monster tumbling, but the chick falls off the cliff and is saved by a white bird that guides it back.
When:Day Where:Mountain and bridge
- 8
Farewell of the chick to the flock
In the middle of the journey, the chick spreads its wings and bids farewell, joining a flock of white birds. The boy watches as the birds depart, continuing the pursuit alone. This marks a turning point in their bond and fate.
When:Day Where:Along the route
- 9
Nightmare of planes and pursuit while awake danger looms
That night, the boy dreams he parachutes from a plane while black, human-like figures fall to their deaths. The chick and its flock circle back to the bridge to find the monster still alive and pursuing them. The dream foreshadows the danger yet to come.
When:Night Where:Dream sequence
- 10
Plane wreckage and the ever-present threat
Days later, he discovers the wreckage of the plane he was on. He takes shelter inside the fuselage from the rain. The flock continues to follow the monster, and all white birds die, leaving the chick to fly to him and warn him of the monster's approach.
When:Days later Where:Plane wreckage
Show the other 4 events of Away Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Blizzard pursuit and nearing doom
The next leg of the journey takes them over snow-capped mountains as the monster pursues. The blizzard intensifies and the boy collapses from exhaustion. The two seem to be closing in on a fatal confrontation as the threat edges closer.
When:During a blizzard Where:Snowy mountains
- 12
Rescue from within the monster
The chick arrives and pulls him free from inside the monster. The hostile creature finally explodes after the exit is created. They share a moment of relief as the threat ends and a new path opens.
When:Immediately after rescue Where:Inside and outside the monster
- 13
Escape toward the port village and the sea
Waking, they race downhill against an avalanche toward the port village. The boy drives the motorcycle down into the ocean to outrun the ice and swims to the shore. He finally reaches land as danger recedes and distant villagers approach.
When:Day Where:Downhill to port village and sea
- 14
Arrival, gaze of safety, and a new presence
After removing his goggles, he sees villagers walking toward him and a white bird flying above them. The scene hints at safety and a fragile new balance on the island. The journey ends with a quiet sense of hope for what comes next.
When:After arrival Where:Shore / village
Who Are the Main Characters in Away?
2 characters, among them The Boy and Chick: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- TB
The Boy
A resourceful, determined teenager who wakes alone on a desert island and must navigate a perilous landscape. He quickly assesses threats, finds a map and supplies, and uses a motorcycle to traverse the terrain. His bond with the yellow chick becomes a defining strength as he faces the monster and the elements.
- 🧭 Survivor
- 🗺️ Planner
- 🚗 Driver
- C
Chick
A small, adventurous yellow chick that travels with the boy. It demonstrates resilience beyond its size, follows birds, and acts as a guide and symbol of trust. The chick’s evolving role pushes the boy to act bravely and adapt to ever-changing dangers.
- 🐣 Companion
- 🐥 Yellow
- 🐦 Bird Friend
Where and When Is Away Set?
Away is set in Desert, Cave, Forest by the Ocean, Port Village and Snowy Mountains. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Desert, Cave, Forest by the Ocean, Port Village, Snowy Mountains
An isolated island landscape featuring a harsh desert, a hidden cave, and a lush forest by the ocean, with a distant port village on the far side. The terrain shifts from dry sands to green woodlands and snow-capped peaks as the journey unfolds. The setting provides a dangerous stage where a giant black monster pursues the boy across diverse environments.
- 🏜 Desert
- 🏝 Island
- 🌊 Ocean
- 🌲 Forest
What Are the Themes of Away?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Survival, Threat and Companionship.
-
01
Survival
The boy must endure an unforgiving landscape and outmaneuver a relentless threat. He improvises with a map, a backpack, and a motorcycle, learning to read the land as a means of staying alive. The theme centers on resilience, resourcefulness, and steady nerves under pressure.
-
02
Threat
A giant black monster emerges from dust and relentlessly pursues the boy, consuming creatures in its path. The creature’s transparency adds a eerie, elusive danger that heightens the sense of peril. The pursuit climaxes in a decisive confrontation that reshapes the journey.
-
03
Companionship
A small yellow chick becomes an unlikely ally, guiding the boy and giving him a reason to persevere. Their bond grows through shared danger, small acts of trust, and mutual dependence. The chick’s presence softens the ordeal and symbolizes hope.
-
04
Journey
The story unfolds as a trek across desert, grasslands, and mountains toward the port village. The journey features dramatic landscapes, shifting weather, and a final ascent that tests endurance. The arc culminates with a dramatic rescue and a return to civilization.
What Kind of Film Is Away?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Happy
A tense and fast-paced animated adventure that follows a lone boy and his avian companion on a perilous journey across a mystical island, constantly pursued by a consuming monster.
- tense
- perilous
- adventurous
- lonely
- dreamlike
- persistent
- survival
- quest for home
- companionship
- monster threat
Content notes: animal death, child endangerment, peril.
Quiz
How well do you remember Away? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Away
Stream it on Criterion Channel and Darkroom, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 3
Criterion Channel 
Darkroom 
fuboTV 
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