The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

After a young World of Warcraft player dies, his online circle reaches out to his family with stories and messages that were once shared in-game. The film reimagines that digital life through a mix of archival footage and striking animation, turning chats, streams, and avatars into a quiet, living portrait. Rather than tracing a single narrative, it threads together memories from real life and from the game world to show how the deceased's virtual self continues to influence the people who knew him. Benjamin Ree directs with Mats Steen as creator, guiding an intimate meditation on loss and connection. The film quietly questions how a person is seen through a crowd of online avatars. The film avoids sensationalism throughout too.

Directed by Benjamin Ree, this documentary animated feature blends archive footage with animation to tell a life story inspired by a young World of Warcraft player known as Ibelin. Mats Steen, Robert Steen, and Trude Steen appear as Self today.

This blend of documentary and animation has become a talking point in festival circles, praised for its humane treatment of online grief and for presenting a generational portrait of digital communities. It shows how avatars, screen names, and in-game lore become living artifacts that anchor memory across time and generations.

Critics have praised the film for its restrained tone and inventive form, using animation to access private memory without sensationalism. It foregrounds grief as a social act, exploring how families negotiate a beloved child's online footprint, and asks whether a person's digital echoes can heal or complicate their loss today.

Box office figures are not widely published because the film played mainly at festivals and streaming platforms. It has attracted a dedicated audience and holds an 8.113/10 rating from 124 votes. Its modest footprint reflects a niche but growing audience.