Agreed that you can't have one without the other.
I recently re-watched a film I first saw when it came out. I remembered the visuals and overall concept being amazing, only to be wasted on ho-hum stock characters and a plot that alternated between paint-by-numbers and completely illogical under the circumstances. (I.e. someone saying "You've finally come to join the resistance," when the "resistance" consists of basically only that character and a couple supporting characters. (Think if Batman referred to himself and Alfred as "The resistance"). Also, they're in a post-apocalyptic wasteland with a half-dozen characters. There's no repressive government or anything TO resist. One of the characters tries to be a leader and is really bossy and kind of a jerk... maybe they're resisting him? But he has no real power to speak of.
I was genuinely hoping to find more in it this time, because it's truly amazing to look at. Sadly, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I"d turned off the sound and made up my own story and dialogue. Sigh - So much wasted potential.