Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Maker (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. I've made known many times on this blog of my love for stop-motion animation. It's an art form that feels both nostalgic and timeless, an animated art form of painstaking passion and detail. It's an art form that's dying, an art form that I fear may no longer exist 20 years from now. So when I see a new stop-motion animated film, I stand up and take notice. It doesn't hurt that this short also took my breath away. Here is the 6-minute animated short The Maker from filmmaker Christopher Kezelos.

Here's the synopsis:

A strange creature races against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life.

This piece is just stunning. Not only is the animation beautiful, not only is the score hypnotic, but the story and its symbolism had me grinning from ear to ear. I've always liked things that touch on the existential questions of life. What does it mean to live? What does it mean to love? The Maker is all about life and what it takes to make a life, a story of shared moments and heartfelt goodbyes, of hoping the ones you leave behind - the one's you've created - can carry on your legacy.

The filmmaker of the short, Christopher Kezelos perfectly sums up his work in an interview with the online animation magazine, Skwigly:

The Maker explores the preciousness of our moments on earth, the short time we have with loved ones and the enjoyment of one’s life’s work and purpose.

Check this out if you want to see something uniquely beautiful and interesting. Check this out if you want to see the amazing world of storytelling that stop-motion animation can convey. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with, The Maker.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - La Queue de la Souris (A Mouse’s Tale)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Like every kid I grew up reading Aesop's Fables, and this tale is one of Aesop's most classic and enduring fables, but with a twist. I love the old style of animation used in the short which almost feels like paper cut animation, and the tone of the piece, the pacing is just fantastic. Here is the 4-minute French fable La Queue de la Souris (A Mouse's Tale) from filmmaker Benjamin Renner.

Here's the synopsis:

An underdog story about a mouse who comes across a lion and tries to keep him happy long enough to come up with a plan to survive.

This ones a short short so there really isn't more that needs to be said. It's just a magical daily dose of hope and courage. Honestly if it was me, I'd probably have already been eaten. I just love underdog stories.

Check this out if you want to see a beautifully animated fable. Check this out if you like to watch stories about the little guy rising up and overcoming adversary (cliched I know but wonderfully done). Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with La Queue de La Souris (A Mouse's Tale).

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Crayon Dragon (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. It's not often that you have the feeling that you're getting the chance to see the start of an upcoming artist, the start of animator that could hit it really it big one day. This short is a great example of how talent and ingenuity with hard work can create something magical regardless of experience or budget. Here is the 3-minute animated short Crayon Dragon from filmmaker Toniko Pantoja.

Here's the synopsis:

A girl is commissioned to paint over an old concrete illustration, in which to her surprise, [she] sinks into. She befriends a painted dragon who has a wing missing.

Toniko Pantoja created this short for a second-year project at CalArts animation. I just love the old school look and feel to this piece, like watching a storybook come to life, like being young again. There's great talent at work here and I'm just amazed by the results.

Check this out if you want to something both vibrant and heartwarming. Check this out if you want to remember the beauty of being a child filled with wonder. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Crayon Dragon.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Apocalypse Pizza (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. This weeks short is a beautiful animated bit of zombie action that is both short and sweet. Here is the 4-minute French animated short Apocalypse Pizza from filmmaker Andres Fernandez.

Here's the synopsis:

A group of delivery workers try to deliver pizza and movies in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

It's a simple premise beautifully executed in the best comedic video game way possible. The animation is fresh and while the story is familiar, the way its animated and shot and just the simple fact that its in Paris and there's a group of people who are living during the zombie apocalypse and are intent on bringing customers some microwaved pizza and dvds is so charming it borders on brilliance.

Check this out if you, like myself, enjoy a good zombie film. Check this out if you like beautifully animated works that will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Apocalypse Pizza.


Apocalypse Pizza by blankytwo

Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Cat Piano (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Do you like film Noir? Do you like your films to be so cool that each frame drips with pastiche, each frame filled with smokey lounges and jazz music? I love me a good noir story and an animated noir, a noir with cats facing the dark underbelly of society and music, yeah that pushes all my buttons. Here is the 8-minute animated short The Cat Piano from filmmakers Eddie White and Ari Gibson.

Here's the synopsis:

A city of singing cats is preyed upon by a shadowy figure intent on performing a twisted feline symphony.

This whole short is one breezy animated narrated poem, like something right out of the hazy beat cafe's, the gilded saloons with their beautiful soulful songstresses. The animation is striking and the use of cats to harmonize the evil Cat Piano is wonderfully frightening. Everything about this short just glows beauty, promise and brilliance and I cannot recommend this one highly enough.

Check this out if you love film noir, animation and even better, both. Check this out if you want to see a lyrical poem come to life in the dark backdrop of a cat filled society. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with The Cat Piano.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Ruin (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

I'm on vacation right now traipsing around Europe, but I still didn't want to leave our listeners and readers without any content so I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. Do you like videogames? Do you like brilliant animated cgi sequences where you marvel at the spectacle of it all? Do you like cryptic post-apocalyptic parables? Well this short is the one for you. Here is the 8-minute animated action short Ruin from filmmaker Wes Ball.

It took 2-years for Ball to make this short, and you can see all the love and care that went into it. This one's a post-apocalyptic short where nature has reclaimed her home and robots hunt humans. Why? What happened? I don't know, but Bell promises a sequel at the end that will leave watchers salivating for the wait.

Check this out if you like beautifully animated films. Check this out if you need your sc-fi fix and want to see a beautiful world changed forever. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with Ruin.



RUIN from OddBall Animation on Vimeo.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Arctic Circle (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's animation time again and this one is a wonderfully snowy dark tale of simple greed and its consequences. Here is a 3-minute stop motion animated short called, The Arctic Circle from filmmaker, Kevin Parry. The animation style reminds me a lot of the classic Frosty the Snowman film, but with more of a silent film aesthetic to it (I mean it even contains title cards!).

Basically an Arctic inhabitant is fascinated by the sudden appearance of a mysterious box with the power to provide more fruit then he already has. As he keeps pursuing the box, pursuing more for himself, let's just say, this is a cautionary tale on the trouble with excess and basic ideas on capitalism.

This short is right out of the mind of Tim Burton with the both the philosophy and feel of the artist. To think this was made as a graduation art project is even more astounding. I'm always impressed with animated shorts that lean more towards the dark side. This short and its characters would feel right at home in a Twilight Zone episode. It's just creepy, eerie and wonderfully executed.

Check this out if you want to see some wonderful stop motion animation, the type of animation that's sadly becoming more and more a dying art. Check this out if you enjoy thoughtful works that anyone who has ever lived wanted more then they already have can relate to. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, The Arctic Circle.


The Arctic Circle from Kevin Parry on Vimeo.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Employment (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's animation time again, and I have for you this week a short that's both fun and reflective (do those 2 things go together?). Watching this short, you realize how wide the world of animation is and how different animation outside of the US can be (and in a lot of ways more mature in their themes). Here is a 7-minute Argentinian animated short called, The Employment from filmmaker, Santiago 'Bou' Grasso. The animation style is very European in execution, reminiscent of the work from the French studio Cube Creative whose short Jean-Francois I've previously shared here on the site. The story, the facial expressions, everything is told with a detached deadpan style of humor that makes the story so enjoyable.

Here's the set-up: A man wakes up and starts his day as usual. He turns on his room light and bam you realize this isn't our world. All throughout the city landscape, from the streets to the cabs to the office building, we find people performing menial tasks as if they’re living furniture. People pose as coat racks, hold bathroom mirrors, and give piggy-back rides down the streets. To give anything more would spoil what the filmmakers are trying to say here. Let's just say, I can relate to the feelings of joylessness that everyday life can sometimes bring.

This film is a wonderful look at what international animation can bring that we don't generally get with animation from the US. It's thoughtful, a bit morose and beautifully animated with very little soundtrack and no dialogue. It's a simple story about everyday humans acting like they're in a Flintstones cartoon, doing the menial work in place of technology and yeah, this 7-minute short says more about the human condition then many feature length films.

Check this out if you want to see some wonderful international animation. Check this out if you enjoy thoughtful, meditative works that remind of the whimsical comedic pain of a Woody Allen film. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, The Employment.

El Empleo / The Employment from opusBou on Vimeo.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Rosa (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you an animated cgi labor of love that shows what a bit of creativity and ingenuity can do on a tight budget, but if time is money then this looks like it cost a lot. Here is a 10-minute animated action short called, Rosa from filmmaker, Jesus Orellana. It does feel a bit clunky in parts and is truly the old adage of style over substance, but the style is just so beautiful that you can forgive its shortcomings.

Screened at numerous film festivals and currently being developed as a live action film here's the synopsis from the filmmakers on Rosa (I put this here because honestly the film doesn't really explain anything):

ROSA is an epic sci-fi short film that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where all natural life has disappeared. From the destruction awakes Rosa, a cyborg deployed from the Kernel project, mankind’s last attempt to restore the earth’s ecosystem. Rosa will soon learn that she is not the only entity that has awakened and must fight for her survival.

Rosa reminds me a lot of the anime Gantz, with the way the soldiers look and move and the stylized action and set pieces, but like a video game version of the anime. There's not a lot of substance here and again like I said before nothing is explained- there's very little characterization or plot. But the film looks beautiful and it was shot over the course of a year and for a hundred dollars so you can see the talent that Jesus Orellana possesses as an animator. I'm not sure how a live action version would do, but if it stinks at least we still have the original short.

Check this out if you love anime, video games of independent animation. Check this out if you want to see what may be the next big thing in both film and director. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness in, Rosa.

ROSA from Jesús Orellana on Vimeo.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you an animated musical about a brother looking for his sister that takes both dark and comedic routes all at the same time. Here is a 3-minute animated short called, Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn from filmmaker, Hoku Uchiyama. I'm a big fan the experimental side of animation and you'll be amazed here by what can be done with some winter frost on some store windows.

This whimsical short features a catchy throwback tune from the 20's and some finger-drawn animation from the Betty Boop era that comes alive on panes of glass as live-action strangers walk by. This one's a toe-tapper, finger strumming tune that will have you singing the chorus in your head even as the short draws to a close, and yeah did I mention it gets pretty dark? And yet, while it gets dark it never loses its fun and carefree nature. There's some crazy and creative ideas here people.

Check this out if you love animation and musicals. Check this out even if you don't like musicals, but like yourself some dark comedies. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness in, Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Mourir Auprès de Toi (To Die by Your Side) - (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a stop-motion animated look at love, ingenuity and frankly, skeleton on skeleton intercourse. Here is a 6-minute animated short called, Mourir Auprès de Toi (To Die by Your Side), a collaborative effort between famed filmmaker, Spike Jonze, and accessory designer, Olympia Le-Tanfilmmaker. I'm a big fab of Spike Jonze's work, especially his short films. They're full of so much oddball creativeness that they're unlike anything else out there.

Here's the synopsis:

At the aptly named Shakespeare and Co. bookstore, a plucky skeleton from a book cover of Macbeth finds love in a long-haired beauty on the cover of Dracula. The two embark on a journey that finds them in the belly of Moby Dick until the two meet at last. It’s a classic love story with a bit of modern twist

This one's just a ton of fun. I love the fact that the animation feels like shadow play theater, and its world is centered around bookstores and literature, two of my favorite things in life. This wonder shows you the power of narrative storytelling that a short film can show. As Spike Jonze once remarked: A short is like a sketch. You can have an idea or a feeling and just go and do it. I couldn't agree more.

Check this out if you love animation, but are looking for something different then just CGI or hand drawn line art. Check this out because its by Spike Jonze. What more needs to be said? This is the man who brought to the short filmmaking world, I'm Here!! Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness in, Mourir Auprès de Toi (To Die by Your Side).

Spike Jonze: Mourir Auprès de Toi on Nowness.com.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Ark (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a fantastic story of courage and loss in a post-apocalyptic world. Here is a 8-minute computer animated Polish short called, Ark from filmmaker, Grzegorz Jonkajtys. This is actually a quite fascinating and sad look at the lengths people will go to survive when there's nothing to live for.

Nominated for the Cannes Palm d'Or in 2007, this short turned a lot of heads during the stogy film festival and its easy to see why. Here's the synopsis:

An unknown virus has destroyed almost the entire human population. Oblivious to the true nature of the disease, the only remaining survivors escape to the sea. In great ships, they set off in search of uninhabited land. So begins the exodus, led by one man.

It's just a lot of fun and has a great twist ending that adds another layer, an added melancholy to the story.

Check this out if you're in the mood to see beautiful European cgi animation. Check this out if you like your post-apocalyptic stories with heart and a mournful wistfulness. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Ark.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Pixels (live-action/animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you an incredibly imaginative look at video games and how they can slowly take over our lives. Here is a 3-minute live action animated short called, Pixels from filmmaker, Patrick Jean. This is a wonderful blend of live-action and animation and is a must see for anyone who grew up playing video games in the 80's.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet just like the short. Pixels sees New York invaded by a bunch of 8-bit creatures (such as Donkey Kong and Pac-Man - Pacman eats our subway dots!) who slowly start turning the city into pixilized chaos which quickly spreads, taking over the rest of the world.

Check this out if you're in the mood to honestly have your mind blown away. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and am amazed it looked this good. There's true genius at work here people. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Pixels.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Lifeline (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a beautifully animated piece, a short that says more about longing and loss, of deep held desires and the eternal pursuit for the one who got away then most long-form works of cinema. Here is a 6-minute animated drama called, Lifeline from filmmaker, Andreas Salaff. This short utilizes stunning hand-drawn animation that reminds me of many of the classic Czech poster works of the 60's and 70's who's style is so prevalent in French animated cinema today and of course of American animator Bill Plympton.

The film follows a lonely elderly scientist who uses one of his inventions to search through various times (dimensions, worlds?) for his long lost love. It’s set in a dystopian 70′s-era future and what makes this short really work is that there’s a bittersweet ending that leaves more questions than answers on the final shot.

Check this out if you're in the mood to see some high quality animated short film making that will leave you thinking for days to come. It's somber, beautiful, uplifting and heartbreaking all at the same time. This is some stunning work that needs to be seen. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Lifeline.

Lifeline from Andres Salaff on Vimeo.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Invention of Love (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a beautiful yet heartbreaking love story told in a world of nuts and bolts with wonderful animated shadowplay images dancing on the screen. Here is the 9-minute animated short Invention of Love from filmmaker, Andrey Shushkov. Like the best short films, this one has a simple premise with a simple narrative that belies its deeper meanings. It's all at once breathtakingly nostalgic as we watch a Steampunk world of turn of the century mechanical engineering, and painstakingly tragic.

This is the story of two young souls who fall in love in the backdrop of floating cities and countrysides, in a world of beautiful machinery and black soot covered flowers. They get married and realize that the worlds they know, the worlds they love, are just too different. But beyond the narrative, just watch the story, the world that Andrey Shushkov has created, a vision told in moving picturebox. The melodic classical music is also a great compliment to the story adding nuances and heart to the scenes.

Check this out if you're in the mood to watch both beauty and tragedy unfold right before your eyes. This is the kind of animation that could only happen in the short form and we're all the more lucky to be able to check it out for free. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Invention of Love.

Fantastic Short Film Friday (NSFW) - The Pro (animated)

And we are back with another weekly installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we look to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for something a bit... a bit... different I guess you can say, and very NSFW. Here is an 8-minute animated short called The Pro which is adapted from the original 2002 graphic novel of the same name by Garth Ennis and Amanda Conner. This short is just crass, wrong and very adult in nature - so adults only here people!! - but I can't lie, I enjoyed the hell out of the original short graphic novel when I first read it back in 2002, and I enjoyed the hell out of this animated short adaptation, although it leaves out some of the better... um... situations found in the graphic novel. Seriously this is NSFW.

Basically this is the story of a prostitute who gets superpowers and joins the League of Honor to fight crime because it pays better. There's foul language and some sexual situations so people easily offended should look away. But if you're into comics like I am and would enjoy seeing a satire where Superman, Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman all play second fiddle to a prostitute with superpowers, check this out.

What more can I say? Just... yeah check it out and hopefully you enjoy it as much as I do.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Invasions (animated)

And we are back with another weekly installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we look to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film. This week we have the fantastic animated short, Invasions, directed, animated and composed by Clement Morin. This is a wonderful story about a little alien who visits our planet and the extraordinary lengths he goes through for romance. It's all kinds of cute and at the end I couldn't help but smile and let out an audible, "awwww."

I couldn't find out much information about the animator Clement Morin, beyond that he's a Frenchman. If you wish to see more of his shorts you can visit his website here.

So there you have it. We hope you enjoy Invasions and we'll be back again next week as we try to spotlight more films of the cinematic short order.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - A Matter of Loaf and Death (animated)

And here we are with our final installment showcasing the 5 animated shorts nominated for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards and damn if it's not a doozy. A 29-minute "short" by Nick Park, this week we take a look at A Matter of Loaf and Death the fourth short of Nick's to star the amazing clay-animated British creations, Wallace and Gromit. Here's the synopsis:

Wallace and Gromit startbusiness. Gromit learns that bakers have been mysteriously disappearing, and tries to solve the case before Wallace ends up a victim himself. This short introduces a new love interest for Wallace, Piella Bakewell, a bread enthusiast as well as, for the first time, one for Gromit: Piella's dog Fluffles.

Frankly while I did find the short very interesting and entertaining, like all the other Wallace and Gromit films, it lacked the ingenuity and creativity that the original shorts had. However it makes up for it in charm, especially when it comes to the new love of Gromit's.

So looking back at all the 5 animated shorts, they were all interesting, however there were 3 standouts for me. While my favorite one was the Spanish short, The Lady and the Reaper the one's that I think have the best chance are this short and Logorama. While I wasn't entertained as most seem to be with Logorama, I do appreciate how amazingly complicated and insane it must have been to make it, and it's because of how creative the short was that I think Logorama will walk away with the Oscar this year.

What does everyone else think? What are your favorites? I want to thank everyone for joining me on this journey as we took a look at all the nominees and I'll be back next week with a fresh look (probably live-action) for everyone's weekly dose of Fantastic Short Film Friday.

Since A Matter of Loaf and Death is not on youtube, I have no way to embed it, so here's the same link I used to check out the short. Enjoy.

Watch it: here

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Logorama (animated)

Part 4 of our 5 part look at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Nominated Animated Shorts. We're almost done, with one more yet to go, but before we reach the finish line, this week I want to spotlight the animated short, Logoromo by French design collective H5 and directed by Nicolas Schmerkin.

Here's the synopsis of the short from the Oscar nominee's website:

In a world made up entirely of trademarks and brand names, Michelin Man cops pursue a criminal Ronald McDonald.
Basically the animated short fits 2500 logos into a highly entertaining parody of corporate/consumer culture. Out of all the films I've showcased so far I'm most torn about sharing this one since the people who own the rights to the film, Autour de Minuit, have taken the short down on numerous file viewing sites such as Youtube and Vimeo due to copyright issues. While I believe the best thing for these types of shorts is for blogs such as my own to showcase them and get the word out (since I know a very small amount of moviegoers actually watch shorts) I do understand their position. A spokesperson from Autour de Minuit had this to say on the reasoning why they've pulled the short from so many sites, to paraphrase: "this video [Logorama] has been made with more than 2,500 logos of the world top brands and that they never asked the right to use them (which was humanly impossible to do) and more than that, the image of those brands is severly « heckled » so they could be sued by all of them ending in a certain death for that company"

So therefore while I have seen the short and know where to find it, I will only be embedding the trailer of Logorama here. While I know this is a small blog of mine and that very few people take the time to read it, I don't want to add to the filmmakers problems. Take my word for it though, it's very entertaining and funny and when it's finally released commercially (which I feel may be never due to the licensing issues) I will again showcase it here to remind people to check it out. To find out more information on the short go to Logorama's website: here.

So sit back and hopefully the trailer is enough of a cleanser to whet your palate.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Lady And The Reaper (animated)

It's time for another installment of our weekly showcase on short films, Fantastic Short Film Friday. This week we take a look at the 3rd of 5 Academy Award Nominated Animated Short Films with The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte) which has the distinction of being the first ever Spanish animated short to be nominated for an Oscar. Directed and written by Javier Recio Gracia and from animation studio KandorMoon, The Lady and the Reaper is an 8-minute short about the epic story of "the Grim Reaper and a self-satisfied doctor who battle over the life of an elderly woman."

This is the 3rd 2010 Oscar nominated animated short we have featured on this blog and it is by far my favorite. I love everything about the film. From the great music, to the wonderful animation with the distinct Spanish style, to the brilliance of the short when it devolves into a Looney Tunes like farce half-way through. You can find out more about the short here.

As always sit back, relax, and get some hot cocoa to go along with this zany short about how death may be more liberating than we could ever imagine.