Animated Shorts

As an animator, it's important I watch as many animated shorts as possible. Because they're not full length block buster films they have a different format, something we can learn from and work with. For example the length of the films, they're short and quick to the point, however, they do still have a very well constructed storyline, giving just enough information for the audience to be able to understand everything in a short amount of time. This also means that the animation has to be very precise and mistake proof, because of it's short length of viewing tim there can not be any visual effort for views to stick and poke at.

I watched a long list of animated short which I found interesting by title or just stumbled across when growing the interest. The list contains:

• Who's Hungry by David Ochs
• Emi by Gwendoline Ancelin
• Alma by Rodrigo Blass
• Almighty Antlers by Sune Reinhardt, Mikael Ilnæs, Michael L. Fonsholt, Jouko Keskitalo
• Memoria by Elisabet Yr
• Children by Takuya Odaka
• Caldera by Evan Viera
• Behind Closed Doors by Jonathan Button
• Sebastians Voodoo by Joaquin Baldwin
• The Colours of Evil by Phillip Simon and Alyse Miller
• Just Delicious by Brian Bear

Out of the list I was particularly struck by five of the shorts because of the well constructed story lines, animation styles and the range in art styles. 

Alma is a film that I would think is a work of DreamWorks or maybe even Pixar. I would have though that had it not been the very dark storyline. Because it's a very childlike looking film, with a child as the main protagonist- the only character rather, and it being based on dolls, accompanied by the rather joyful. Although, in todays day and age, dolls do come with very negative and creepy images, this is merely due to their connotations in horror films, it is still without a doubt a child's play thing. Just the imagery on it's own is a PG rated film I would say.
Although nothing deserving a higher rating is necessarily shown in the animation, the storyline is of a very dark kind. A creepy doll appearing out of no where, looking and dressed exactly like the child might I add, and trapping it's soul in itself upon physical contact is no laughing matter.
But I just love that.
I love the juxtaposition of the animation style with the storyline itself. As an animation student I find it hilarious how people would think that because it's an animation it's a kids show, but upon seeing it they realise how incorrect they were but it's too late because the adult, along with the child, are now traumatised. I suppose it's rather sadistic.



I'm not so much into politics and I'm not insisting that this animated short is about the government, but that's just what I get from it. Children is a film seen from the perspective of a non-human child who looks just like every other child in this world and the only thing we can identify him by is the number on his forehead. Everything they do and that happens is absolutely the same leading the days to be on a constant loop in which everything is even and "fair". The children also have zips on all their mouths, where as the adults [teachers] have a mask with a smiley face on.
Everything I see just seems like, us as the public are the students while the government are the teachers trying to control everything, make it all fair by not giving any chances to being with and insisting everything be the way they want while we check to see if what we're doing is correct.
One could say the teachers could represent anyone in the form of higher authority. Whatever it may be is up to the viewer to decide, it's what they get from it because they film is purely symbolic and leaves many open ends which we  can fill by ourselves. Considering the animation only last just over four minutes, it's brilliant how it can arouse such an amazing reaction from the viewers and leave them questioning so much. For example I started question politics when I don't exactly have the slightest bit of interest on the subject.



Although it doesn't particular relate to my them very much, similar to most of the animated shorts honestly, it does however have a particular wonderful storyline conveyed in a matter of six minutes. The thing that kept me watching it was during the first minute when the main character is seen drinking, tipsy, the cursing and gore. Not very common things seen in animation, more common now than it used to. I'm honestly glad a lot of people feel the same way about animated films and cartoons not being aimed at only children.
The intense build up of storyline and character is also amazing. The music and flashbacks do work so well together, alongside the general animation style. It's realistic enough in the sense of body movement, it's very natural. The way the main character get up or walks, especially when he's drunk. It's fluid and life-like.



Here's a film relating very closely to my Final Major Project theme; Caldera. An animated short about a girl. It's very abstract and not easily understandable even if you re-watch it, unless you read the description nothing properly clicks in place. Even after reading the description  I didn't fully grasp the situation, but I wouldn't call myself the sharpest tool in the box to base the complexity of the plot on my judgement. I'm sure there's been a lot of research put into the and that everything would mean something. Through I do understand that the images are a close representation to the ones the directors father has seen in his life.
The animated short is of a girl with a mental illness called schizoaffective disorder. Discovering this led me down the path of research and got me thinking about how expressing personal things in films do go a long way and turn out of be very effective and can have you be very passionate as you pro due your final piece.



I do really have a thing for either psychological or sad films. Not that this film relates to my theme in particular in any way, but researching doesn't mean everything has to connect perfectly; I've learnt that it's good to explore the other realms to broaden my way or thinking and research. After watching this film based on a father and daughters car crash and seeing everything as a seen that would take place when a death god has to take a soul. The father naturally gives his own in place of the daughter so she can live on.
There is no form of dialogue what so ever although a lot would be needed for the animated short to make sense. Everything is convened through boy language. I have no words to express  how absolutely flawless and on point all  the body language is. It would require so much research and experiment to see if the actions don't seem artificial, unnecessary or overdone. It just leaves me speechless how flawless the information is conveyed. My personal favourite is when the guy in the uniform changes his gaze from the child to her father, indicating he will take one or the other. This is shown through the reflection in the glasses and I think it's just such an intelligent idea.