Animation is a unique art form all its own that must draw upon a variety of strategies that are unemployed by live action films. Animated films use many different meticulous frame-by-frame methods to convey their images, and common techniques include those such as computer animation, stop-motion animation, clay animation, pixilation, and even drawing right on the frame itself. Combine animation with an upper time limit of forty minutes, and the result is the Short Film – Animation category at the Academy Awards. The films that received nominations this year are exceptionally diverse in both style and appeal. While some films employ rich and remarkably detailed images, others use simpler pictures to convey their story and message, and the target audience varies accordingly. The subject matter of these pieces is also wide-ranging, oscillating from sweet and charming to serious and dark. Below, I take a look at four of this year’s five Oscar nominated animated shorts, in ascending order of favourites.
Possessions
Director Shuhei Morita presents the animated short Possessions, which tells the story of a warrior who seeks shelter from a raging storm in an isolated shrine, only to discover a variety of household objects that have come to life. These former possessions have been disused and discarded, and it is now up to the warrior to determine their fate. This film opens with the somber tone of an animated fable, but the mood lightens considerably when singing and dancing household objects are introduced. Unfortunately, this animated short held little personal appeal; I found the images rather ugly and the sounds gratingly annoying. The message about valuing ones possessions is an important one, however, and it can only be hoped that an audience can see past the film’s exterior to that which lies beneath.
Feral
Feral, from directing pair Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden, is an even stranger work than the aforementioned Possessions. This film tells the typical tale of a feral child who is rescued from wolves and taken to the city, yet it does so in a highly unconventional manner. The images within this film appear as smudges, shadings, and shadows, as opposed to clear or easily discernable pictures. Grey tones dominate, with very little colour present, but this strategy works to convey the story of a young human who views the world through the eyes of a wild animal, which would be in black and white. Instead of detailed images, the film relies heavily on the usage of intense sounds and dramatic music to convey its story and emotions. The images themselves are dark, unsettling, and even shocking in their violence. This film ultimately reveals the link between children and wild animals, as both can be vicious and adopt a pack mentality. Instead of catering towards children, as do many animated shorts, Feral chooses to make a disturbing statement about them instead.
Mr. Hublot
One of the more traditional animated shorts in this category this year is directing team Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares’ whimsical fable Mr. Hublot. This charming film chronicles the life of a slightly obsessive compulsive robot living in a mechanical world whose routine existence is interrupted by the appearance of an energetic puppy. The images are exceptionally detailed, as each little element of this stylized world has been meticulously crafted with care, and the film holds visual appeal for both children and adults alike. The story itself is sweet, and is told entirely without dialogue, placing all audience attention on the impressive images and a particularly strong score. Overall, Mr. Hublot offers high quality production and a cute story about the importance of friendship that will leave one smiling if not particularly affected.
Room on the Broom
Finally, we arrive at Room on the Broom, from directors Max Lang and Jan Lachauer. Here is an example of the animated short form at its finest. The highly talented Simon Pegg lends his voice to the narration of the tale of a friendly witch (voiced by Sally Hawkins) and her cute but crotchety pet cat who run into a host of different animals who all ask the same question: Is there room on the broom for them? The rhyming narration is warm, peppy, and repetitive, holding appeal for young children, but there are sweet and subtle jokes throughout the film that will leave a more mature audience smiling as well. The story is utterly enchanting, and although the images may lack the detail of works such as Mr. Hublot, there is an undeniable charm in their simplicity. This lively adventure also boasts a timely message about the importance of acceptance, teamwork, and friendship, and is sure to delight children while amusing adults as well. Of the four Oscar nominated animated shorts that I had the pleasure of viewing this year, Room on the Broom was my favourite by a mile.
