One of the benefits to living in such a cool neighborhood is my proximity to “art houses” which regularly feature independent films. This past week, I had the pleasure to be able to watch the animated short films that have been nominated for the Academy Awards. All five films were very different in style, but touching and fun to watch. Below are thoughts on my three favorites:
*Spoilers may follow! Check your local theatre or On Demand network for possible viewing opportunities.
Paperman (prod. Disney) – Quite possibly the front runner of the animated shorts category, Paperman harkens back to classic Disney animation. In a brief interaction at the train station, the pencil pushing paperman suddenly loses a sheet of paper and finds that it has been blown onto the face of a beautiful, unsuspecting young woman. When he peels the paper back, her red lipstick has left a mark. Turning back to the woman, the paperman finds that she has already boarded the train. That afternoon, the paperman spies the young woman in an office building across the street. He then proceeds with an attempt to get her attention by throwing paper airplanes through the window, but to no avail. At the end of the day, the paper airplanes band together and decide to take matters into their own hands to help the would-be lovers cross paths again! While primarily in black and white with charcoal style drawings, its kismet is shown in a series of near misses, failed attempts and ultimately the happy ending Disney never fails to deliver.
Adam and Dog (dir. Minkyu Lee) – As a former Disney animator, Lee made enough money to put together a short film of his own and his experience paid off. This hand drawn rendering calls forth the stunning imagery reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle) and is set in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Dog form a quick friendship, cementing the nickname “man’s best friend.” After Eve enters the picture, things are not quite the same, but Dog continues to show his devotion to Adam. When Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden, Dog holds true to his unconditional love of the man. Truly heartwarming in the most basic sense, this exploration of a relationship between a man and his dog only solidifies Fido’s place in the home.
Head Over Heels (prod. National Film and Television School) – Perhaps my favorite of the nominated films was Head Over Heels, a claymation picture that was the brainchild of eleven grad students. It tells the tale of a couple who inhabit the same space, but who rarely see things from the other’s perspective, as demonstrated by the upside down world in which one spouse lives. In an attempt to make things right, husband Walter fixes the old, worn out ballet slippers of his wife, Madge. While the peace offering doesn’t go quite as planned, Madge also realizes that it is time for a change. One by one, she nails her shoe collection to her ceiling (Walter’s floor) to make amends with her true love. Proof that true love conquers all!
