Academy Award Nominees - Short Form - Animation/Live

Weak year for the short fiction categories (what happens if there's a short animated documentary - what category is it in?). Usually it's the shorts that show the most imagination, but this year it might actually be the full length documentary category. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to see any of the short docs.

• The Confession - very heavy handed and I felt cheated by this one.
  
• The Crush - somewhat funny, but could have been better.
  
• God of Love - I predict/hope this one wins. It at least showed some originality.
  
• Na Wewe - OK. Sure.
  
• Wish 143 - Almost had me.
  

Really, I only liked two of them, God of Love, and Wish 143, and GoL is the clear winner IMO. A lot of fun, a decent story, acting, great composition, etc.

• Day & Night - Pixar - 2D characters who's outlines reveal the background - interesting idea, but I get the feeling I've seen the idea before.
  
• The Gruffalo - somewhat dry tale of a mouse in the forest chasing away predators by telling them of The Gruffalo (ie. The Jabberwocky).
  
• Let's Pollute - ironic message, pollution is fun.
  
• The Lost Thing - I liked this one, great style, story just ok.
  
• Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary) - great tale of a trip to Madagascar with great flipbook style.
  

Pixar doesn't need anymore Oscars, so I hope Madagascar wins.

One Man's Eight Year Journey To Make An Animated Short

What a fascinating tale on the trials, tribulations, and obsessive compulsive disorders required to make a short animated film. Starting last century and continuing for eight years, this story is a warning to those who want to make an animation with original art assets. Perhaps told to small children before they go to bed.

Trailer for the film.



The short won Best Animation at the LA International Short Film Festival.

Oscar Animated Shorts Nominees

Are playing in select cities. If you get a chance, check them out on the big screen.

The nominees are:

“I Met the Walrus”
Animation and line drawings set to a recorded interview with John Lennon in 1969 (which some kid recorded after having snuck into John's hotel room).

“Madame Tutli-Putli”
National Film Board of Canada (yah) makes a very strange puppet/animation mix.

“Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)”
This one is pretty amusing. A priest is trying to sell the afterlife to someone who is about to die anyways.

“My Love (Moya Lyubov)”
Animated painting (oil on glass). The story is mediocre, but the animation is definitely unique.

“Peter & the Wolf”
This one is my favorite. Not sure of the techniques, but it is a well told story (no dialog) that mixes humor and horror, comedy and drama wonderfully.

Some are also available online:

Ticklebooth has a list.
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