Have you ever been watching a Disney movie and had a bit of deja vu? Not just that “Oh, this movie has that familiar Disney look and feel” feeling, but more like, “I swear I’ve literally seen this exact scene before in another movie”?
Queen Charlotte by Studio AKA
Manddy Wyckens beautifully minimalist sequence calls on her signature illustrative style to create a series of elegantly seductive vignettes that follow Queen Charlotte through the palace grounds, each hinting at key moments from the series. The action meanwhile alternates between the young and old Queen Charlotte, using shadows and reflections to move between the two, evoking her journey to becoming a monarch. At the same time, the deliberately slow, cinematic pace, stylized framing and deft match cuts create a cohesive visual narrative that pulls the viewer into the story.
PEAS by AJ Jefferies
UK 3D illustrator and animator AJ Jefferies, who says the project was “Another idea that got stuck in my brain, so I had to make it”
Slumberland title sequence by Imaginary Forces
Main on End Title Sequence for Netflix Dreams run rampant in our credit sequence for Slumberland, an epic fantasy on Netflix adapted from the classic Winsor McCay comic strip. In a whimsical world of wonder, Nemo (Marlow Barkley) joins forces with a larger-than-life outlaw (Jason Momoa), to embark on a wild quest to see if her greatest wish would be granted.
MUTO by BLU
A short film by Blu: an ambiguous animation painted on public walls. Made in Buenos Aires and in Baden.
Critical Transitions by Tone Bjordam
Since we are continuously dazzled by myriads of minimal motions, why should we be able to see that they are going to burst into a huge change? While we struggle to keep safe our own lives, how can we expect to notice the universal warning signal for the critical transition?
Little Talks by WeWereMonkeys
Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro
A father’s wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.
Voices: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley and Gregory Mann.
Behind the Craft
Spiegeling by Sanna de Vries
In a little house filled with mirrors, Fiep focuses on her physical imperfections so intensely that her distorted self-image grows out of proportion… Literally.
‘Reflection’ is a short animated film full of turbulent emotions, relating to self-image and insecurity. It shows the thought spiral of self-loathing that we all get lost in sometimes, when we look in the mirror and absolutely despise what we see… The intensity of this feeling is captured in ‘Reflection’ through hand-drawn animation, with ink and gouache.
Hedgehog in the Fog by Yuriy Norshteyn
Yuriy Norshteyn is a Soviet and Russian animator best known for his animated shorts Hedgehog in the Fog and Tale of Tales. According to the Washington Post, “he is considered by many to be not just the best animator of his era, but the best of all time”.
Forty years ago (1981), Norshteyn began work on an ambitious adaptation of The Overcoat by noted Russian writer Nikolai Gogol, but the project stalled and has been shelved for many years. A Japanese film crew visited Norshteyn’s studio in Moscow and found there mountains of sketches, character studies and a shooting table covered with dust. When will his much-awaited The Overcoat be finally completed? In this new documentary, Norshteyn talks about its current status and the anguish and passion that has gone into its creation.
Making the Overcoat
The Animators Who’ve Spent 40 Years on a Single Film
Colors and Shapes by Sam Mason
In this music video for “Colors and Shapes,” Hornet Director Sam Mason pays tribute to Mac Miller with a surreal & stirring film commissioned by Miller’s family. Following Mac Miller’s dog Ralphie as he embarks on a quest into unconsciousness, the film is a dreamscape portrait with abstract yet realistic CG animation, ethereal transitions, and a genuine, heartfelt story.
Oh What a Knight by Paul Driessen
Paul Driessen is a Dutch film director, animator and writer.
His unique style can be easily recognized by the delicate quality of his ever-moving and wiggling lines, as well as by the fluid but awkward movements of his characters. His short films have won more than fifty prizes all over the world, including the Life Achievement Awards at both Ottawa and Zagreb animation festivals.
A knight braves various dangers in order to rescue a damsel in distress. (1982)
Aurore by Clement Soulmagnon
Yellow Submarine by George Dunning
Yellow Submarine, based upon a song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, is a fantastic tale brimming with peace, love, and hope, propelled by Beatles songs, including “Eleanor Rigby,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “All You Need Is Love,” and “It’s All Too Much.” When the film debuted in 1968, it was instantly recognized as a landmark achievement, revolutionizing a genre by integrating the freestyle approach of the era with innovative animation techniques.
The Beauty by Pascal Schelbli
What if plastic could be integrated into sea life? The Beauty directed by Pascal Schelbli is a poetic journey through the oceans, which are simultaneously stunning and filthy. Discover a world where concerns and fears dissolve into the mysterious depth of the polluted blue sea.