Oscar-nominated animated shorts put on colorful show

The Academy Awards for short films are normally overlooked when people rush to see all the nominated films they can get their hands on. People know that these films are probably good, but the star power of Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper overshadow the artistic merits of a few short films. Nevertheless, the nominated shorts are again quite good this year. Here, we will take a look at the animated shorts. Coming from the Netherlands, Norway, the U.K. and the U.S., the shorts represent a mix of foreign and domestic creativity. Don’t let the fact that they are animated fool you; the level of creativity apparent in these animations elevates them above the realm of children’s films.

First, A Single Life is the shortest of the nominated films. at a crisp two minutes and 18 seconds; in that short running time, it manages to tell a fun, complete story. In the short, a woman discovers that she has a vinyl record that has the power to travel to various spots on the timeline of her life. The film mixes a playful vibe with a creeping darkness as the woman explores her newfound power. While the first few jumps are played for laughs, the tone quickly transitions to one of trepidation as it becomes clear that the woman is losing control of a power she does not understand. The film is short, sweet and packs a punch without much strain. This is the entry from the Netherlands, but there is no actual dialogue to convey this as everything is communicated visually, which can only be said about two of the shorts nominated this year.

Next up is Me and My Moulton, the Norwegian entry. The film focuses on three sisters, from the point of view of the middle sister. It’s a lighthearted film, and the biggest challenges that the girls have to face are a weird dad and the lack of a bicycle. The film is charming, and the thoughts of the young protagonist are brought to life beautifully by writer and director Torill Kove. Krove already won this award in 2006 for The Danish Poet. The little girl is very troubled that her father is kooky and more importantly, that he is the only man in the village with a mustache. “A big one, like Salvador Dali,” she laments. But over the course of the film, she comes to appreciate her eccentric father and eventually receives a bicycle from him.

The Dam Keeper, an American short introduces us to the most fully realized world of the nominees. In the story, a young pig is the keeper of a dam that holds back a big cloud of soot, for a small town. Despite his instrumental role, the pig is ostracized and made fun of for being different. He becomes friends with a fox who makes funny drawings of classmates; when the pig mistakes one of the drawings as a jest at him, he becomes upset and fails at his duties, causing the town to be covered in darkness. It is a lovely story about friendship, bullying and overcoming adversity. This is probably the film, along with Me and My Moulton, that would be the most appealing to children because of the important lessons on morality it contains.

The Bigger Picture, the entry from the U.K., is by far the most somber of the productions. At the same time, it is also the most visually creative. Writer and director Daisy Jacobs depicts a story of two brothers dealing with their aging, ailing mother. The colors are muted to match the mood of the story, but the medium of the film alone makes it worth a watch. Blending 3D papier-mâché models and 2D painted, life-sized figures, the film is an exploration of the limits of the animated film medium. The story is heartfelt, and the contrast between the emotions of the two brothers packs a serious punch. This film might win due to the incredible interplay between 2D and 3D combined with the powerful story.

Finally, the short that most people will have seen is Feast. The Disney short film that was included before Big Hero 6. Disney Pixar shorts are often the audience favorite because of their inclusion at the beginning of major animated releases. Despite garnering a nomination almost every year, however, only one of these films has actually won the statuette in the last 12 years. That was the excellent Paperman, which was attached to Wreck-It Ralph two years ago. Feast features an adorable tale of a dog and his owner, expertly done, which comes as no surprise. Unfortunately, Feast is no Paperman. It is good, but the slick visuals and easy storyline will most likely pale in comparison to the much more visually impressive The Bigger Picture.