“Abiogenesis” [rating:4/5]
“Abiogenesis” takes a new twist on the theory of how life originally begins. Director and self-taught animator Richard Mans began working on the film in 2007, having devoted all of his time and resources to it since production began — and it’s paid off. Using only LightWave, the animation is stunning; the environments he creates are simultaneously surreal and realistic, and his mosquito-esque, Mars Rover-inspired robots stretch the imagination on what creates the spark of life. Surely, this imaginative film has that spark.
“Bendito Machine IV” [rating:4/5]
The fourth of the “Bendito Machine” series, mastermind Jossie Malis has our gears turning again. The misanthropy continues as we follow a klutzy race of people dealing with the consequences of praising their ridiculous technology. In this short, our hapless hero travels the world, ending up on a distant planet not so unlike our own — and meeting a race of people not so different from ourselves. The animation is simple and stylish — black figures against a colorful, texturized background — focusing on the cynical but humorous plot. Thought-provoking and entertaining, “Bendito” shorts leave us wondering if we are not just savages with televisions, spaceships and rollercoasters.
“Pasteurized” [rating:3/5]
“Pasteurized” is the story of an alien milkman and a greedy, destructive feline cosmonaut. From Argentinian director Nicolás P. Villarreal, the short is funny and adorable, with brilliant use of colors and charming, childlike artwork. The animation is smooth and engaging, and the soundtrack is full of upbeat Spanish guitars that enhance the fun atmosphere Villarreal has created. “Pasteurized” would be a great film to watch with little brothers and sisters, packing loads of fun into only eight minutes.
“Wolf Dog Tales” [rating:3/5]
“Wolf Dog Tales” is artful and wise — the brainchild of Spanish-Native American director, Bernadine Santistevan. Inspired by Navajo folktales, it tells the story of the relationship between man, dogs and wolves, urging us to respect nature and lead empathetic, compassionate lives. Mimicking traditional Navajo sand paintings, the film uses stop motion animation to create a new animation style called Faux Sand Painting. It is a visual folktale, relinquishing none of the traditional elements of storytelling while diving into brand new animation endeavors fearlessly.
“Zergüt” [rating:4/5]
Directors Natasha Subramaniam and Alisa Lapidus bring us the deliciously fresh short film “Zergüt.” A dramatic battle unfolds on the clean white shelves of a crowded refrigerator as the moldy, rotting foods that “lurk” in the back confront the fresh, enticing foods in the front. The film is set to Sergei Prokofiev’s “Opus 84, Dance of the Knights,” from the ballet “Romeo and Juliet,” which provides a dramatic and narrative soundtrack to the stark imagery. The cinematography is beautiful, with rich, vivid colors against the blank white background. Stop motion animation creates a chilling, organic effect as the vegetables and noodles crawl across the screen — almost terrifyingly. The film is innovative and artistic, a testament to the beauty of natural foods and even of decay and destruction. It is an animated masterpiece of gastronomical proportions.
“It’s Such a Beautiful Day” [rating:5/5]
From the mind of Don Hertzfeldt comes the final installation of the tragically hilarious, maddening and philosophical journey of Bill the stick-figure-in-a-hat. It is the final short in a trilogy, following “Everything Will Be OK” and “I Am So Proud of You.” Through tongue-in-cheek humor, it explores the sadness of mental illness, leaving us wondering about our own capacity for madness. It is a staggering exploration of the human condition through abstract film, simplistic animation, and dramatic narration. “It’s Such a Beautiful Day” is sad, touching, beautiful, bittersweet, and true to life — there is a Bill inside all of us, which is why we can be so affected by a simple stick figure in a hat. Hertzfeldt is masterful, artistic, and brilliant in these bizarre, but wholly genuine short films. It stands out among the short films as a work of pure genius.
