MFF Film #23 - Shorts: Let's Get Animated

SHORTS: LET'S GET ANIMATED
Various countries/languages




Heirlooms
Several stories of the heirlooms people hold dear and the reason for their importance.  It was more notable for their stories than the actual animation, and it went on a little long.  MFF Ballot Rating: 2 out of 5.

Marvin
a boy is born with a hole in his head, and though he is accepted, a mishap causes him to literally lose his common sense, which he sets about finding.  This was a really cute short film that was funny, and had a nice message.  I also liked that it was told in rhyme.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Deep
A couple of minutes in the life of the deep sea, only the sea life are made out of household tools.  It was interesting idea, but there wasn't much involved.  MFF Ballot Rating: 2 out of 5.

Bike Race
A friendly bike race among two friends ends up in a love triangle.  Told with simple white line drawings on a black background, and using real audio of the three main characters, both narratively and during the races, this was funny and really charming.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.

Chief Serenbe
A man goes hitchhiking in the city.  That's really all there is to it, and though some of the animation techniques were cool at the end, it was pretty forgettable.  MFF Ballot Rating: 2 out of 5.

A Family Portrait
A family sits for a professional portrait, but cracks appear in their relationships with one another, with an unexpected ending.  I loved this one, from its grotesque character designs to its cleverness.  There is a lot of story told in under five minutes and it is dark and shocking.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Something Left, Something Taken
A couple visiting San Francisco become convinced the man driving them from the airport is the Zodiac Killer.  This one was so clever and absolutely hilarious.  The animation was perfect for the story and i totally loved it.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Malban
A young man visits a widow and her two children looking for the name of the secret island her husband conducted ornithology research at.  The eldest daughter has to decide whether to reveal the location of the secret place she cherished with her Dad.  There wasn't much of a story, but the animation was beautiful.  MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5.

Luminaris
A day in the life of the unusual profession of lightbulb makers.  The animation was stop-motion and used what looked like photographs.  It was strange and extremely creative.  MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5.

Dot
A little girl has to run from the danger as life is literally unraveling behind her.  This was another stop-motion film that was cute and creative, and notable in that it is in the Guinness book for being the smallest animated film made.  (The materials were so small they were literally film through a microscope.)  MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Eagleman Stag
A sardonic man narrates his life and accomplishments, including discovering a method of cell regeneration that he doesn't share with the world, out of spite.  This was really clever and funny, and extremely cerebral, with a cool black and white claymation-looking style.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.