20th Annual Animation Show of Shows Review

Last year I saw and reviewed the 19^th Annual Animation Show of Shows, and this year’s, the 20^th, is similar in quality. Once again there is a wide variance among the entries.

This year, there are 15 animated short films from six countries:

ï‚· The Green Bird * – Maximilien Bougeois, Quentin Dubois, Marine Goalard, Irina Nguyen, Pierre Perveyrie, France

ï‚· One Small Step * – Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas, U.S.

ï‚· Grands Canons – Alain Biet, France

ï‚· Barry – Anchi Shen, U.S.

ï‚· Super Girl – Nancy Kangas, Josh Kun, U.S.

ï‚· Love Me, Fear Me – Veronica Solomon, Germany

ï‚· Business Meeting – Guy Charnaux, Brazil

ï‚· Flower Found! – Jorn Leeuwerink, The Netherlands

ï‚· Bullets – Nancy Kangas, Josh Kun, U.S.

ï‚· A Table Game – Nicolás Petelski, Spain

ï‚· Carlotta’s Face – Valentin Riedl, Frédéric Schuld, Germany

ï‚· Age of Sail * – John Kahrs, U.S.

ï‚· Polaris – Hikari Toriumi, U.S.

ï‚· My Moon – Eusong Lee, U.S.

ï‚· Weekends * – Trevor Jimenez, U.S.

I’m not going to review all 15, but I’ll mention some that made an impression on me.

The Green Bird – A great soundtrack accompanies this funny computer animation, in which a bird suffers an unfortunate series of setbacks when she finds herself a mother-to-be.

Bullets – One of two very short films by Nancy Kangas and Josh Kun included here. This one manages to combine innocence, evil, and charm. It is based on the writings of a group of pre-schoolers.

Love Me, Fear Me -This outstanding piece of claymation explores the ever-changing roles we play and shapes we assume in our continual efforts to impress others and be accepted by them; my personal favorite.

Age of Sail – Set on the open ocean in 1900, it’s the story of an old sailor adrift and alone in the North Atlantic. When he reluctantly rescues a teen who has mysteriously fallen overboard, he finds redemption and hope in his darkest hours. This one was my second favorite.

Weekends – A young boy shuffles between the homes of his recently divorced parents. Depressing, but very well done, and my third favorite.