Oct 19, 2018

Animation Experts' Choice for This Year's Academy Award for Best Animated Short (Updated)

We already have a pretty good idea of what kind of animated shorts will be competing in the Oscar race for Best Animated Short Film.

To get a sense of who this year's contenders are, we surveyed leading festival directors and animation critics from around the world who have seen many of this year's contenders. These are people who make their living watching and studying animated short films, and who watch hundreds (more commonly, thousands) of animated shorts a year. Their literal job is to champion quality animation, and if anyone understands where animation is headed as an art form, it is this group of people.

We asked each expert to describe their top picks and why they chose them, as well as four short films that they thought deserved Academy voters' attention.

Among the films in Competition, one was chosen six times by our experts: "La chute" (France) by Boris Labbé. Labbé's film is the only one that has appeared multiple times as a top pick among our experts.

Two films were chosen five times each by our voters: "Solar Walk" (Denmark) by Rekha Buksi and "Bloeistraat 11" (Belgium/the Netherlands) by Nienke Deutsch. (Note: The complete version of "Solar Walk" is available online for a limited time and can be seen below.)

The three experts each chose three films: "Weekends" by Trevor Jimenez (USA), "Sog" by Jonatan Schwenk (Germany ) and "Wildebeest" (Belgium), directed by Nicolas Keppens and Matthias Fripps.

The following are all responses:

Top pick Sog - Jonatan Schwenk (Germany)

The universal yet alarming and timely situation of human existence is depicted in this horrific prehistoric/post apocalyptic story about the lack of solidarity The film is a combination of digital 3D technology and reality. A clever combination of digital 3D technology and real-life sets and props make this 10-minute film all the more disturbing.

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Top Pick: Weekends - Trevor Jimenez (USA)

A meditative, tender, deceptively simple depiction of the mysteries and surprises of a fragmented, shifting life of a child living in two homes after her parents' divorce. The pacing and direction are beautifully and unobtrusively executed. The pacing and direction are beautifully unobtrusive. Trusting in imagery and editing rather than drowning the work in useless chatter, this is a film that every aspiring and seasoned animator should see and learn from.

More to choose from:

Top Picks Untravel (Neputovanja) - Ana Nedeljkovi., Nikola Majdak Jr. (Serbia, Slovakia)

Overtly Oscar-nominated in recent years Name any overtly political animated short film that has been nominated for an Oscar in recent years, and you will begin to scratch your head in despair. Yes, we live in an age of walls and border checkpoints, so the story of a doll girl who dreams of going to a perfect world called "Abroad" couldn't be more appropriate. Still, Nedeljkovi and Nikola Majdak Jr. have re-created their own problem world. The dolls are designed and act in a unique and unsentimental way, the ruined set is filled with Facebook updates, and the chilling narration (along with an increasingly disturbing score) leads to a poignant third act. If you want an animated short that sustains its message powerfully and is artistic down to the color choices, this is the film to choose.

Pick More: [A monumental work guided by the spirit of artists such as Hieronymus Bosch and Francisco de Goya, it is a truly original and experimental journey into heaven and hell.

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Press La Chute, Boris Labbé (France).

Because since his first film, Boris Rabe has developed another way of making experimental films. A way of making images and aesthetics reminiscent of the great painters, but his own creations. And in this film, the incredible rhythm, the way the film becomes a complete experience with sound, reminds us that animation also begins with the perfect combination of music and images: ...... But the film is powerful not only in its form, but also in its content.

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Pushed One Animal Behavior, Allison Snowden, David Fine (Canada)

The benign metaphor created by Allison Snowden and David Fine features an impeccable script and fun, traditional hand-drawn animation.

The film is a delightful, traditional, hand-drawn animation with an impeccable script. The instincts of the animals participating in the group therapy spur their neurosis and stress, creating funny and absurd situations.

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Picks:

There are so many great films on this list that it's already a challenge to pick five, much less one favorite (so I made six instead). Each of these six films has something unique and special to offer: they deal with contemporary issues, create imaginative worlds, offer fresh new perspectives, or explore new techniques. Especially when you consider that these films have won film awards (both Audience and Jury) around the world. In other words, it means a lot to independent animators around the world when any of these films win or are nominated.

Top Picks Bloeistraat 11 - Nienke Deutz (Belgium/Netherlands)

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Top Pick La Chute - Boris Labbé (France)

When I first saw this film, I was overwhelmed by the poetic vision of a collapsing world.

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Top picks La Chute, Boris Labbé (France)

Not all animated short films tell fast-paced jokes or entertain people on a simple level. A vast number of animated films are poetry, art, magic, and alchemy. La chute, by the exceptional artist Boris Labbé, uses a powerful visual world inspired by biblical paintings to create a magnificent portrait of humanity.

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Note: This article has been updated since publication with selections by Aneta Ozorek and Daniel Shulji.

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