Top 10: Fantastic Animated Short Films
The most inspiring animated short stories selected by the Domestika community
If you are an animation enthusiast, you will already know that the best examples of narrative and animation are not exclusive to feature-length films. Animated short films can tell beautiful stories and often look as spectacular as their full feature counterparts.
We asked the Domestika community to tell us what their favorite shorts were, for their production and originality. The following are 10 of the best:
Dechen, by Kaukab Basheer (USA, 2012)
Using paper and traditional animation techniques, this talented artist tells a beautiful story about love and attachment through the experience of a young novice in a Tibetan monastery.
The Sandman, by Paul Berry (United Kingdom, 1991)
This stop-motion animation was nominated for an Academy award in 1993 as best animated short. The aesthetics of German expressionism inspires its visuals, and the narrative is an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s short story of the same name.
Double King, by Felix Colgrave (Australia, 2017)
The story, produced in 2D and based on a microcosm where every plant and animal species has its kingdom and monarch, is the work of multi-award winning director, animator, artist, and musician Felix Cosgrave. He has more than one million subscribers on YouTube.
Azul, by Jordi Piulachs (Spain, 2015)
Azul tells the story of a child who has been rejected by his family and friends for having been born with different ideas. In time, however, he discovers he is not alone in this world. This short was presented at more than 20 festivals worldwide.
In a heartbeat, by Ringling College of Art and Design (USA., 2017)
This short was written and directed by Esteban Bravo and Beth David and is the story of two boys falling in love. It was nominated for and won several international awards and included in many festivals of LGBTQ+ cinema.
Negative Space, by Max Porter and Ru Kuwuhata (France, 2017)
Based on a poem by Ron Koethke, this short film deals with the relationship of a busy father, who’s always traveling, and the child who’s left behind, through the art of packing a suitcase. It was nominated for an Academy Award in the same year it was released.
El Héroe, by Carlos Carrera (Mexico, 1993)
This short tells the story of a man who discovers that a young woman is about to jump onto the train tracks. It was the first Mexican production of its kind to be recognized with the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Festival.
The Box, by Dušan Kastelic (Slovenia, 2017)
This story is based on the concept of ‘thinking outside the box.’ Thanks to his original stories—this was his fourth production—the Slovenian director has become one of the most relevant animators worldwide.
Lou, by Disney-Pixar (USA, 2017)
Directed by Dave Mullins, this production was nominated in 2018 for best animated short at the Academy Awards. The story focuses on the topic of school bullying from the aggressor’s point of view.
Happiness, by Steve Cutts (United Kingdom, 2017)
Cutts is the animator and illustrator behind this short film. Through a satirical style and an aesthetic inspired by comic strips and early cartoons, this film makes you reflect on the destructive and vicious aspect of consumerism in Western society.
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