Books are Made out of Trees

Leon is a grumpy old badger.  You can’t blame him really – as this Animation Workshop graduation project opens, we see a tree felled in his beloved woodland and scores of refugees leave to find a home elsewhere.   He must realise that his destiny may not be stay in the place he loves. Leon witnesses the destruction and retreats into his home – which has yet to be harmed by those with axes.  However, he discovers an unwelcome guest in his library and this is where the story really begins…

This is a profoundly melancholy animated short but essentially it is more about resilience and hope – and what comes after destruction. The simplicity of the artwork contrasts with the subtlety of the storytelling.  Yes, children will get this – but there are layers here that adult viewers will appreciate too.

The direction of the project was led by Julianna Jakubowska. Karen Haldrup served as both the Production Manager and Animation Lead, while Emma Olivia Dueholm supported the team as Production Assistant. Amalia Eiron took the role of Story Lead, and Ágúst Elí Ásgeirsson contributed as the Technical Director. Inès Zulianel oversaw the visual style as Art Director, and the design work was carried out by Alicia Ludwig.  Watch it below.

Meet the Whale in the Wharf: Art, Scale, and Surprise in London’s Docklands

The blue whale isn't a species normally associated with London.  After all, when it comes to animals, the English capital city is known for its lions (stone, mostly), ravens, horses and pigeons (so many, many pigeons).  As such, the latest piece of art unveiled in London’s docklands is a pleasant departure from the expected menagerie.   Captured in a spectacular head-first breach, this 36 foot (11 metre) leviathan was created to highlight the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans of the world.

At close range, the colossal whale sheds its singular silhouette and becomes a constellation of detail, an intricate mosaic whose beauty lies in the delicate interplay of form, colour, and craft.  It all comes together in a visually jaw-dropping way. This striking installation is part of a vast open-air gallery in Canary Wharf, where over 100 artworks transform the place into the UK’s largest free public art trail.  But, what’s the story with the whale? 

The Curious Tale of Denishawn

Or how two people managed to continuously take their clothes off in public throughout the 1920s and get away with it.

Image Credit Flickr User New York Public Library

In 1915 a pair of newlyweds formed a company that was to become instrumental in the formation of modern dance as a genre. This odd pairing was to become infamous for performing in as little clothing as possible as much for their revolutionary dance styles. Quite a trick in the early part of the twentieth century.

Service Bus

 
Poor old Rolf all he wanted was a drink to quench his thirst on his long bus journey, but he forgot to pack anything.  Despondent, he notices a service button and, without realising that he is about to change his life, presses it.  You might think that the picture above is something of a spoiler, but that is hardly the end of Rolf’s misery – much, much worse is yet to come.

This highly entertaining animated short is a 2025 Graduation Project by students at The Animation Workshop/VIA University College.  Elmer Mikael Lødemel was the Director, Painter, Animator, and Storyboard Artist. Niels Gram Riisgaard worked as the Line Producer, CG Generalist, and Background Painter. Matthew Ponquett was the Art Director and Animator. Simon Koch Pedersen served as a Generalist, Animator, and Concept Designer. Sam Byrne was the Animation Lead and a Storyboard Artist. Andreas Smidt acted as the Technical Director and CG Generalist. Lea My Ib was a Storyboard Artist and Story Artist for FX Animation.

Graduation projects from The Animated Workshop are something I look forward to each year – the talent is, simply put, outstanding.  I can only hope that these wonderful artists go on to highly valued professional careers in the industry.

Watch Service Bus below…

Insane Glassdoor Reviews: When Employees Go Full Rant Mode

Glassdoor is supposed to help people find great companies. But sometimes it’s just a therapy session with a public audience. Hidden behind anonymous usernames, former employees use the platform to rage, vent, and absolutely roast their past employers. Some reviews are helpful. Others are so brutal, they’re unforgettable.

Below are some of the wildest, funniest, and most jaw-dropping Glassdoor reviews ever posted. These aren’t your average complaints. These are full-on meltdowns that expose bad bosses, chaotic workplaces, and straight-up nonsense.

1. “Avoid Avoid Avoid” – Mopals, Toronto

A software developer at Mopals warned future applicants to run. “Good salary, on paper,” they wrote. But once they started, the red flags flew. No direct deposit. Handwritten paychecks. No pay stubs. T4s that never arrived. The final straw? “You won’t be getting your last paycheck.” Their advice: walk out right after cashing it.

2. “Lack of Management Intelligence” – Guff Media, Los Angeles

This ex-employee didn’t hold back. They called out management for being reactive, clueless, and inconsistent. “Decisions are not met with follow-through,” they said. The solution? “Hire a management staff that can handle the work.” Ouch.

3. “Sinking Ship” – Ziff Davis, San Francisco

This review paints a depressing picture. A siloed company where people don’t even say hello. “You can sit next to people who won’t even talk to you for over a year,” the employee wrote. The culture was described as toxic, competitive, and outdated. Their advice: “Stop bullying your people.”

4. “Suck Eggs and Some Snails” – Starbucks

One ex-Starbucks worker skipped constructive feedback and jumped straight to insult comedy. Their advice to management was simply, “Suck eggs and some snails.” It makes no sense, but it’s impossible to forget.

5. “If This Is Night, You Say It’s Night” – Libsys, India

One software engineer claimed the CEO treated employees like “labour,” banned tea breaks before lunch, and paid salaries late. The air conditioning never worked, policies changed hourly, and the manager was “shakki” (suspicious) enough to hire someone just to spy on staff. The takeaway? “You’ll never get fat because they won’t give you time to eat.”

6. “Bloodsucking Company” – Atos, India

This reviewer said they had to pay out of pocket for work expenses, got minimum pay, and used buggy tools that rarely worked. Their summary: “It’s a bloodsucking company.” A reminder that even big brands can run messy operations.

7. “Like Peanuts to Monkeys” – J.P. Morgan, Mumbai

This former Java developer didn’t mince words. They described management as ego-driven and dismissive. “They still think you’re a MONKEY,” they wrote. They claimed the company treated staff like interchangeable parts, not people.

8. “24-Hour Shifts Without a Cab” – MarketsandMarkets

This one’s hard to read. The reviewer described unethical practices, no research training, fake forecast data, and late-night shifts without transport for women. “Some women stay 24 hours in the office,” they said. The company even forced staff to write positive reviews to protect its brand.

9. “Stop Playing With Someone’s Career” – Rockstand Digital

A current employee blasted the company for having no structure, no direction, and a founder who bullies staff. “No one has any views on what they are working,” they wrote. Their warning: most good employees only last three to four months.

10. “Unhygienic HR Staff” – Datavail, India

After going through multiple interviews, a candidate was told they would not be offered the salary originally promised. “Unhygienic, unhealthy and unprofessional,” they called the HR team. It might’ve been harsh, but it’s a reminder that first impressions matter—even during hiring.

How Real Are These Reviews?

Glassdoor reviews can be brutally honest. But sometimes they’re exaggerated or fake. Companies have been known to encourage staff to leave glowing reviews. Some even try to remove negative ones. Others quietly ask staff to write “balanced” feedback.

According to one anonymous commenter, their boss “made us write positive reviews on company time.” Another admitted to writing fake reviews packed with perks they wished they had, like “work-from-home Fridays.” The goal? Trick execs into thinking those perks already existed.

And yes, it is possible to remove Glassdoor reviews, but only if they break site policies. That means harassment, threats, or exposing private information. If it’s just angry, rude, or even insane, it’s probably staying up.

Why Do Employees Rage Online?

Simple. People feel ignored. One bad boss, a missed paycheck, or a toxic team can make someone snap. Glassdoor becomes the punching bag. It’s anonymous. It’s public. And for some, it feels like justice.

But here’s the kicker. Sometimes the angry review helps a company. It reveals problems. It forces change. Other times, it scares off good talent.

What You Can Learn from This

For employers: don’t ignore the noise. Reviews that sound insane might still have a grain of truth. Track patterns. Fix real issues. And don’t try to game the system. It always backfires.

For job seekers: read between the lines. Look for recurring complaints. Compare with what people say on Reddit or Blind. If multiple reviews mention late pay or a “suspicious CEO,” believe them.

And for everyone else: remember that anonymous doesn’t mean harmless. One review can shape a company’s reputation. Or ruin it.

Final Thoughts

These reviews may be funny, but they reflect real frustration. Sometimes it's bad culture. Sometimes it's bad leadership. Sometimes it's just a bad fit.

Use Glassdoor as a tool, not a bible. And if you’re an employer facing one of these firestorms? Don’t panic. Learn from it. And maybe don’t treat your team like zoo animals.

If all else fails, remember there are ways to remove Glassdoor reviews—but it’s a legal and policy game, not a magic eraser.

And if you’re the kind of person who signs off with “suck eggs and some snails,” maybe take a nap first.

Potlems

If you are planning on traumatising your children today but are short of ideas, pop them in front of this animated short.  Potlems, written and directed by Alberto Allegri Rodríguez will bury itself deep into your offspring’s deepest consciousness and will, no doubt, be resurfaced by a well-meaning therapist in about two decades.  It’s easier than being that mum in a wood in a hood, I suppose.

Hats off to Alberto and his team at The Animation Workshop.

Potlems tells the story of Ginger, a cute little porcelain teapot being brought into the world by a very visible but very bonkers Creator.  Yet something has happened – Ginger has a glitch – he has a frown instead of a smile. And that just simply won’t do in this surreal, merry-go-round, quasi operatic world of unquestioning, frenzied, breakable happiness.  Once the Creator notices him properly, it can only mean one thing – poor Ginger needs to be fixed and returned.  There’s nothing a little celestial kintsugi can’t mend, after all.

I have to say I found this animation at once entrancing and unnerving.  It’s beautifully made, but is so layered my mind kept returning to it time and time again after the first watch - as if it had undergone some metaphorical histological sectioning that put it on replay mode while I tried to figure it out.  So, go on, plonk Junior down in front of this – it will do for them what the Singing Ringing Tree did for me in the way back when.  

Crown Shyness – The Mystery of Coyness in the Canopy

A basic human reaction to being near someone you don't want to be near is simply to move away.  Something like that happens with a number of tree species.  Their crowns do not touch each other at the canopy level.  Yet, the true reason for this adaptive behavior (which helps a species to cope in its environment with greatest success and least conflict with others, including its own) is still something of a mystery.  A number of reasons have been put forward, but none proven definitively.  If only the trees could talk…

More exactly, the reasons for crown shyness is believed to vary across different species.  Crown Shyness was first given its name over a century ago and since then it has been hypothesized that the reasons for this are multiple – with one species having a reason for manifesting this striking behavior while others have different reasons.

What is Splooting?

Over on our sibling site, Ark in Space, there is a new feature full of pictures of (mostly) squirrels splooting.  If you haven’t come across this phenomenon before, it’s worth a look.  Why? Well, if you ever come across a splooting squirrel, you might well first think that it is in some sort of health crisis.  In fact, it’s trying to avert one.  Replete with a lovely set of photographs (absolutely splootiful), this article outlines the reasons behind this peculiar animal behavior.  There’s also a look into how and when the word itself came into being – it has a slightly longer history than you might imagine!

Image Credit

Coulrophobia – Are You Afraid of Clowns?

Did you find Heath Ledger as The Joker scary? Then perhaps you suffer from coulrophobia, the abnormal fear of clowns. Join a self-confessed coulrophobic for a look at these guys and see if you are too- as if you don’t already know!

Image Credit Flickr User SilentMind8

Locks Student Short Film Directed by Ryan Coogler

Before the global acclaim of Sinners and Black Panther, Ryan Coogler was already crafting powerful, intimate stories, and his 2009 student short Locks is a striking example. Set on the streets of Oakland, this understated but deeply moving film follows a young man heading to the barbershop, in what at first seems like a simple routine.

Shot with quiet confidence and a naturalistic eye, Locks captures the texture of everyday life while gently revealing something more profound. Coogler's gift for human storytelling is already evident here - in the silences, in the gestures, and in the subtle choices his protagonist makes.

With a runtime of just over seven minutes, Locks doesn’t rely on dramatic twists or flashy visuals. Instead, it builds a quiet tension that speaks volumes, leaving the viewer reflective long after the final frame. Shot during his time in the prestigious Master’s programme at USC School of Cinematic Arts, this student short demonstrates Coogler’s instinctive gift for storytelling under pressure

A compelling early work that hints at the voice and vision Coogler would soon share with the world. Watch and enjoy Locks below.

Neighbourwood: A Curious Encounter in the Canopy

High above the forest floor, tucked away in a treetop house, lives an owl with a brilliant mind and a family legacy of scientific achievement. Driven by determination and intellect, he spends his days wrestling with a complex physics equation, seeking the solution that will secure his place among his esteemed ancestors (who include Nikowla Tesla).

But life in the canopy is about to get noisy. When a woodpecker moves in next door, the owl’s peaceful world is shattered by constant tapping. No matter what he tries, the racket won’t stop — and neither will his growing frustration. As his concentration slips away, so too does his grip on the problem he’s been trying to solve.

What happens next isn’t what he expected. And while we won’t spoil the ending, let’s just say that inspiration sometimes arrives in the most unexpected ways.

Neighbourwood is a beautifully animated short film directed by Eddy Hohf, Patrik Knittel, and Fynn Große-Bley. With a playful, expressive score by Alexander Wolf David, the film tells a wordless but vivid story about focus, frustration, and the strange harmony that can grow out of chaos.  Watch and enjoy below.

The Nictitating Membrane: The Third Eyelid

From the picture above you could easily imagine that the animal kingdom had suddenly been enveloped in its own zombie apocalypse.  Yet this is not a still from a forthcoming episode of The Squawking Dead. Thanks to high speed photography, these photographs capture the nictitating membrane in action. It is also known as the third eyelid, haw and the inner eyelid. It is drawn across the eye to protect and moisturize it while retaining visibility. The Ark in Space today has a feature on this extraordinary structure of the eye.

Image Credit Flickr User Simon

What is a Climate Model?

Ready for a little science? Climate models can predict future climate and energy futures – and this video explains what exactly that means.  It was created by Tinmouse for the Science Museum in London, England. 

Why do we need climate models?  Well, don’t we all want to know what the future has in store for us? Human activity – despite other factors, we all know that it is having a huge impact on the planet. Weather patterns are changing, the sea levels are rising and extreme weather (heatwaves, for example) are more common and well, more extreme.  So emissions must be reduced – and climate models can help there.

The video also explains energy models – they are used to investigate how energy is supplied and distributed to meet humanity’s needs.  There is a great visual explanation of energy models in the video, too.  The narrator has a really mellifluous Welsh accent, too!

Watch the very interesting video below.

The Life of King Richard III – Animated

I don’t really want to sit on the fence when it comes to King Richard III, but at the risk of alienating some readers, perhaps I better had (as long as it's not near a car park, I guess).  Richard III has always divided opinion – as you will see in this great animated short – and it is fair enough to say that he has been maligned, historically, particularly by Shakespeare.  Yet he also had some pretty villainous moments. Rex Factor: The Animated Show is a bold and brilliant leap from podcast to screen, bringing the fascinating - and often tumultuous - life of King Richard III to animated life. Based on the internationally successful history podcast Rex Factor, the show delivers a hilarious and historically rich romp through the life of one of England’s most controversial monarchs.

Presented by the podcast’s much-loved hosts Graham Duke and Ali Hood, the animated series follows their unique format of rating monarchs based on five delightfully subjective categories: Battleyness, (yes, really) Scandal, Subjectivity, Longevity, and Dynasty. King Richard III faces their irreverent scrutiny as they examine his rise, reign, and ruin, all while debating whether he has what it takes to earn the ultimate accolade: the coveted Rex Factor crown.

Produced by Tinmouse Animation, the series blends slick visuals with comic flair, staying true to the charm and wit that made the original podcast a hit with history buffs and casual listeners alike. Whether you know Richard III as Shakespeare’s villain, the last Plantagenet king, or the skeleton under the Leicester car park, Rex Factor: The Animated Show offers a fresh and funny take that’s as informative as it is entertaining.

Perfect for fans of history, comedy, or quirky British storytelling, this animated outing proves that Richard III’s legacy, however divisive, still makes for riveting entertainment.  Watch it below.

The Noble Rhubarb: Himalayan Marvel of Nature’s Ingenuity

At almost two meters tall, the Noble Rhubarb (also known as Sikkim Rhubarb) stands out – just a little - in its Himalayan habitat. While nature has designed its neighboring herbs and shrubs to grow short and stumpy, this species of rhubarb has other ideas. It towers above the other local plant life and is often visible from miles away.  How does this strange, ethereal plant survive – let alone thrive – in this inhospitable environment? Its secret is simple but ingenious: it is its own greenhouse.

Image Credit

You might mistake what you can see as a rather peculiar flower (once you get over the momentary panic that the triffids are having another day).  What you see is not a flower. The conical tower that is visible to the passing traveler is made up of translucent bracts. A bract is a specilaized leaf associated with the reproductive structure of a plant and they come in a multitude of shapes and sizes (often dependent on the plant’s pollinator).  In the case of noble rhubarb, these bracts create a translucent curtain which surrounds the stem and flowers contained within.

Murderbot – Opening Title Sequence

The title sequence for Murderbot, designed by Elastic and directed by Hazel Baird (Client: Apple TV), is a bold and imaginative visual prelude that captures the essence of the series: the tension between control and individuality. Using Cinema 4D with Redshift rendering, the sequence contrasts rigid, machine-like environments with bursts of surreal, hyper-colourful imagery, representing the internal conflict of a being caught between programmed obedience and a growing sense of autonomy.

What begins as a cold, geometric world — orderly and oppressive — is soon disrupted by strange, vibrant dreamscapes. These playful, almost childlike forms suggest a subconscious rebellion, a fractured yearning for something beyond function and expectation. The use of rubbery physics and toy-like visuals adds a surreal humour that mirrors Murderbot’s neurodivergent, dryly self-aware perspective.

One of the most intriguing touches comes at the end: a glimpse of Murderbot’s eye watching the screen. This fleeting image hints at a metafictional layer — perhaps suggesting that the entire sequence is part of the media the character obsessively consumes, adding a recursive, self-aware twist.

In short, the sequence is not just an aesthetic triumph but a conceptual one, setting the tone for a series concerned with sentience, identity, and freedom — all within 90 seconds of layered, visually rich storytelling. Watch it below.

The Red Thread of Fate

 
Inspired by the timeless Chinese myth of The Red Thread of Fate, this animated short (simply called Red String) by Crystal Kung delicately explores the invisible bonds that draw destined souls together. According to legend, the gods tie an unseen red string around the fingers of those fated to meet - lovers whose connection defies distance, circumstance, or time.

The motif of the red thread also appears in Japanese folklore as akai ito (赤い糸) — the “red string of fate.” In this tradition, the string is said to connect soulmates, not around the finger, but specifically tied to the pinky finger (小指, koyubi), reflecting the Japanese custom of sealing promises with a pinky swear. Though invisible, the thread is unbreakable and stretches across time and space, pulling two destined people together regardless of circumstances. This idea has permeated Japanese literature, anime, and film, reinforcing the universality and enduring emotional pull of the legend.

Kung’s interpretation reimagines this myth through a visual narrative that is both intimate and universal. With no dialogue and evocative animation, the film invites viewers to reflect on the quiet magnetism of destiny - the gentle tug of an unseen thread that guides us toward the people we are meant to find. Or not…

Elegant, emotional, and steeped in folklore (old and new), The Red Thread weaves a tender story of connection that lingers long after the final frame. Watch it below.

Lila

Hankies out. This is one of the most charming short films I have seen in a while and if this doesn’t bring a tear of joy to your eye then I am afraid nothing will! Lila is a young woman who helps people through her art, in a way you might not quite expect. At its heart I think Lila (written, animated and directed by Carlos Lascano) is a single extended visual metaphor about how individuals can help others through small acts of kindness. Hankies at the ready? Then press play…

The Amazing Pygmy Seahorse: Now You See Me…

If I stay stock still maybe they’ll just swim past.... ah, shoot.  This pygmy seahorse, seemingly caught in the act, has a few evolutionary tricks up its sleeve which allowed it to remain unknown and hidden from science until the 1970s.  First its size – tiny tiny tiny: it’s about two centimeters in length all told.  Next, its amazing camouflage – it just blends in with the local gorgonians (related to corals) so well that you can blink and you will miss it – which is probably the idea, let’s face it (even though I am not sure how many denizens of the deep actually blink).  Over at the Ark in Space today is a fascinating glimpse, together with a great set of photographs, in to the life of these tiny masters of disguise.

Letter? Article? Speech? Why Form is (Almost) Irrelevant in GCSE English Language Paper 2 Question 5

If you’re an English teacher – or even a student who has done GCSE English Language in a previous year – you will probably have heard this plaintive cry before: “Question 5 was a letter! Noooo! I hate writing letters!”  There are many permutations and combinations of this phrase. Most of them revolve around aforementioned deliverer of plaintive cry maintaining that they are much, much better at writing articles or speeches (or even leaflets or essays).  But not letters. When it comes to letters they lose whatever literacy they previously possessed and have just written the worst piece of writing ever. Like, literally, ever! In the history of the universe. If only it had been an article! They could write fantastic articles when they were, like, two years old.

That question was so unfair!  I only prepared for writing an article!

I could go on, but I think you get the idea. 

Tale of Snale

 
Snails are not my favourite animal – not by any means.  As a keen gardener I have an aversion to them which sometimes leads to responses bordering on the maniacal. Yet this is quite a heartwarming little tale – a story that transcends the interspecies divide.  Tale of Snale gives us a protagonist who does the right thing when they don’t need to and is effectively rewarded at a later stage.  As such, it’s a very simple story but one that warms the heart (and perhaps remind me that maybe I shouldn’t go too full metal jacket on the creatures in my back yard: not).

Tale of Snale was  created by Griffiths Watkins in their final year at the University of Hertfordshire 2023.  It is the culmination of their degree in 2D Digital Animation and shows a promising talent both for storytelling and animation.

You can watch Tale of Snale below.

The Delete Machine

Serendipity – that happy accident that produces something good.  Scientists have made accidental discoveries throughout history that have led to untold benefits to humanity.  And then there are the accidents that haven’t.  This is one of them.

The Delete Machine was created by Charlie Ledwidge for their degree in 2D Digital Animation at the University of Hertfordshire in 2023.  Hopefully this short tale will lead to big things – without any serendipity necessary!

You can watch the animation below.