Gorillaz Climb Higher: The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God

Eight minutes. That’s all it takes for Gorillaz to remind the world why they remain one of the most inventive acts of the 21st century. The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God is not just a music video - it’s a miniature animated epic that feels like a long-lost feature film distilled into a single, breathless sitting.  

You only need to read the comments below the video on YouTube. So many people had the same reaction: how did eight minutes pass so quickly?  I am pretty sure that many people will watch this three-pronged tail more than just once.

If “On Melancholy Hill” once captured a certain wistful magic, this feels like its older, wiser sibling. Fans have joked that we’ve graduated from a melancholy hill to a melancholy mountain – and that description is pretty accurate.  The scale is grander, the tone more reflective, The emotional stakes higher (oh boy, are they higher). Plus Murdoc gets to have an off-screen love affair - you can't really beat that kiss goodbye, can you?

The story unfolds with deceptive simplicity. The band members live separate lives before converging at the mountain. From there, they journey back towards the lake. Some fans interpret the structure as cyclical - a reincarnation loop where endings are beginnings and loss is folded into renewal. Whether intentional or not, the symbolism feels deliberate. Water, mountains, caves - these are ancient metaphors, and Gorillaz wield them with quiet confidence.

One moment, in particular, left me (and audiences) reeling. For most of the short, not a word is spoken. Then Noodle mouths three simple words: I love you. No sound. No fanfare. Just a fleeting movement of lips before she jumps.

Stylistically, the short is a triumph. The hand-drawn 2D animation has been widely praised as a love letter to traditional craft. In an era of hyper-polished digital gloss, there’s something refreshing perhaps even rebellious about visible linework and painterly texture.  A huge thank you to all involved in the creation of this superlative piece of art.

A mountain, a lake, three unspoken words, and suddenly eight minutes feels like magic.

A Friend of Dorothy – Oscar Nominated Short Film Starring Miriam Margolyes

It’s strange the directions in which life can unexpectedly take you.  This charming short film, starring Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry and relative newcomer Alistair Nwachukwu (who looks like his star will shine brightly in the future) is about just that.  Teenager JJ kicks his football into Dorothy’s garden, and knocks on her door to retrieve it.  That’s a lucky break for Dorothy because she has found it impossible to open her daily tin of prunes – and a strong young man is just what she needs to help out.  Maybe she has found the friend she needs...

An almost immediate spark of mutual trust and friendship is ignited – two comparatively lost souls find company in their unexpected shared interest.  To say anything else might mean spoiling the film – it is, after all, very short.  But it is beautiful – and the performance from the two leads are just, well, the only word for it is lovely.  Of course there is the very capable support from Stephen Fry, being very Stephen Fryish and also Oscar Lloyd as Dorothy’s priggish grandson.

The film has quite rightly been nominated for an Oscar (Best Live Action Short Film) which leaves me in something of a dilemma.  Jane Austen’s Period Drama has also been nominated this year and I really don’t know which one should win, both being outstanding.  I'm torn. Can an acdemy award be shared? Please let it be so...

A Friend of Dorothy was written, directed and executive produced by Lee Knight and produced by James Dean, Scottie Fotré, and Max Marlow.  A big thank you to them all for giving us this very precious twenty minutes.

Shanghai: the last new aerial footage of the city you will ever see

Authorities in Shanghai have introduced a 120m height restriction for drones.  That means that no one will ever again be able to film the city from that height or above.  Why? It is considered controlled airspace by the authorities – the new restriction is to stop any possible interference with any other aircraft such as helicopters but also because it is close to commercial flight paths and they simply don’t want to take that risk.   Although this is understandable, it’s something of a shame (and apparently the police have been cracking down on it massively).  If Shanghai looks spectacular (any time of day, but especially at night) then it looks like something out of a science fiction movie once the sun has set. 

In something of a homage, lalin photography (a cooperative of five photographers) shot this remarkable footage recently.  Apart from a few frames which explain the current situation, this is a flight without words through the city in the nighttime.  The work is stitched together from drone footage from the last few years which has never been released before. As such, this is probably the last new aerial footage of Shanghai you will ever see.  So, sit back and take in the sites – Nanpu Bridge, The Bund, Huangpu river skyline, Pu Xi, Shiliupu Pier and a host of other places in the city.  This is wonderful work.

The Kowloons - Roll Up - A Proper Slice of Britpop Pie

The Kowloons. I hadn’t heard of them till yesterday but they have been around a few years – and this is their new single, Roll Up.  Maybe it should have been called Roll Back, because this is very, very Britpop (and that’s not a criticism as far as I am concerned).  As far as boxes go, there are a few ticks.  They are from Merseyside, which is always a good sign for a poptastic four piece.  Tick.

Then, half of the band is made up of a set of twins, Stephen Ng (vocals) and Anthony Ng (drums) – I mean, that has to be another tick, right?  Then there is a certain mystery without a tour - I have no idea, for example, whether the band name (from the area in Hong Kong) and the last name of the twins (a common name in China) is anything more than coincidence! Yeah, tick. Completing the lineup are Mason Jones (guitar) and Bobby Griffiths (bass). And two Welsh surnames had to be yet another tick…

You probably know already that I like the song, because why else would I be reviewing it? It’s lyrically spare, but the essentials come across really well. In a nutshell, the song seems to be about going through emotional turmoil or intense feelings, but trying to cope and escape through the night, whether that’s partying, staying up, or just “rolling with it” until things feel okay again.  In other words, have some fun and you’ll be OK.  This is a proper slice of Britpop pie.  I will definitely discover some more of their songs before the sun comes out again.

Watch the video below.

The 88 Butterfly – Nature’s Living Number

If you asked me what I associate with the number 88, my first response would be “wasn’t the Crazy 88 the name of a Japanese gang in Kill Bill Volume Whatever?”.  If I was musical, I could have added that the standard piano has 88 keys.  If I was more aware of other cultures, I could have concluded that in Mandarin, the number 8 (八, bā) sounds similar to 发 (fā), meaning prosper or wealth.  What I would not have said is that it’s a butterfly, found in Middle and South America. But it is.  There is a picture right above this gabbling.  As my grandmother might have said - well, knock me down with a feather. Our sibling site, the Ark In Space, has an article on this most remarkable of butterflies, with a great gallery of pictures to accompany it. 

Image Credit

Armenian Martial Dance – Embodying Unity, Strength and Collective Defence

…And now for something completely different.  As you may know, here at Kuriositas we love a good dance but the videos we showcase tend to be contemporary, in terms of both music and movement. However, sometimes it’s good to sit back and take in the past. This little gem from the Berd Dance Ensemble of Armenia showcases their national dance beautifully, set in the mountains of the country and beautifully shot.  The dance is very masculine, but it should be noted that “Berd” does mean fortress, and is also the name of the dance where the men create towers out of themselves (sadly not in this video).

Armenian martial dance emphasises brotherhood, physical strength, unity and resilience – and you can see from this performance how it was designed to be more than just recreation.  This is cultural team-building and bonding.  The particular dance shown here is traditional from the westen highlands of the country and it is believed that it evolved as warrior initiation dances as well as for agricultural and seasonal ceremonies.  The roots of these dances go back at least 2,000 years.

The costumes, too, are worth noting.  The white caps with red wrapping or scarves are the traditional regional headgear from Western Armenia. The red fabric tied around the cap adds colour contrast and helps visually unify the group on stage. Red is a traditional Armenian colour symbolising strength and vitality and you can also see it in their embroidered waistcoats.  The whole ensemble is topped by the grey, shaggy vests which suggest mountain or shepherd origins. Armenian armies often drew on rural levies, so aspects of everyday village dress influenced the appearance of light infantry.  Oh and let’s not forget the waistband and trousers? Superb!

Twenty One Pilots - Drag Path

Drag Path started as an exclusive bonus track on the Twenty One Pilots 2025 album Breach (Digital Remains edition) and that meant that only the fans who bought the special edition could hear it – at least at first.  However, the song went viral on TikTok and so now, in a slightly edited form, the band responded to fan demand and released it as their new single.  This is only right – the song has become a cultural moment, grabbing hold of the zeitgeist with both hands and giving it a good shake.

The song is about the emotional traces that we leave in life, whether they be memories, scars or reminders of people or events that shape us – as well as connection and being found in hard times. The video to accompany the song is something special, and reflects the lyrics in certain ways. It tells the story of a young rabbit, who joins his elders at dinner where they share their memories of their past lives (and some of the pictures they share foreshadow what comes later).  Unfortunately, they are not alone – a mysterious and frightening beast approaches their idyllic moment with evil intent…

I'm not going to include any spoilers - watch it yourself and see how it ends. Made in detailed stop‑motion with a beautifully circular structure, the visuals feel hand‑crafted and expressive, matching the song’s emotional depth.  The end is something of a deus ex machina, but one which cannot fail to satisfy the legions of fans who have campaigned for this song to be released as a single for quite some time now. Written and directed by Tobias Gundorff Boesen and made at The Animation Workshop, this video is really something quite special.

I am scratching my head a little as to how this came to be a Twenty One Pilots video, as it originally accompanied Slow Show by The National (we covered it back in 2012). I guess the answer is who cares?  It's great to see the animatrion (filmed in the forests surrounding Viborg in Denmark) have a renaissance and it fits the song perfectly. 

The Chinese Sky Road Built on a Precarious Mountain Ridge

If you don’t like heights, don’t press play.  Yet do. This sky road in China not only gives visitors the opportunity to take in some breath-taking nature, but the aerial footage here allows us to experience it from even higher up than it is already.  The forested mountains which Daobeiliang Highway in Shizhu County, Chongqing crosses are staggeringly beautiful and the presence of wind turbines among the clouds is something of a surprise (but the winds must pick up quite a speed up there, so it does make sense).  Often called a “Heaven Road” by the locals, you will soon see why!

The engineering is a marvel, the Qiyao mountain landscape breath-taking.  Those cliffs look huge, and I find it difficult to imagine how the road was built  - I certainly don’t think I would have liked to be one of the construction workers (although for those who love heights, this would have been the job of a lifetime). So take a trip along this sky road.  You will either want to be there or be happy that you’re not.  I don’t think there is an inbetween, to be honest!

Inner

A battle rages on a distant planet, yet it is not at all like our own.  It is an organic world where white blood cells and viruses have evolved into humanoids and as they have evolved, so too have their methods of warfare.  Amidst the carnage, a white blood cell soldier takes his viral enemy captive.  Yet the prisoner of war and his captor develop a bond, one which could mean the end of conflict.

I won’t pretend to understand the real biology behind this very entertaining animated short, made by ESMA students in France.  It works for me, though!  Directing credits go to Jonah Montier, Simon Brejoux, Gibril Siline, Carla Kaddam, Tess Benedetti, Justin Phillipps, Nolwenn Queval, Claire Alberny and Lucie Gonzalez with music provided by Adèle Chavy.  Sound is by Tristan Le Bozec, Sébastien Fournier, and José Vicente, with voices by Nesrine Tkitek and Jonah Montier.  As usual, the visual feast that is an ESMA production far surpasses my expectations – it is, after all, a student film.  Yet this can stand up and be counted among professional productions, such is its production quality and visual storytelling.

Martial Arts Robots! China's Spring Festival Gala delivers Jaw-Dropping Performance

Talk about Kaylon’s Got Talent… This is dazzling stuff - a host of humanoid robots performing martial arts with youthful human partners.  Yet these performers are not from Isaac’s homeworld: this is China.  When people remark that this is going to be the “Chinese Century”, it’s difficult to disbelieve them when you watch a show like this.  This year’s Spring Festival Gala from Beijing (broadcast by the China Global Television Network) saw humanoid robots join forces with Young Fu artists to deliver a jaw-dropping martial arts performance (see below).  It has, naturally, very quickly gone viral since the gala aired on 16 February.

These robots, child-size and so perfectly matched against their pre-teen opponents, moved in perfect synchronisation with the performers (with only the occasional slight wobble). They executed precise martial arts routines that blended centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge robotics.  Plus, the kids seem to be having a lot of fun, too (and no Kaylon-style revolution either, although that might have been interesting to watch).  

Yes, this might count as a form of soft propaganda, but flipping heck, I love it.  The robots were developed by Unitree Robotics, based in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province (and not owned by the Chinese government, as it happens). As technology becomes embedded into national celebrations like these, I wonder what we in the West can come up with to compete with this (or perhaps we don't have to?).   Answers on a postcard, please...

Now you have seen the illusion, as it were, take a look at the bigger picture.  The video belows goes into the details behind the Unitree Robotics spectcacular performance.  I have to admit to a nagging worry about these robots being weaponized, but perhaps I have been watching The Orville (and other movies and shows) too much.  Yet my blood did run ever so slightly cold when the taller robot came out towards the end of the performance, jian sword in hand. Time will tell, but I am quite happy that my last name isn't Connor right now. Sorry for mixing my sci-fi metaphors.

The Incredible Elephant Stables of Hampi

You have quite likely never heard of Hampi. Yet in the year 1500, it was the second-largest city in the world, surpassed only by Beijing. Situated in the Vijayanagara district of the Indian state of Karnataka, Hampi was the epicentre of the medieval Karnata Kingdom, part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Founded in the 1330s, this Hindu empire ruled over most of South India. A symbol of royal power and military might, its rulers maintained vast numbers of war elephants, both as a display of authority and to use to stunning and brutal effect in military campaigns. They were, quite literally, the tanks of their day.

Image Credit

We do not know precisely which ruler ordered the construction of the magnificent stables to house his most valuable elephants, but it was most likely Krishna Deva Raya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529 at the height of the empire’s power. The elephant stables remain the world’s only surviving example of this type of architecture. It stands as a rare reminder of how architecture, power, and animals were once bound together in the making of empire. Above you can see part of the interior; the mahout entrance has been mysteriously bricked up, probably to discourage after-hours visitors.

Jane Austen's Period Drama (2026 Oscar Nominated)

This short film is bloody wonderful.  Erm. I suppose I could have described it a little less appropriately – let’s just say that it brought out my inner Ron Weasley for a second.  As far as Jane Austen adaptations go, this may not be quite what you were expecting – but it does at least have all the right ingredients.  In fact, the Jane Austen references are everywhere.  And so they should be.

To begin with, there are three sisters, much along the lines of Sense and Sensibility.  They are around the same age as Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret Dashwood but here instead we have Miss Estrogenia “Essy” Talbot (Julia Aks), Miss Labinia Talbot (Samantha Smart) and Miss Vagianna Talbot (Nicole Alyse Nelson).  And yes, if you hadn’t guessed this is a comedy, then you just have. I hope.  You have also probably guessed what constitutes the period drama too. Let other keyboards dwell on guilt and misery, though; this is just for fun.

The Janeite world-building is thorough, although it might make a few uber-purists run for the smelling salts (or dash to the gin cabinet). We have the father who retreats to his study whenever things get a little uncomfortable (shades of Mr Bennett in Pride and Prejudice), and the even more uncomfortable fact that all his daughters are as yet unmarried. Of course, in those days it was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of no great fortune, must be in want of a husband.  And it looks like Essy is about to be the first of the Talbot girls to get hitched.  She has managed to attract the attention of the handsome, brooding, slighly dim Mr James Dickley, played by Ta’imua (great chemistry between the two leads, by the way).  However, the drama of the title comes into play very quickly. Could this be the end of the Talbot-Dickley union, before it has even fully started?

You can watch and find out, the film is below. What involvement Emma Thompson had in the project I cannot tell you, but she is listed as Executive Menstrual Advisor.  Shame there was no Thompson style weeping in the film… but it is a comedy after all. What I can tell you, though, is that it was written by Julia Acks (Essy in the film) and Steve Pinder. The talented duo also directed the film.  What I enjoyed about it most of all is the script, which is very sharp, knowing, contemporary and extremely funny – a gift to any actor who can keep a straight face long enough.  I imagine there were one or few bloopers made while filming.

Not only is it all of the above, it is stylistically so in keeping with the way period dramas are made in terms of the way the whole thing looks – perfect, really.  Plus the casting of the sisters is spot on – you can create an Austenesque backstory for each of them the moment they utter their first words.  Having watched this, I was hardly surprised to see that this has been Oscar nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.  Fingers crossed that this beats the opposition into bloody (ah, did it again) submission and comes out on top.

Fungtopus? The Incredible Fungus that Looks Like an Octopus

This is Clathrus archeri.  Looking every inch the result of a GM experiment gone wrong, it resembles a strange cross between a toadstool and an octopus.

Yet this is not the result of some subterranean gene-splicing enterprise to bring the world a spore-bearing cellaphod (for whatever reason that might be).  This is exactly how nature intended the Octopus Stinkhorn.  The shape and form you see here is an integral but short-lived part of its life-cycle.

Image Credit Flickr User Jose Delgar

That’s AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Everyone seems to have an opinion on AI, don’t they? Even my octogenarian mother referred to it recently as “slop” – and I have no clue where she got that term from because she doesn’t exactly doomscroll, but she still managed to catch the zeitgeist with the word of the day. In fact she doesn’t exactly go on the internet; she’s quite proud of that fact, in fact. I imagine she picked up the term from one of her more tech savvy friends – they regularly meet for horrific amounts of caffeine and to put the world to rights (I refer to them collectively as The Coven – and that’s a term of endearment).  In this short comedy video, their US male counterparts are, I imagine, doing a similar sort of thing.

A couple of old fellahs are chewing the cud and taking in the world when they spot an athletic young man doing gymnastic flips in the park.  Very impressive flips.  Too impressive flips. One of them immediately declares “That’s AI” as he has seen things like that on his Instagram (and here they are really beginning to sound like the aforementioned coven).  Before long they are surrounded by a large group of people, all of whom have their own herd opinion about whether or not that’s AI in front of them.

This funny comedy short was written and directed by Sebastian Lopez. It stars James Stallworth as Zee and Claudius Pratt as John. The flipper is Mads Egerlund and let’s not forget Trumpet Guy who is played by Karim Theilgaard. A short note here – go and try and find anything about Mads Egerlund (who plays the flipper).  Apart from references to this short, you won’t.  And that can only mean…

Cruz Beckham (and don’t forget The Breakers!) – For Your Love

Spare a thought for The Breakers.  I don’t know if they are just Cruz Beckham’s band (in a Cliff Richard and The Shadows kind of way) or just hired musicians who have come in for this single. Yet they don’t even get a name check until part way through the video and even then, they don’t get one on the YouTube title for this video.  Regardless, I’m happy to remain blissfully unaware of their true connections with the third child of David and Victoria Beckham (who I think made their money selling used cars, or on Love Island or, well, something like that).

I wasn’t even going to press play, but I did, and was pleasantly surprised – so much in fact that I thought I would let you make your own minds up too.  I think if Blur and Oasis had a secret love child with Kula Shaker and Deep Purple, then the child might grow (metaphorically) to be something like Cruz Beckham (and The Breakers, don’t forget The Breakers).  This is Cruz’ third single (apparently) after Optics and the very unappealingly titled Lick the Toad (I am not curious).  It does rock in a gentle kind of rocky manner and Mr Beckham has a pretty good voice.  That sounds like I'm damning with faint praise but I genuinely did enjoy this.  But, am I the only one to think Cruz is vaguely reminiscent (looks-wise) of a youngish David Bowie?  Not sure about the moustache, though. Really not sure about the moustache.

Anyway, the video has a cute little intro and outro, which adds well to the overall effect.  But best of all is that this is a good tune, a bit of a toe tapper, a three minute poptastic popgasm. So, yes, we like it. Watch For Your Love below.

The Big Push – Personal Jesus: Probably the Best Buskers in the World

The Big Push are a UK band who first became known for their powerful street performances in Bristol and Brighton, blending rock, reggae, hip-hop, soul, and folk into something completely their own. They’re known for raw musicianship, fearless reworking of well-known songs, and performances that feel immediate, energetic, and alive.  If that sounds like something that might appeal to you, hang around.  You’re about to watch a bravura performance of a Depeche Mode classic. Or a Johnny Cash classic. Or a Marilyn Manson classic.  It has been covered by many artists and The Big Push have now joined that particular pantheon.

This is their take on “Personal Jesus”, stripped back, intense, and full of attitude, showing exactly why their live videos have captured such a huge audience.  It was shot last summer on Ship Street in Brighton.  The locals seem to love it to!  Watch the video below and see if you agree with me - that The Big Push are probably the best  buskers in the world.

The Duke of Wentworth - Starring Timothy West

Family outings can go awry, especially when they are intergenerational.  In The Duke of Wentworth we have doddery old grandad (played wonderfully by the late, great Timothy West), his daughter and her hubby, plus the most recent addition to the family – a little baby girl.  Things don’t quite go to plan when baby needs changing, leaving grandad to his own devices for a while amidst the splendour of the stately home.  Then – of course – a group of American tourists mistake him for their tour guide…

You may remember Timothy West in major British dramas that reached global audiences, such as his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Gathering Storm, the acclaimed BBC/HBO production, or as Sir Leicester Dedlock in Bleak House, broadcast on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre. More recently, he appeared as Jeremy Lister in Gentleman Jack, a BBC–HBO series that gained a strong following in the United States, reinforcing his reputation as a commanding presence in historical and literary drama.

This short film was created to showcase Wentworth Woodhouse Country House in the English county of Yorkshire - and it looks resplendent. Yet West is the true star - absolutely in his element as he proceeds to lead the (highly gullible) American visitors around the house, confidently feeding them increasingly absurd nonsense about its history.  Watch it and have ten minutes of fun below.

10 Spectacular Radio Telescopes around the World

Take a whistle stop tour of some of the most spectacular radio telescopes in the world and find out about what actually goes on there. On almost all of the continents these giants command the landscape as they survey the skies.

Image Credit Flickr User CHUCKage

Radio telescopes can be found the world over. They are used in radio astronomy, the science of studying, at radio frequencies, celestial objects such as galaxies and stars as well as more difficult to understand phenomena such as Masers and Pulsars. They also collect and track data from space probes and satellites that we have shot up in to the atmosphere and space. Here are some of the more significant and – in terms of design – beautiful radio telescopes in the world.

The Fayum Mummy Portrait that Looks So Familiar

I remember discovering the Fayum mummy portraits (as a reader, rather than the Jesuit priest who did uncover some of them back in 1615) and have returned to them time and time again.  It is fascinating that realistic images of the faces of people who died so long ago can still be seen by us today. Dating from around the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD, roughly c. 30 BC to AD 300, they were produced in the Fayum area of Roman Egypt, mainly during the early Roman Imperial period, and were attached to mummies as realistic painted likenesses of the deceased.

In this video, Alexandra Olsman, one of Sotheby’s specialists in ancient sculpture and works of art takes a look at one in particular (and I guess it’s up for sale, this video being by an art broker). Unlike many of the portraits, this particular chap is obviously middle-aged (the majority are of young adults and children).  It’s an honest “warts and all” picture but what Olsman does is answer a question that has intrigued many.  Were these portraits drawn before or after the death of the “sitter”?  The answer is a little more complex than you might expect – and, of course, based on a certain amount of guess work as we do not know who these people were, let alone how or when they died.

Watch this fascinating video below:

Luger - Starring Hack Whitehall

Generation gaps often express themselves in viewpoints, perspectives and attitudes – and often those of the older generation can become to seem a little extreme to others. Kept within the family, they can be, well, swept under the carpet.  However, sometimes help has to be called and in Tom’s case he has turned to the services of a pair of very different nurses, Gloria and Helen to help look after his ailing nonagarian grandfather. 

The carers, played by Lolly Adefope (Ghosts - UK version) and Ellie White (The Windsors) sit down for a chat with Tom (Jack Whitehall) and he soon discovers things he never knew about his "grandpa", including the titular luger which he finds in a biscuit tin.  Whitehall is well known for his previous stirling comedic turns in Bad Education and Fresh Meat. This short film, directed by Freddie Waters (Peacock) and written by Freddy Syborn (Bad Education) stands out because it is so character driven (it mostly takes place in a single room), rather than depending on a big budget or flashy setting to interest the viewer.  Each character is beautifully written and acted and we get a real feel for the personalities involved in this “situation” comedy. 

Watch Luger below:

Forevergreen

Forevergreen tells the story of an orphaned bear cub, rescued from almost certain death by a benign spirit of the forest – which in this case comes in the shape of an old and wise evergreen tree.  The tree teaches the young cub how to survive and a parent-child bond is created between the two.  That is, until the cub reaches those difficult teenage years and is accidentally introduced to the allure of fast food left behind by humans.  A chain of events is set in motion in which desperate decisions must be made…

This charming animated short, written and directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears was created by a team of over 200 people who all donated their free time to create what is a beautiful piece of visual storytelling.  As you can imagine, as it was an after hours project, it took some time to make – over five years in fact.  On a simple level it works as an extended metaphor – don’t give your kids junk food.  Flippancy aside, Forevergreen tells a simple yet profound tale of sacrifice and parenthood and how this can spread out, like the leaves of a tree, over generations.

Watch Forevergreen below.

Frankfurt Hyperlapse

Frankfurt in Germany has been around for at least 1200 years, so it has amassed a certain amount of history in those years. Much of it was destroyed during the Second World War and reconstructed later but today the city hosts a myriad of gleaming new tower blocks in the banking district, too.  Kirill Neiezhmakov has been making timelapse and hyperlapse films for years and I am not sure whether this is the first time he has captured Frankfurt on film, but the results are compelling to say the least.   In this hyperlapse, he experiments with seamless AI morphing transitions to go from one place in the city to another and I must say that they work a treat.

Kirill approached the shoot knowing time and conditions were against him. Heavy rain, dark skies and the loss of his folding bike limited his mobility, reducing a planned three-day shoot to barely a day and a half. Despite this, he captured 20 hyperlapse sequences, selecting 17 for the final film. The dramatic weather became an asset, with dense, rolling clouds contrasting sharply against Frankfurt’s steel-and-glass skyline. Kirill also continued his AI morphing experiments, seamlessly transforming old and new architecture. Each hyperlapse was created manually, moving the tripod frame by frame to achieve a natural, organic flow.

Windy Day

I love a visual, extended metaphor in the morning.  This animated short by students from the École des Nouvelles Images in France has the tagline “Wind carries away destinies.”  However, I think it is truer to say that this particular wind drives people to them.  The story is very simple, but beautifully told.  In a park we meet the various people enjoying their time there – a young couple with their child, and even younger couple discovering love for the first time, an old man with his dog and the harassed businessman trying to do a little work while having his lunch.  All are destined to meet the wind – but what will become of them?

This charming animation was directed by Martin Chailloux, Ai Kim Crespin, Élise Golfouse, Chloé Lab, Hugo Taillez, and Camille Truding, with an original score by Camille Riey (MAAAV). It was produced by Julien Deparis, and the sound mix was created by Pierre-François Renouf.

The Sphinx Observatory – Science at the Top of the World

It may look like the hideaway of a super villain from a Bond movie but this is the Sphinx Observatory, dedicated to research which must take place out at an altitude of 3000-3500 meters.

It is situated in Jungfraujoch, Switzerland. At an astonishing 3.571 meters above sea level, the Sphinx observatory in the Swiss Alps is the highest-altitude built structure in Europe.

Image Credit Flickr User jrodmanjr

Luke Evans as Frank-N-Furter? I see you shiver with anticipation…

Does Luke Evans have what it takes to play Rocky Horror’s Frank-N-Furter?  Well, we know he has the voice.  You only need to watch his turn as Gaston in Disney’s 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast to know that the Welsh actor can belt out the shows numbers probably without pausing for breath.  We know he has the body.  He showed quite a lot of it as Zeus in 2011’s Immortals.  It's probably still intact. So, he would probably be able to squeeze into Frank-N-Furter’s corset very nicely (although physically he may out-muscle Rocky but we’ll have to see).

Why the questions? It's because he is about to step into one of theatre’s most iconic roles and appears below in a newly released rehearsal video alongside director Sam Pinkleton. The footage offers a glimpse of Evans working through the show’s emotional 11-o’clock number, I’m Going Home, giving fans an early sense of the tone and style this revival is aiming for. With Pinkleton at the helm, the production looks set to balance the show’s camp legacy with a fresh theatrical edge.

Richard O’Brien’s cult classic begins previews on 26 March, ahead of an official opening night on 23 April at Studio 54. The production is scheduled as a limited Broadway engagement, running through 21 June.

Fans of the sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania may want to get their tickets early. Watch Luke Evans rehearse as Frank-N-Furter below.

How Were Ancient Egyptian Faience Amulets Made?

Ancient Egyptian faience amulets are small objects with a big story to tell. Known to the Egyptians as tjehenet, faience is a distinctive ceramic material celebrated for its luminous blue-green colour and its powerful symbolic links to rebirth, protection, and the divine.

In this video, archaeologist and artist Zahed Taj-Eddin (how wonderful to be both!) of the Victoria and Albert Museum explores and demonstrates how these striking amulets were made thousands of years ago, revealing the materials, tools, and techniques used by ancient craftspeople. From shaping the core to glazing and firing, the process combined practical skill with a deep understanding of early ceramic technology.

Faience amulets were more than decorative items. They played an important role in religious belief and daily life, serving as protective charms and symbols of regeneration in both life and the afterlife.

For anyone like me, who is curious about ancient Egypt, archaeology, museum artefacts, or early manufacturing technologies, this is a fascinating glimpse into how beauty, belief, and innovation came together in the ancient world.

In Our Hands

In Our Hands is an award-winning animated short film that examines the fragile relationship between the human body and the world it inhabits. As a fusion of dance and animation, we couldn’t resist it at Kuriositas, as so many of our posts are about one or the other  but so rarely both! Created in the Czech Republic in 2024, the four-minute film offers a quietly powerful meditation on responsibility, agency, and consequence.

Humanity, the film suggests, exists in a state of profound contradiction. We are capable of creation, growth, and care, yet equally capable of destruction and passive complicity as ecosystems unravel around us. Through its spare but expressive visual language, In Our Hands poses a deceptively simple question: if the future of nature, and of ourselves, rests in our hands, what will we choose to do with it?

Artist Kristián Mensa (Mr. Kriss) uses movement, dance, and animation to craft a poetic reflection on humanity’s place within the endless cycles of life. Bodies become landscapes; gestures echo natural rhythms; moments of harmony sit uneasily beside images of loss. The result is a film that feels both intimate and universal, inviting viewers to reflect rather than instructing them how to feel.

Directed, written, and artistically interpreted by Mensa, with cinematography, editing, and music by Jan Pivoňka, and animation by Petr Šenkýř and Ladislav Rejkuba, In Our Hands is a striking reminder that hope and collapse remain equally possible — and that the choice, however uncomfortable, is ours to make.

The Chiaroscuro and Rembrandt Lighting

In order to achieve the beautiful contrast between light and dark, known as chiaroscuro there is a method employed by photographers – Rembrandt Lighting. Here, with some beautiful examples, is how it is done. Image Credit Flickr User Mai En Hoa

Image Credit Flickr User 85mm.ch

CDK Company - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

CDK Company does it again. Would you like to see some amazing choreography, brought to life by a group of (again!) amazing dances. Well, watch the (amazing) video below.  You’ll be amazed – honestly!  It’s great to see that Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody still proves irresistible to young artists, whose parents were probably not even born when it was a hit first time around.  This is a joyful and unrestrained performance – a thrill to watch.

Directed and choreographed by Sergio Reis, this dance version of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen was performed by the company in collaboration with Muziekgebouw (the venue in Amsterdam). CDKcompany (also known as CDK Company or Cardo Dance Kingdom Company) is an international dance collective based in the Netherlands that brings together a creative team of choreographers and performers to produce high‑quality dance work and training. The group focuses on innovative choreography, visual storytelling and shared creative expression, often blending contemporary movement with striking video and performance elements.  As you will see, this piece has all of that in spades.

The production was brought to life by producers Ivy Schoumacher and Bas Kunz, with Jowha van de Laak as assistant director. The visual storytelling was captured by director of photography @markvrhs and enhanced by colorist Ryan Urzi. Assistant choreographers Mauro van de Kerkhof and Jowha van de Laak helped refine the movement, making this adaptation a striking fusion of music and dance.

El Dodorado - The REAL Reason the Dodo Went Extinct

You think we made the dodo go extinct? Nah. If you want to get to the real historical truth of why the flightless bird went extinct, all you have to do is watch this animated short by ESMA students.  It will leave you in no doubt that the real reason behind the extinction of the dodo was just… well, that would be spoiling it.  Watch it for yourself. However, I must warn you that the video has a higher body count than the average Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Or the average Sylvester Stallone film for that matter. Or even the average Keanu Reeves film.  It’s messy. Gloriously, hilariously messy.

That this is a student film is remarkable in itself. What is perhaps worrying is that I can so easily imagine them gleefully storyboarding this film and coming up with the various and many  gruesome ways that the dodo drove itself to extinction that you will experience for yourself shortly.  The reprobates responsible are Talhia Brom, Emilie Cayre, Dorian Condelis, Solène Corral, Brice Girardin, Ghita Hsaine, Ambre Kerbrat, Adrien Lhabitant, and Héloïse Ogez. The music is by Clovis Schneider and the sound by Tristan Le Bozec, Yoann Poncet, and José Vicente. Together they make up part of the Class of 2024 at ESMA.  I hope they all survive much, much longer than their animated dodos!

Oh - and whoever thought up the name El Dodorado deserves an award.

Watch El Dodorado below: