Lisbon's Legendary Tram 28. No brakes. A baby. One wild ride - Animated Short

Lisbon is a beautiful city but comes with its own peculiar dangers – as you are about to discover through the eyes of a pair of hapless German tourists.  We can see that Helga is the one in charge – or certainly the one who is invested in the holiday a little more than Hans, who is more interested in his car magazine than taking in the scenery. And it is some scenery.  Their chosen vehicle to see the sites is Tram 28 (known locally as Eléctrico 28E), probably the Portuguese capital's most famous form of transport. More than just a tram, it's a moving piece of history that rattles through some of the city's oldest and most picturesque neighbourhoods.  Little do the tourists know that they are about to participate in a history update (as it were), as the tram is about to embark on its most infamous journey - and it's going to take them along for the ride..

I won’t tell you how the tram becomes driverless. I won’t tell you how the brakes fail. I won’t tell you how the tourists suddenly find themselves responsible for a mono-browed pequeno lisboeta. I kid you not.

What I will tell you is that Helga and Hans (sorry, made these names up!) are about to have the ride of their life – and perhaps, in doing so, might rekindle the flames of their relationship.  o28 is a thrill a minute – in some ways reminiscent of cartoons of yore where vehicles suddenly lose control and the laws of physics are completely and utterly ignored until things – one way or another – resolve themselves.  In this instance, we’re taken on what can only be described as a roller coaster ride through the picturesque streets of Lisbon, with danger lurking at every corner (literally).

There are some lovely touches here – I loved the “World’s Greatest Driver” mug in the cab, the little heart-shaped contrail a plane makes, and the fact that the beautiful red Ferrari(esque) sportscar the tram looks like it will hit at one point is exactly the same as the one on the cover of Hans’ car magazine.  I also loved the way that o bebé lisboeta blithely enjoys the whole experience, even turning momentarily into Cupid at one point..

This is an animation that you will want to see through the end (and into the credits where we’re given some little Easter eggs too).  Well done to the Rubika students who produced this magnificent, thrilling and very funny animated short.  They are Otalia Causse, Geoffroy Collin, Louise Grardel, Antoine Marchand, Robin Merle, and Fabien Meyran (direction), Cyrille Marchesseau and David Gana (music) with sound and mixing by Alexandre Jaclain and Kamal Ouazène.  What a spectacular showcase for their professional strengths.  I have enjoyed all of this year's Rubika thesis films, especially Yalla, Apocalypse Dog and Sur Mesure, but if I had to stand up and be counted, I would have to say that this was my favorite so far.  Watch o28 below.