Synchronicity

Take some very talented animators and state of the art software using a head rig compatible with all leading game engines. Then take producers Side, 3Lateral and CubicMotion.  Finally, take a wonderful British actress (Lydia Leonard, left, as she is in this short and in real life) and you get Synchronicity. It’s a wonderful vehicle to show the depth of emotion realizable by capturing and animating the finer details of a performance. Plus it makes for great, enigmatic science fiction.

A Twirling Day

Someone’s spotted the zeitgeist. A Twirling Day is the latest short by ModernEye (a creative studio / director duo based in London) and it captures very well the sense of absurdity many people feel in this day and age about the decisions they have to take.

You know the ones, the ones which we have to make even though we know there isn’t really any possibility of us having any control over them whatsoever; the kind of decision that just seems to be fate playing another one of her practical jokes on you.

Directed by Jon Uriarte, and starring Alberto Rolan as the Everyman figure, A Twirling Day is not guaranteed to lighten your mood but I think a number of you may recognise yourself somewhere in here.

The Lifecycle of a Mushroom

This very cool animation is by Thomas Beg, a digital artist who created this while studying CG Arts and Animation at UCA Rochester.  If you ever wondered how mushrooms reproduce then look no further! Sure, Wikipedia will have all the necessary animation but will it have animation?

This animation forms part of Spectacular Science, a collaborative project between the University for the Creative Arts and the University of Kent which aims to provide a wide audience with access to scientific knowledge and support the education of students in science subjects.

You may have spotted a nod in the direction of 1920's animation such as the Silly Symphonies series and other early Walt Disney shorts and you would be correct in thinking that Mr Beg was inspired by the animation of yesteryear in order to explain the science of today, in this case the lifecycle of a mushroom.

One Rat Short

This is another beautifully made animated short by Charlex – who should really think about working on something full length if you ask me, as their talents as creative designers are wonderfully put to work in the field of advertising but when they do their own thing as it were, the results are incredible.

Written and directed by Alex Weir, One Rat Short tells the story of a rat who inadvertently stumbles in to a biomedical research lab inhabited by a rather nasty computer with arms and hundreds of other rats, used in behavioural experiments.  Of course, there is one lady rat that particularly catches his eye.

Now hold on a second before you move on – this is no Ratatouille (although I loved that for different reasons).  The rats while anthropomorphised are closer to the real thing – they don’t talk for starters – than we have seen in a lot of other animated works. 

I hope you will find One Rat Short as entertaining and as visually stunning as I did – this really does give other animators the high water mark by which to measure their own endeavours. There is also an ending that will bring a tear to your eye – don’t say you weren’t warned.  Thanks to Charlex for another animated treat.

The Lonely Godess

This is both sad and sweet at the same time. The lonely moon goddess waits patiently for her love, the god of the sun. However, they can never be together and her life is spent weeping tears which turn in to stars. Yet they do come together at one special time but for how long?

This animation was created by Pamela Suryadjaja who is an art student and part time student. It was created for her thesis project at Binus University. It's a lovely piece of work and bodes well for her future career.  I love the artwork and her use of color.

Binus University (also known as Bina Nusantara) is an university in Jakarta, Indonesia. The university's primary field of study is in information technology - it was formed in 1974.

Office Kingdom

If you have ever been the victim of mindless, interminable bureaucracy where you simply want something seemingly straightforward but find obstacles in your path at every juncture, then spare a thought.  Those office workers who seem intent on denying you your wishes do so not out of sheer lazy malice but to avoid having to enter the kingdom.  Watch this short movie by Salvatore Centoducati, Eleonora Bertolucci, Giulio De Toma, Ruben Pirito and you will see why.

Cloudrise

When you suddenly see the rest of your life in front of you it can be a breath-taking experience. So it is for Miko and Tenku who have achieved their dream of a cloud ship of their own.  Yet when their dream becomes a nightmare they are faced with the greatest challenge of their lives – to get to live another day.  This thrilling animated short was directed and animated by Denver Jackson.

Nightfall: Epic Science Fiction Fantasy Animated Short Film

This is quite an extraordinary short film being completely computer generated to begin with but that is not quite what I found the most astonishing thing about it.  It would probably be wrong to call this a silent movie but it could be adequately described as a wordless one.  Not a single word is spoken throughout and this is something which adds to its power.

The software used to create Nightfall was 3ds max 8 (vray, mentalray), combustion 4 and Premiere Pro.  The film was rendered in HD 720p with 25 fps – which may be an issue if you have a slow running PC but it is worth being patient. Its running time is a surprisingly long 11:30 min and it is made up of over seventeen thousand frames.

There are (as you might expect) numerous influences at work here –from the concept of a ring world which has echoes of the Larry Niven novel among others.  Sure, we have a thousand queens and dark lords in the history of science fiction too.  The design of the spaceships too, seems to have drawn some inspiration from the like of Battlestar Galactica as well as the more obvious Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Babylon 5.  In fact, although the plot bears no comparison, it this reminded me of Babylon 5 more than anything, if only in its epic sweep.

Yet drawing inspiration from other sources is fine as long as one’s own finished product is original.  This is an epic tale drawing to its end and because so much is left to us, a marvelously enigmatic piece of filmmaking too.  Nightfall draws heavily from its sources but at its heart is something a little different and more grown up (certainly darker) than the usual science fiction and fantasy fan boy fodder with which we are presented.

"What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil." The quote at the film’s beginning – from Nietzsche -  places this work of animation very much in the grown up category.

The film is made by Valentin Schwind, a computer graphics artist and developer.  28 years old, he was born in Stuttgart, Germany and went to school in Esslingen, where he is still living today.  He graduated in 2008 from Stuttgart Media University where studied for his Media Computer Science Diploma.  Today he works as a freelancer for visual effects and game studios throughout Europe and also as a lecturer at the Stuttgart Media University.

The music is by Ivelina Nedyalkova.  A contemporary of Schwind’s at Stuttgart Media University she was persuaded by the animator to produce the soundtrack after he had heard her playing the piano.

Plot – so possibly spoilers:

The whole movie is like the end of some massive trilogy, but to put it in a nutshell.  A huge ring world, powered by an artificial sun is ruled over by a benign queen.  Yet a dark lord falls hopelessly in love with her and he desires her more than any other thing in the universe.  Surrounding her home world with an enormous space fleet he declares a war which will end a way of life which has endured millennia.  He has the queen to himself.  And the universe falls silent.

Honor Is Everything

A young man finds an abandoned briefcase and its contents – a pair of gloves – enable him to stop and start time.  This science fiction short, directed by Mahmut Akay was created for the Sci-Fi London 48 Hour Film Challenge.

I have to say I am impressed with what is coming out of this competition, particularly as all the shorts were made in just two days…

Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris

This is hugely clever, highly entertaining and extremely funny – and you don’t get that often, on or off the internet - and this one never gets old.  It is directed, animated, and edited by CHRIS LINCÉ and the music is supplied by Pig with the Face of a Boy.  In the space of just over six minutes you will get a précis of the entire history of the Soviet Union –all done to a marvelously melodic Tetris soundtrack.  What an unbeatable combination!

You will find yourself tapping your feet as the decades whiz by, from Lenin to Gorbachev and, as I did, wincing a little at the ironies of history.  Unsurprisingly, this short film has won two awards, both at the Super Shorts International Film Festival where it garnered the prizes for Best Animation and the Low Budget Award.

You may find yourself, as I did, watching it several times and catching something new on each repeated viewing.  Enjoy!

The Hunt

This short piece examines the question what remains of 'the hunt' after all its defining symbols have fallen away?  In the British countryside an ominous fox hunting party slowly disintegrates before our eyes as they give chase to an unlikely victim.

This startling and thought provoking short was created for the UK Channel 4’s Random Acts series.  It was made by Bad Collectv.

Tolerantia

We like to bring you thought provoking animations at Kuriositas, especially those which provoke thought as well as entertain.  This is no exception.  Set in Bosnia many thousands of years ago it tells the story of a prehistoric man thawed from the deep sleep of the last Ice Age.

As anyone would, this everyman figure goes about reconstructing his society including his belief in a system of sun based worship.  Then, as civilisations do, he comes across another and the two set about to reconcile their differences in a spirit of tolerance.

Well, you can guess that doesn't happen.  This fantastic animated short film by Ivan Ramadan has received a number of awards since its release in 2008.  It has picked up seven, including a nomination for the Best European Short film by the European Film Academy 2008.  Tolerantia (tolerance, we believe, in English) is a great piece of animation, thoughful and measured and wonderfully and crisply rendered.

Ivan Ramadan is 25 and lives in Sarajevo, studying Architecture (something of a surprise considering this movie, one might have thought animation).  He has been creating animation since he was a child and Tolerantia was his first full movie.  Great work, Mr Ramadan.  He is currently working on an animated series - Diamond Forest Drummers.

Future.Inc

Steven Moffat, the executive producer of Doctor Who called Future.Inc "Terrific. Really clever and really sad". And it is.

Set just a few years from now, this short film turns our present ideas around social media on its head.  Whereas today we join Facebook and the like and make contact with friends of yesteryear, Future.Inc suggests the opposite.  What if, instead of making contact with friends from the past we can, instead, establish a connection with those from the far future?

Written by Andrew Ellard and directed by Martin Stirling (whose website describes him as director / writer / douchebag!), Future Inc features Hils Barker as the hapless Rose, the awkward office worker who gains a new lease of life thanks to the new social network.  Be warned, though, you may need a hanky if you are of a lachrymose nature. Unsurprisingly, Future.Inc won the Sci-Fi London 48 hour film challenge last year.

Between Bears

Beautiful, bizarre, ethereal, captivating - some of the many adjectives which I could attach to this exquisite piece of animation by Eran Hilleli.  A graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem this short has the measured pace and confident design of a mature animator but was in fact Hilleli's recent graduation thesis piece.  As such this makes the animation even more notable.

The music, too, specially composed for the film by Ori Avni and performed by him and Daniela Spector is beautifully nuanced and perfectly balanced - being just the right combination of memorable but non intrusive.

It would be giving the story away if I were to go in to it in any detail here, but suffice it to say that Between Bears is a piece from which you can take what you want and read in to it what you will.  There is a mystery here which needs not be solved but instead pondered.  If you want your animation to be Disneyfied then this may not be for you - or if you are expecting exploding planets or angry aliens (which, OK, may be what you get on Kuriositas on your average day) then this may not appeal.

If, however, you are in a contemplative mood then go away, prepare a beverage of your choice, light up if you smoke and take this in.  Simply gorgeous.

Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty

Once upon a time there was a sweet old lady, who used to tell her grand daughter charming, sweet fairy tales with happy endings every evening.  Then, there was Granny O'Grimm, an embittered old Irish woman who would tell her own version of fairy tales. Dark, wickedly funny and beautifully made, this six minute animation was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short in 2009 - as well as winning a number of prestigious prizes in its own right. If you like the idea of a lovely bedside story becoming a hilarious rant against the unfairness of old age in general, then you will love this.

The film was directed by Nicky Phelan, produced by Darragh O'Connell and written/voiced by Kathleen O'Rourke (left). Brown Bag Films is an animation studio based in Dublin (Ireland!). They also have a cool blog here.

It was Established in 1994 by Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O'Connell.  Brown Bag Films produce 3D character animation, including short films, features and TV series for international markets. The studio is multi-award-winning.

Patagonian Chile – A Land of Contrasts

Patagonia is a region situated at the southern end of South America, with territory belonging to both Argentina and Chile. This superb short film shows the lesser known Chilean part of Patagonia and once you finish watching it you will be scratching your head as to why – the landscapes are simply stunning.

The main locations used here were the Torres del Paine National Park, the Cerro Castillo National Park, Tamango Reserve, Queulat National Park and Chacabuco valley among others. The film was created by Raúl Tomás Granizo, who was raised in Spain but fell in love with Patagonia – and you can see why. He is the founder of wildglimpses, and is a freelance wildlife filmmaker and nature photographer always looking for the essence of nature. We think he has captured it supremely here!

The Animals of the Eastern Zodiac

The animals of the Eastern Zodiac (often called the Chinese Zodiac) are not that easy to name – you get to about six and then begin to falter. Well, if you need to memorize them (for whatever reason) here is a short and funny animation that will serve as a moving mnemonic for you. You also get to learn the characteristics which go along with each of the animals too.

It was created by Minji Aye Hong who is currently studying Graphic Design and Motion Graphics at the School of Visual Arts in New York.  So, sit back and start memorizing the animals. After me: rat, pig, horse – oh, you get the drift!  The music is Ku- Chi-Ta-Chi by House Rulez – just in case you were wondering. Altogether this is great fun!

Speak Up Please!

We couldn't agree with the sentiments expressed here more. Unless of course, we are contacted and they turn out to be extraterrestrials with an appetite for mayhem, destruction and all round general enslavement and conquering.  Then, please, please, stay at home! We don't want to know!

Woods

If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise – or at least not quite what you expected. There is some serious positioning for power in this three way relationship and the struggle resolves itself in a way that you might not quite expect.

This rather ethereal short piece by Grégoire Thiry somehow reminds me of Cocteau and not necessarily just because of the sensibilities of costume and manner but in the relationships portrayed – Les Enfants Terribles on a road trip, perhaps?

The elegance and sensuality is there as is the dreamlike atmosphere of the piece. Plus the fact that it was shot in black and white just adds to its general stylishness and grace.

Awaken

The idea behind Awaken is that there is an ecosystem inside each of us which can awaken an ecosystem in nature.  As far as the natural world and our own are becoming more and more disconnected there are parallels between human well being and nature. This remarkable animation by Doug Chang is a visual metaphor for the balance that can be struck when our own ecosystems and that of nature achieve a certain harmony.

...And if that has raised an eyebrow, then that’s as may be.  Whatever the case what I am sure that you will agree with is the fact that this is a visually stunning piece made by an exceptional animator!