Review: Spectacle and Charm in 2014 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films

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This year’s Oscar Nominated Short Films in the category of Animation include Room on the Broom, Possessions, Mr. Hublot, Feral and Get a Horse!

Room on the Broom
(United Kingdom, Directed by Max Lang and Jan Lacha, 25 mins.)
(3 stars)
This is a clever piece of animation that was difficult to distinguish between its 3D and/or Claymation quality. Room on the Broom is a storybook fable (complete with a narrator) of a witch that takes a motley crew of animals on a ride on her broom. A charming film, but a bit tiresome.

Possessions
(Japan, Shuhei Morita, 14 mins.)
(2 stars)
Very abstract narrative with a non-linear plot about a man who escapes a storm and finds shelter in a shed. Possessions entertains enough with very beautiful layout and background special effects. But while most 3D films aim at style more than function, the character animation is very subtle and sparkles.

Mr. Hublot
(Luxembourg/France, Directed by Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares, 11 mins.)
(4 stars)
Futuristic morale story of an OCD robot that befriends a stray robot dog. The dog grows bigger and eventually the robot cannot live with such a massive pet. It has dazzling lighting effects combine with gritty and masterful animation. Although the characters are robots, they are filled with expression and pity. “If your dog begins to grow too big for your house, don’t give up your dog, build a bigger house.”

Feral
(USA, Directed by Daniel Sousa, 13 mins.)
(2 stars)
A story of a boy-wolf (or wolf-boy) that is captured by a man on a horse and brought to society. The clash of character and environment in this 2D/3D short film is spoon fed to the audience. The cliff-hanger at the end was either a deliberate choice by the filmmakers or they simply ran out of resources to continue animation.

Get a Horse!
(USA, Directed by Lauren MacMullan, 6 mins.)
(4 stars)
In Get a Horse!, Disney Animation Studios pays tribute to the first animated shorts featuring Mickey Mouse. The film has an all-new, black-and-white, hand-drawn animation that’s paired with full-color, 3D, CG filmmaking—in the same frame. Mickey Mouse (voice of Walt Disney), Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow embark in a musical haywagon ride, but Peg-Leg Pete soon enters and attempts to force them off the road. Get a Horse! is an exceptional animated short film.

The 2014 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films are now playing at The Nuart in West L.A. and in Orange County at the Regency South Coast Village 3. For more information, visit shorts.tv.

Films are rated on a scale of 5 stars (must-see), 4 stars (exceptional), 3 stars (solid), 2 stars (average) and 1 star (unworthy).

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