Kate's Oscar Picks 2006: Short Film--Animated
Much to my surprise (and delight), on Friday night Leon and I ended up seeing the animated shorts that are nominated for an Academy Award this year. All except "One Man Band," which is Pixar's entry, and which, presumably, Disney did not allow to be shown. In place of the Pixar short, the theater showed "The Fan and the Flower." Leon and I both thought it was cute, but not really up to snuff. So we were rather pleased with our critiques when we discovered that it hadn't been nominated.
"The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation" was also not quite of the same calibre as the other three. It used photographs, news articles, and child-like drawings to animate a true story about the animator and his father. It was engaging, but neither of us was enthused about it.
"Badgered" was the most whimsical and my favorite based entirely on the fact that the story was funny and the main character (a badger--who'd have thunk?) was adorable and fat. The simple animation fit the story, but it paled in comparison to the other two, which had interesting plots too but which also had unbelievably beautiful animation.
I was mesmerized by "9." I won't say anything about the plot, because it all felt very much like a puzzle to me, as I attempted to figure out what was going on and where it was taking place. I was somewhat disappointed in its ending, but the computer graphics were beautiful and the dialogue-less storyline held my attention to the point where I'm not even sure I blinked.
Finally, there's "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello," which deserves to win. Oddly, Leon and I both liked this one for different reasons. While he loved the first ten minutes or so, in which an alternate realm or futuristic society is explained, I liked how all of the complications in the plot played out in the final ten or fifteen minutes. "Jasper Morello" clearly had the longest running time that allowed it to weave a complex plot around the striking iron and steel look of the futuristic airships on which the story takes place. Plus, all of the characters were silhouettes and yet they were still round, full characters. At least as round and full as can be expected in a 20-30 minute animated film.
I would be pleased if either "9" or "Jasper Morello" won the Oscar. I cannot comment on "One Man Band," because I haven't seen it. But the fact that it was made by Pixar does somewhat suggest that it has a good shot at winning. Plus, it looks quite attractive, but I hesitate to think it could be as imaginative as "Jasper Morello," and I think the Oscar voters know this.
So, I will make my predictions (knowing full well that I've only seen four of the five nominees).
Should win: "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello"
Will win: "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello"
A scene from the expected winner:
"The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation" was also not quite of the same calibre as the other three. It used photographs, news articles, and child-like drawings to animate a true story about the animator and his father. It was engaging, but neither of us was enthused about it.
"Badgered" was the most whimsical and my favorite based entirely on the fact that the story was funny and the main character (a badger--who'd have thunk?) was adorable and fat. The simple animation fit the story, but it paled in comparison to the other two, which had interesting plots too but which also had unbelievably beautiful animation.
I was mesmerized by "9." I won't say anything about the plot, because it all felt very much like a puzzle to me, as I attempted to figure out what was going on and where it was taking place. I was somewhat disappointed in its ending, but the computer graphics were beautiful and the dialogue-less storyline held my attention to the point where I'm not even sure I blinked.
Finally, there's "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello," which deserves to win. Oddly, Leon and I both liked this one for different reasons. While he loved the first ten minutes or so, in which an alternate realm or futuristic society is explained, I liked how all of the complications in the plot played out in the final ten or fifteen minutes. "Jasper Morello" clearly had the longest running time that allowed it to weave a complex plot around the striking iron and steel look of the futuristic airships on which the story takes place. Plus, all of the characters were silhouettes and yet they were still round, full characters. At least as round and full as can be expected in a 20-30 minute animated film.
I would be pleased if either "9" or "Jasper Morello" won the Oscar. I cannot comment on "One Man Band," because I haven't seen it. But the fact that it was made by Pixar does somewhat suggest that it has a good shot at winning. Plus, it looks quite attractive, but I hesitate to think it could be as imaginative as "Jasper Morello," and I think the Oscar voters know this.
So, I will make my predictions (knowing full well that I've only seen four of the five nominees).
Should win: "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello"
Will win: "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello"
A scene from the expected winner: