‘2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation’ Review: Diverse Mix Reflects the Medium’s Incredible Range

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Twenty years ago, I was just a movie enthusiast eagerly waiting for the annual Academy Awards, but in 2006, something extraordinary happened. The brilliant minds at Shorts International revolutionized one of the most anticipated categories – the animated short films. They secured the rights to release all five finalists on the big screen and various devices, from laptops to mobile phones. Fast forward to today, the “2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation” package gracing our cinemas marks their 20th edition. Over these two decades, Carter Pilcher and his team have been instrumental in bringing 99 animated finalists to the big screen (acquiring rights for all but Shane Acker’s “9” in their first year). This year’s program stands out as it features no glossy, Hollywood productions. Instead, it offers a diverse glimpse into what independent artists are creatively exploring with this medium right now.

The animated short film “Magic Candies,” directed by Daisuke Nishio, comes from Toei Animation, known for hit series like “One Piece” and “Dragon Ball.” However, it retains a distinctly personal feel. Created using CGI but styled to resemble stop motion, the 21-minute piece revolves around a lonely boy named Dong-Dong. After purchasing a bag of vibrant candies, he finds that each sweet enables him to communicate uniquely with different people in his life – an old couch in his apartment, his confused pet dog Gusuri, and his overworked single father, among others. This communication only lasts as long as the candy remains in his mouth. The short is humorous and carries a heartfelt emotional resonance. It occasionally explains events on screen, which might enhance its impact for the young viewers Nishio aims to connect with (and also allows it to appeal to older audiences who can understand subtitles). This nomination gives it the opportunity to travel beyond borders and touch American viewers.

Moving forward, the visually captivating 2D short film “In the Shadow of the Cypress,” directed by Iranian duo Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, tackles a complex mature theme – the effects of PTSD – in a manner accessible to viewers of all ages. The story follows a young woman and her battle-scarred father who reside by the sea. Haunted by disturbing memories from past conflicts, he struggles to connect with contemporary issues like the stranded whale. With its poetic title mirroring its allegorical narrative, the tale can be somewhat challenging to understand at times, but stands out for its line-free, illustrative style. The characters are depicted as tall candles, with elongated arms and simplified facial features. Since they don’t speak, it falls upon us to grasp that a damaged boat represents the older man’s most traumatic war memories and what he needs to do to overcome his past torment.

In contrast to Loïc Espuche’s “Yuck!”, the message about children’s discomfort towards adult kissing is strikingly clear and unique. Set at a summer camp, Léo and his friends find themselves amidst adults who seem to be smitten, which they observe like young anthropologists, hiding behind bushes and giggling as they watch others’ lips turn bright pink with affection. The animation beautifully visualizes this once puzzling adult desire in an easy-to-understand manner. Moreover, it serves as a metaphor for other forms of lovemaking that aren’t suitable for younger viewers. While Léo and his friends make fun of the public displays of affection, he struggles to comprehend his feelings for Lucie, who causes his lips to glow like a neon flamingo. The story then unfolds with a blend of humor, heart, and unexpected twists that will leave you grinning from ear to ear, and your eyes sparkling pink with joy.

The final two episodes carry a “parental guidance” advisory due to some characters in stop-motion being shown without pants, which might seem overly protective for children regarding puppet immodesty. However, Nina Gantz’s 14-minute short film titled “Wander to Wonder” takes a very unconventional approach to classic children’s shows like “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and “Captain Kangaroo”. It’s arguably wise to shield kids from the violent behavior displayed by the three orphaned characters (remember the actors who played Mary, Billybud, and Fumbleton on the Bigfoot family TV show) as they descend into chaos after their human host passes away. Gantz takes her concept to a darker level, pushing the absurdity seen in last year’s “Sasquatch Sunset” to levels reminiscent of Brecht. Her use of retro elements like color bleed and interference lines adds authenticity to certain scenes. In her vision, the characters are as small as they appear on TV, making their survival struggles when food becomes scarce and pests invade the studio all the more chilling. The premise is so bizarre (yet trendy), one can’t help but wish that the Academy had recognized the brilliance of Robin Comisar’s “Great Choice” seven years ago.

As a film enthusiast, I found “Beautiful Men” by Nicolas Keppens to be a deeply moving and subtly surreal exploration of identity and masculinity, drawing inspiration from the somber landscapes of Dutch masters like Edward Hopper and his lonely figures in empty rooms, as well as the poignant drama of “Anomalisa.” This 19-minute short film follows the heartrending tale of three Belgian brothers who once had striking red hair but now find themselves balding in middle age. In an attempt to reclaim their masculinity, they travel to Istanbul for hair transplants, only to discover that they’ve made a reservation for just one brother. The emotional turmoil of deciding which of these hapless characters will be restored is palpable.

In the backdrop of the pandemic, the characters wear masks and maintain social distancing, lending an eerie, alienating atmosphere that heightens each character’s sense of isolation and self-doubt. Interestingly, Keppens deviated from his traditional hand-drawn style for this project, opting instead to work with three-dimensional figures, which added a soulful depth to the narrative.

Overall, the collection of short films presented this year offers a profound emotional journey that is not to be missed.

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2025-03-02 21:17