This Brutal 7-Minute Animated Western Is One of Pixar’s Most Underrated Masterpieces

Regrettably, not all film genres receive equal recognition. For instance, some, like humor, might be reduced to mere punchlines. Others, such as romance, can face criticism for being deemed “too feminine” or “insignificant fluff.” One of the most disparaged subcategories within modern cinema could well be animation, a medium that’s often unfairly associated with children’s movies. Despite some progress, works in this field still encounter significant challenges to gain recognition, as they are typically limited to being classified as either children’s entertainment or anime or adult comedy.

Luckily, there are numerous outstanding examples of animated films, many of which have won awards. One such film is “Borrowed Time,” created by Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj. Similar to other standout works in this genre, “Borrowed Time” was made with a great deal of passion. Despite its short runtime of only seven minutes, the story packs quite a punch. Additionally, it portrays the rugged landscapes of the American Wild West, a setting that appears to be fading from contemporary cinemas. This film is a testament to pacing and storytelling skills, and its brevity may contain some of the genre’s most memorable moments.

Borrowed Time Earned an Oscar Nomination for Best Animated Short Film

Director Andrew Coats was a CGI Modeler for Disney’s Little Einsteins

Fellow director Lou Hamou-Lhadj started his career as a character modeler and articulation artist for WALL-E.

Borrowed Time doesn’t adhere to a conventional narrative structure, yet it skillfully maintains its storyline in an organized manner. Rather than giving names to its characters, it portrays them as universal archetypes. Some might perceive this choice as simplistic, but the lack of names in this short film is deliberate and adds to its enigmatic quality. By remaining nameless, the two main characters become more relatable, resembling individuals who could have lived at any point in time, with struggles that could just as easily have occurred a century ago.

Initially, the spectators find themselves facing a desolate cliffside. The icy hues of blue and purple accentuate the bleached skeletons scattered across the congested rock formation. In this setting, the story Borrowed Time introduces its principal character, a weary small-town sheriff. As he approaches the cliff’s precipice, his path is momentarily halted by glimpses into his past. These fleeting memories portray the man as the son of a former sheriff. He shares a warm relationship with his father, who appears to be affectionate towards him.

Regrettably for them, the lawlessness of the Wild West offered no semblance of justice or tranquility. A brutal bandit assault leads to a wagon overturning, sending the father plummeting off a cliff. From then on, Borrowed Time leaves no doubt that this is not a light-hearted family tale. The tension remains close to its breaking point, and both narratives – past and present – become increasingly grim with each passing moment. The atmosphere is as ominous as twilight casting shadows over the plains.

Now, the current sheriff is contemplating taking his life; earlier, his father had given him a gun to aid him in climbing the steep cliff. In the end, this story arrives at two contrasting resolutions. Employing a firearm for support led inevitably to tragic consequences. Yet, the present sheriff’s determination to survive triumphs over his internal struggle. At the brink of disaster, he saves himself and retrieves his father’s damaged pocket watch – a relic from his past that had long been missing.

Borrowed Time Makes the Most of 7 Minutes

Borrowed Time Was Included in 2016’s The Animation Showcase

Borrowed Time marks composer Gustavo Santaolalla’s second animated film, immediately following 2014’s The Book of Life.
Coats and Hamou-Lhadj’s short won Best in Show at the 2015 Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH) Awards.

Many Western movies are extensive narratives. For instance, “Tombstone,” a highly regarded title within the genre, is approximately 18 times longer than “Borrowed Time.” Yet, this length doesn’t necessarily equate to a negative aspect, given how entertaining the movie proves to be. Nevertheless, the film’s extended runtime underscores the Western genre’s penchant for intricate plots. Essentially, “Tombstone” would lack coherence and offer minimal reward without its extensive narrative elements.

Although the brevity of “Borrowed Time” is due to its constrained resources, this doesn’t diminish the craftsmanship of Coats and Hamou-Lhadj’s concise storytelling. Every element serves a purpose; every scene has its spot. The back-and-forth narrative between past and present forms the core. One tale can’t exist without the other. Moreover, each moment builds upon what precedes it. The present sheriff’s weathered face and emaciated physique stand in stark contrast to his father’s robust build and cheerful disposition.

In a striking contrast to his father’s desperate struggle for survival, his original goals are also markedly different. Over an unspecified but significant duration of time, one event seamlessly leads to another. In essence, “Borrowed Time” serves as an illustration of how every detail, whether it’s the carefully framed close-ups that heighten tension or the wide shots defining each emotional beat, can either make or break a film. Every aspect is deliberate and thoughtful in this piece.

In this rephrased version, the past is depicted using vibrant, warm colors, while the present is shrouded in somber, cool tones, making the narrative’s complexity even more striking. The task of distilling such a complex story into a concise and coherent seven-minute presentation might appear impossible, but Coats and Hamou-Lhadj’s skill seamlessly makes it seem effortless. Borrowed Time hooks viewers with its intriguing premise, and the compelling nature of its content ensures that everyone remains engaged until the very end.

An Animated Short Film With a Lot of Heart

Borrowed Time Officially Debuted at the Austin Film Festival

Editor Kathy Toon is also known for her work on titles like Finding Dory, Ice Age: Continental Drift, and Rio.
To date, Borrowed Time is production company Quorum Films’ only work.

The stunning animation of the movie, along with its relatable dialogue, deserves recognition too. Achieving a masterpiece like ‘Borrowed Time‘ often calls for a team of many experts. Despite the short length making it simpler to preserve top-notch quality, it was still a challenging task. The directors, Andrew Coast and Lou Hamou-Lhadj, handled the visual aspects, from the lush environment to the flawlessly accurate rigging.

In a remarkable display of dedication, the two artists primarily responsible for crafting the hauntingly beautiful world seen in “Borrowed Time” relied on minimal external assistance. They painstakingly designed, detailed, and rigged every fabric and strand of hair themselves. Although the film’s animation may not contain any groundbreaking innovations, its exquisite details certainly surpass anything amateurish. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the directors worked on “Borrowed Time” in their own spare time, as both Coats and Hamou-Lhadj were occupied with high-profile projects like “Brave,” “The Good Dinosaur,” and “Inside Out.

Did you know this fascinating tidbit? All resources utilized in their projects belong to none other than Pixar, now a division of Walt Disney. While they’re renowned for producing exceptional family films, they also offer the Pixar Co-Op Program. This unique initiative allows animators to utilize leftover resources to craft their own artistic pieces. Although these works aren’t officially under the Pixar brand, they bask in its worldwide recognition. For instance, ‘Borrowed Time’ could be one of the program’s outstanding Western creations, while ‘The Dam Keeper’, ‘Weekends’, and ‘Starling’ are just a few examples of remarkable shorts that were brought to life through the Pixar Co-Op Program.

2025-05-04 07:10