A Reel Review: The Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films

Animated short films have the same challenges as live-action shorts; they need to tell a story and develop characters as swiftly and effectively as possible…but they have the advantage of working in the animated world, where anything and anywhere can be created. With no limits other than imagination, the Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films are always the category to look forward to the most.

Here are this year’s nominees and their Reel Reviews.

LOU – A schoolyard bully meets his match in a mysterious creature who lurks in the lost-and-found box.

This annual entry from Pixar ran in front of CARS 3 last summer, and in addition to being an effective, anti-bullying story, is one of the most inventive from the famed animation studio. Schoolyard toys and childhood playthings are combined to bring the mysterious being to life, and a clever twist towards the end suddenly has us rooting for the villain of the story.

DEAR BASKETBALL – Narrator Kobe Bryant explores what it is to chase a dream, achieve it, and leave it behind.

This star-studded nominee was created and narrated by former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, animated by Disney legend Glen Keane, and scored by the great John Williams. It is a literal love-letter to the game of basketball as told by Kobe, and while it seems self-serving at first glance, it runs deep as it covers what everyone must go through in life with their pursuits. The combination of Kobe’s unique insight and the creative team involved makes this a must-see for fans of both sports and cinema, and that is a rare combo. 

GARDEN PARTY – A group of frogs explore an abandoned house.

The first thing that must be said about this film is the animation is simply breathtaking; the texture on the frogs and the purity of the water looks as real as possible, which makes up for the lack of plot. The film merely tags-along with the frogs as they follow their instincts through the abandoned mansion, and a series of events slowly reveals to us just how the house became abandoned in a shocking and grotesque fashion.

NEGATIVE SPACE – A boy connects with his father over the art of packing a suitcase.

This stop-motion film is the only one of the group in which real models and character-puppets were built. The paper-Mache look is a welcome throwback and the craftmanship can really be appreciated. The film is light on plot and is instead an unfolding of one man’s memories of his father. The final shot is a chuckler and doesn’t quite land as well as the bulk of the film.

REVOLTING RHYMES – Snow White, Red Riding Hood, and the Three Little Pigs come together for an adventure.

Based on the book by famed children’s author Roald Dahl, this adventure of revenge and deception is a wonderful tale which brilliantly combines the elements of the most famous fairy tales of all time. It mixes tragedy and laughs with a haunting and shocking ending…but not so shocking if we keep in mind the true nature of most fairy tales. The only knock against it is its running time; at 28 minutes, it is the longest of the nominees and pushes the limits of a short.

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The Oscars will be awarded March 4^th.

Read Reel Speak’s review for the Live Action Nominees HERE