By Kyle Flynn

Butterfly:

A rather surface-level exploration of telling a life story through their connection to the water. I wasn’t fond of the voiceover used throughout the majority of the short. I did really enjoy the animation style, the watercolor painting pastiche is memorable, and it added a distinct charm. I wish I could say the same for the story, which left me shortly after I finished watching.

3/5

Forevergreen:

Very cute. Not much is going on here narratively. The religious allegory for the prodigal son surprisingly fits well, with the additional themes of environmentalism fitting well with the inherent parenting message built into the story. 

3/5

Th Girl Who Cried Pearls:

The stop-motion animation is outstanding. From a pure craft perspective, this would be my favorite. The National Film Board of Canada continues to push the limits of quality in the production of animated shorts. The story didn’t do much for me. It was cute enough, but felt lackluster and derivative of any vaguely similar story. 

3/5

Retirement Plan:

Short and concise. I love any short film that can take me on a journey, despite its limited runtime. I was not bothered by Domhall Gleeson’s voiceover and was able to view it in sync with the events on screen. The animation also has a simple, clean style that I adored. It doesn’t really have much to say by the end, but my favorite short of the bunch. 

3.5/5

The Three Sisters:

Konstantin Bronzit, a previous nominee in this category, has become known for his animated shorts. I wish this resonated, but the story never moved me. I found the attempts at humor regarding the sisters and the man living on the island to be punching below the belt. The animation is not up to par with his previous work or with the other nominated films. I hate that I was disappointed, but it wasn’t for me. 

2.5/5