Art & Story Blog

Last weekend I saw a screening of the Animated Short Films nominated in this year’s Academy Awards ceremony (2006 films, 2007 ceremony). I planned to write a more critical analysis of the films here, but that plan has been causing a delay in posting so I’ve decided to scrap it. I’ll just say that all the films were great. Blue Sky’s No Time for Nuts and Pixar’s Lifted were both funny and well-crafted 3D-animation and it was refreshing to see Disney’s return to more traditional animation and storytelling with the painterly film, The Little Matchgirl. Interestingly, however, while all of these films are probably most akin to my own style both visually and in storytelling, it was The Danish Poet that impressed me the most and stuck with me the longest after viewing. Certainly, all the films are worthy of the award and it will be interesting to see who gets it. I’ll enjoy having a little more insight into this part of the awards show than I have in the past. My expectation is that one of the larger studios will win, but while I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for those studios, it certainly would be wonderful if The Danish Poet received the award.

Check your local listings. If you want to see these films on the big screen, pre-Oscars, your last chance might be Thursday, February 22nd, as most theatres run on a Fri-Thurs schedule. [UPDATE: Some cities have screenings extending into Oscars weekend and some opening later. Follow the “local listings” link above.] Both the live action and animation shorts are screening at L.A.’s Nuart Theatre until Thurs, Feb 22, distributed by Magnolia Pictures.

Incidentally, before the shorts, I saw a preview for Tears of the Black Tiger, a most surreally beautiful and amazing looking Thai Western!