Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts

Way back before the awards, I went with my friend M to see the Oscar-nominated animated short films.  Sometime in the last couple of years I have realized that I love short films!  You get to leave the theater after an hour and a half having seen a half dozen movies or more -- it's brilliant!  Anyway, here's what we saw when the animated films started (note: I borrowed parts of these descriptions from the all-knowing interwebs).  Links for my two favorites are full films!  The others are just websites or trailers.

“Me and My Moulton” (Canada/Norway), about a seven-year-old girl in mid-’60s Norway who, along with her sisters, desperately wants her parents to buy them a bicycle.

"Feast” (USA), the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share. This one ended up winning the big award this past Sunday, and it's about a dog so of course I love it!

“The Bigger Picture” (UK), in which innovative life-size animated characters tell the stark and darkly humorous tale of caring for an elderly parent.  A fascinating mix of illustration and stop-motion animation.  This was M's favorite.

“A Single Life” (The Netherlands), in which Pia, when playing a mysterious vinyl single, is suddenly able to travel through her own life, though she's not quite prepared for the consequences.

“The Dam Keeper” (USA).  In a desolate future, one small town has survived because of a large windmill dam that acts as a fan to keep out pollution. The dam's operator, Pig, works tirelessly to keep the sails spinning and protect the town, despite abuse from classmates and an indifferent public. When a new student joins Pig's class, nothing will be the same again.

There were also a number of shorts that were "commended," including the following:

"Sweet Cocoon" (France). A caterpillar about to undergo her metamorphosis finds her cocoon is much too small to squeeze into. Two helpful insects come to her aid.

"Footprints" (USA).  A gullible man goes on a quest to find a mysterious, destructive monster, only to arrive at a surprising revelation.

"The Duet" (USA). Animated in its entirety and directed by Glen Keane, "Duet" tells the story of Mia and Tosh and how their individual paths in life weave together to create an inspired duet.  I really liked this one!

"Bus Story" (Canada). Our protagonist dreams of becoming a bus driver in order to cruise down quiet country lanes and connect with nature, her young charges and their parents. But her idyllic view of her new job is sorely tested after she meets her surly boss, named Killer, and discovers that winding roads can prove treacherous in winter, especially with a faulty clutch.