Cinequest’s commitment to showcasing the best animation in the world comes to life in this collection of 21 films from 11 countries. Traditional hand-drawn works from world-renowned animators share the screen with striking computer animation and lovely stop-motion gems from longtime Cinequest favorites and exciting new voices.
Film festival shorts programs are some of my favorite and least favorite things to review, and they can be problematic for the reader of the review. It’s my hope that this review will be valuable long after this year’s Cinequest ends. But it’s unlikely the group of films will be played together again, or that names of short films will stick with the reader.
But I want to give you a taste of what the shorts programs can provide, so is one of a series of review snapshots. Nearly every film in the Animated Worlds program, and not an expansive examination. If you’re interested, you should go to the listing in the Cinequest catalog and read more.
So with that said, let’s peep in on some of these short animated films.
Alienated – What’s the difference between a sacrifice and a hero? Does it really matter? We’re faced with a community under an unusual siege, and they definitely choose the wrong guy to tend to it. It’s a frantic confrontation with a number of interesting segments… ending up with full frontal nudity. (Maybe I’m kidding about that.) Watch for a couple of scenes where the animation is helped along by a guest appearance of “real life.” Fun and short, worthy.
Alyssum – Nice to see a local production, the San Jose State University Animation and Illustration program are credited for production facilities, so I’m gonna assume the folks that created Alyssum are similarly local. Good job folks.
Alyssum is fairly simple with some allegories to things like not feeling worthy, not creating something good enough, and even being corrupted by failed attempts. But the simplest of things can sow you that you are both worthy and appreciated. A lovely film.
Awaiting the Lightning Bolt – A nicely done bit of stop motion animation, very clean and lovely. A simple story of a father trying to catch a lightning bolt, with all the attempts and failures along the way running somewhat like the Coyote trying to catch the Road Runner. But when we find out why he’s so motivated, the story takes a very personal turn. The line of Italian at the end is easily translated on your phone, but don’t do so until after your viewing: “questo fulmine è per te.”
Disturbia – A hypnotic journey through a constantly morphing set of scenes and abstract characters. The animation was reminiscent of a lot of Bill Plympton’s abstract animations (also included in this collection.) The art is amazing, intricate, raw, primal/modern. Mostly black and white line drawings splashed, sometimes literally, with color. I suspect that five viewings would continue to expose somethings that you failed to notice in the first four, and that five different people would come up with five different stories to explain what’s going on here, I would only care to say that the end gives new meaning to “get your head on straight.”
Dobrina – An inventive animation style that mixed two renderings. The figures were all in dark black inks, flat, in a manner that for me evoked Picasso’s inks, but with a bolder, darker flavor. The scenery was more like chalk or pastels, drawing out a small town on the edge of a desert. The juxtaposition there worked well for me. The story is a basic love triangle, a lovely woman in a relationship with one man, and a suitor compelled to pursue her. Everything is basic, but wonderfully animated. The story told in pictures and the song Dobrina was evocative of a music video.
Duckville – A fable about a town full of ducks who want the king to visit their town. Animated, written and produced by the legendary Bill Plympton, with narration by the legendary Jim Dale. A relatively simple story, fable, fairy tale, what have you, that is fun for just about any viewer who likes ducks, monsters, fish driving tanks, and puff pastries.
Empty Can! – A bus. A load of passengers. And crushed soft drink can which becomes the stimulus, instigator, motivator, symbol, and so many other aspects of a collection of set scenes. From sports conflict, to a rebel invasion, to communion in a cathedral, the passengers, bus, and can serve the craziest set of improv you might imagine. And yes, the stop motion animation is flawless.
Good Luck to You All – A fine flat animation of the evolution of an AI, from sublime to terrifying and then on to…. well that would be telling. The background is a series of short statements, a disconnected conversation about AI, featuring scientifically literate voices, generally worried folks, and a small child. A fun little film, providing you don’t think about it too much.
In Captivity of a Finger – An animated selection of sketch studies, some looping animations with unexpected and unexplained conflict. Sit back, relax, and just enjoy. It will be over soon.
Little Shrew (Snowflake) – If there was one film that makes this a “can’t miss” program, Little Shrew (Snowflake) is it. This is a lovely film about fragility and destruction. I’ll say no more by way of review other than to try to convince you to take this opportunity to see it on a big screen instead of your phone.
I didn’t know the film’s origin before viewing it and was struck by how much it reminded me of Robert Burns timeless poem “To a Mouse, on Turning Her up in Her Nest with the Plough.” While an admirable impression, it is so much more.
In 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, Kate Bush “wanted to make an anti-war animation. “In particular, I hoped to draw attention to the children caught up in war” she writes. This is that film. Again, you have an opportunity to experience it on a large screen with professional sound. Do yourself a favor. And then go to Bush’s web site to read more, as my telling would be in pale contrast.
Love Me Tender – Nice fluid line animation is always a classic look. This film captures the hunt for love from several angles, and in the end the heart wants what it wants is certainly a solution if you know what makes you happy.
I was particularly impressed by the soundtrack here. There are no special effect sounds, no real dialogue, everything is punctuated and reinforced by the instruments. It’s subtle, but once you catch onto it you’ll be that much more involved with the story and this world.
Orchid Square – The story here is of a night out during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong, when the main character gets separated from her friends and experiences memories that haunt her. Done with traditional computer graphics techniques, this is a student project from the French ESMA school of art and design. The tools are well used, expressions and hallucinations (or are they) involved in creating the story show how a deep personal loss and guilt can persistently torture and haunt you.
Turbulence – Nicely cute short about the terror of flying. Anyone who flies regularly will recognize all the passenger types, the comforting and not so comforting, and how many react when the flight turns out to be no so smooth. Cleanly animated and finished, the credits are fun to read as well (more than the plane information cards at least.)
Wavelength – Abstractions of tuning into communication, how it brings people together. a fairly abstract set of images tells a tale somewhat open to interpretation, with fairly inventive transitions. The vibrant chalk-like animation with a train station metaphor can stick with you.
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale – From the Plympton studios, a nice set of discussions where communication is a matter of deciding how writing, reading and listening figure into this discussion of loneliness and personal image, and of the solitary whale. Surprising in it’s simplicity, with the typical Plympton calmly frenetic animation styles.
The Worm’s Eye View of the Bird – Unique exploration into the way relationships are formed and work, or don’t work. Solid animation work here. All of this speaks to an experienced director who is obviously speaking from their experience and heart.
This is a well crafted set of animation, without a weak point and several that are sure to stick with you long after you leave the theater.
Highly recommended.
Showings
Fri, Mar 13 2:35 PM Hammer Theater Center, San Jose
Mon, Mar 16 9:50 PM Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Screen 1), Mtn View
For Trailers and Ticket Information
Ric Bretschneider
March 11, 2026
San Jose CA