animated short films

‘War is Over’ Highlights Brotherhood and Brutality in Protest for Peace

Dave Mullins and Brad Booker’s Oscar-shortlisted animated short, inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1971 song, ‘Happy X-Mas (War is Over), and animated in Unreal Engine at Wētā FX, showcases a game of chess, set on a battlefield, with a carrier pigeon delivering instructions on next moves - on the board and in the trenches - leading to a forgone conclusion: there are no winners in war.

In 3D, CG, Music and Sound, People, Short Films, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Professional Animation Tools Even Beginners Can Master Headline News

Flying Solo with Vector Graphic Animation and Motion Pilot

For digital content creator Daniel Pojda, new features in Cartoon Animator 5.2 have improved his standard animation workflow significantly, letting him focus more time on details and secondary animations on projects like his spaceship rocketing through outer space.

In 2D, Cartoons, CG, Digital Media, Flash, People, Short Films, Television | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Events Events

FLAnimation Film Fest

Begins: January 27, 2024

Florida’s newest animation festival returns to Jacksonville January 27, celebrating bright up-and-coming animators from around the globe.

In 2D, 3D, CG, Digital Media, Event, Festival, Films, Jobs & Recruiting, Short Films | Event Types: Non-competitive Festivals

Animation First Festival 2024

Begins: January 23, 2024

FIAF presents the seventh edition of its annual festival dedicated to showcasing the enduring legacy of and innovation of French and Francophone animation, January 23 – January 28.

In 2D, 3D, Awards, CG, Digital Media, Education and Training, Event, Festival, Films, Short Films | Event Types: Competitive Festivals

Who Doesn’t Love Between the Lions ANIMATIONWorld

Richard O’Connor Talks the Good, the Bad, and the Amusing

For the Ace & Son studio founder, finding projects that matter, that focus on the complexities of living in a flawed world, brings purpose and sustainability despite the financial challenges, like the pro bono music video for The Exbats’ ‘Doorman,’ inspired by 'Superjail’s Christy Karacas, about a girl who wants to beat up a bar bouncer.

In 2D, Commercials, Community Outreach, Digital Media, Music Videos, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

On the Road to the Oscars Headline News

Watch: Oscar Shortlisted ‘Letter to a Pig’

The award-winning animated short uses live-action and hand-drawn animation to tackle the complex story of a Holocaust survivor who addresses a classroom full of students and one young schoolgirl’s reaction; streams on YouTube for 2-days only – beginning January 4.

In 2D, Awards, CG, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Special Events: Academy Awards | Geographic Region: All

What Can Dreams Tell Us? Return of the Kings ANIMATIONWorld

Em Cooper Talks John Lennon and Her ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ Music Video

In the Grammy Award-nominated short film, the artist explores the space between ‘dreaming and wakefulness,’ creating and morphing 1,300 oil paintings by hand to honor the re-release of The Beatles’ seminal 1966 album, ‘Revolver.’

In 2D, Music and Sound, Music Videos, People, Short Films, Stop-Motion | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

silhouette animation ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Esteemed Priority’ Unpacks Unconditional Love While Honoring Animation’s Early Roots

Animator, illustrator, and teacher Al Bohl uses paper cut-out silhouette animation, pioneered a century ago by German filmmaker Lotte Reiniger, to tell the timeless – and timely - story of a stranger who helps a man laying beaten and bleeding on the side of the road.

In 2D, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Stop-Motion, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Animated Shorts of the Month ANIMATIONWorld

Binocular Briefs – December 2023

The latest survey of under-the-radar animated shorts currently traveling the festival circuit or new to online viewing.

In 2D, 3D, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Love Can Overcome ANIMATIONWorld

‘Aikane’: An Eclectic Love Story Highlighting Cultures Around the World

In the new short from Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Daniel Sousa, the team behind the award-winning ‘Kapaemahu,’ an island warrior who descends into a strange underwater world after being wounded in battle falls in love with the shapeshifting octopus that saves his life.

In 2D, CG, Community Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion, People, Short Films, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Indie Shorts ANIMATIONWorld

‘Teacups’ Begs the Question - Can a Simple Act of Kindness Save a Life?

Alec Green and Finbar Watson’s Oscar-qualified 2D short poignantly captures the true story of Don Ritchie, who over the course of almost 50 years approached hundreds of people contemplating suicide on a cliff just 50 feet from his Sydney home.

In 2D, Awards, CG, Digital Media, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All, Australia

Inspiring Change by Being Yourself ANIMATIONWorld

‘Pete’ Unpacks 1970’s Gender Norms and a Mother’s Unwavering Love

Long-time Pixar artist Bret Parker discusses her award-winning animated short based on the true story of her wife, Pete Barma, who as an 8-year-old in 1975 Florida, just wanted to play Little League baseball, and whose mom Denise was determined to let her child be themselves regardless of a world that wasn’t quite ready.

In 2D, 3D, Art, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

indie animation ANIMATIONWorld

Oscar-Qualified ‘Dragonfly’ Recounts the Devastating 1945 Tokyo Firebombing

For filmmaker Julia Morizawa, learning about her grandparents she’d only seen in a black and white photo meant coming face-to-face with the horrors of the single most destructive bombing raid in human history, and how asking questions and confronting the past is the only way to keep tragic events from being lost to history and possibly happening again.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Technology, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

animated shorts ANIMATIONWorld

Filmmaker Janice Nadeau and NFB Producer Marc Bertrand Talk ‘HARVEY’

A conversation between the director and National Film Board of Canada producer takes us inside their collaboration on the award-winning NFB/Folimage animated short that examines bereavement and coping with the loss of a parent through the imaginative eyes of a child.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

A Message of Tolerance and Love ANIMATIONWorld

‘Pacemaker’: A Trans-Positive Story of Hope and Acceptance

Christopher Lennertz’s 3DCG heartfelt short about a grandfather’s journey to understand his grandson’s message of love and pride stars 2023 Tony Award winner Alex Newell, the first-ever non-binary actor to win a Tony, and multi-Grammy Award winner Philip Lawrence, with ‘Nimona’s ND Stevenson serving as executive producer.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Music and Sound, People, Short Films, Technology, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

PSAs Headline News

Nomint Creates ‘Up in Smoke’ for WWF to Address the Global Climate Crisis

Released at COP28, the short integrates stop-motion animation with real smoke, immersing viewers in a world where a young girl confronts a smoke-filled environment; experience the film and take a look behind the scenes.

In 3D, CG, Commercials, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Stop-Motion | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Geographic Region: All

animated short films ANIMATIONWorld

‘Misaligned’: The Minimalist Observations of an Uncommunicative Couple

Marta Magnuska’s hand-drawn, charcoal on paper short carefully studies the relationship between two characters sharing the same living space and the everyday routines that define the tension in their repetitive lives.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld

Diggin’ This Rockin Fun PSA ANIMATIONWorld

IdeaRocket Uses 2D Moles to Spread the Word for Dig Safety Awareness

For studio founder William Gadea, what better way to promote Indiana 811’s need to dramatize the possible negative consequences of digging up your yard without first located any underground utility lines than with Holey Moley as a rockin’ and rollin’, jumpsuit-wearing mole sporting a giant hair wave and a crew of sequined squirrel back-up singers.

In 2D, 3D, Business, CG, Commercials, Digital Media, Music and Sound, People, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: North America

The Best in CG Animation Headline News

SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 CAF Winners Announced

‘Moirai - Thread of Life’ takes Best in Show with Jury's Special Award going to ‘Hair Universe;’ winners among 38 films selected to screen at this year’s Electronic and Animation Theaters.

In 2D, 3D, Awards, CG, Digital Media, Event, Festival, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News, VFXWorld | Special Events: SIGGRAPH Asia | Geographic Region: All

What We’ll Do for our First Crush ANIMATIONWorld

The Charming, Lyrical Sweetness of ‘The Day I Became a Bird’

Oscar-winning ‘The Lost Thing’ director Andrew Ruhemann and producer David Park talk about their soulful animated short, in which a young boy finds an unusual way to win the heart of his crush.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Music and Sound, People, Short Films, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

There’s No Accounting for Taste ANIMATIONWorld

Rotten Fruit? - Vimeo, Censorship and Creative Freedom

Canadian filmmaker Ivan Li’s animated short, ‘Fruit,’ was permanently removed from the streaming platform – that positions itself as a champion of bold cinema and art - despite endorsements from staff curators, a successful 2-year festival run, and ARTE broadcast in France; the artist hopes his case serves as a warning sign to independent filmmakers.

In 3D, Business, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: North America

A Different Angle to a Traumatic Historical Event ANIMATIONWorld

‘Letter to a Pig’: Traumatic Memory Through the Eyes of Youthful Imagination

Filmmaker Tal Kantor’s first solo short film uses live-action and hand-drawn animation to tackle the heavy and complex subject of a Holocaust survivor addressing a classroom full of students, sharing a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life, and how reality, memory, and imagination blend together in one young schoolgirl’s reaction.

In 2D, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films, Technology | ANIMATIONWorld | Blogs: Ambling Around | Geographic Region: All

Reclaiming One’s History ANIMATIONWorld

Liam LoPinto's ‘The Old Young Crow’ Short and Sketchbooks for Refugees Initiative

The first-generation Iranian-American filmmaker, who for years denied his heritage, fell in love with his culture again while on an NYU exchange program in Japan as he spent time in Tokyo graveyards and began developing the story of a displaced Iranian boy.

In 2D, 3D, CG, People, Short Films, Stop-Motion | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Animated Shorts of the Month ANIMATIONWorld

Binocular Briefs – November 2023

The latest survey of under-the-radar animated shorts currently travelling the festival circuit or new to online viewing.

In 2D, 3D, CG, Digital Media, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Celebrating the Best in Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Behind the Line Work of Animation is Film 2023’s Grand Prize Winners

Both ‘Chicken for Linda!’ and ‘Letter to a Pig’ push the medium’s artistic boundaries with constant motion, unrefined lines, and imprecise shading and coloring, proving more experimental, auteur-driven animation can be every bit as compelling and entertaining as mainstream films.