Week 4: MOVIE ANALYSIS 4: The Animated Short film

We have explored two feature-length films so far. Now we will change directions significantly and study short films. Animated shorts are unlike feature animation films in that they often give a filmmaker the opportunity to have a film made in many new, diverse, and experimental ways that utilize different styles and techniques. They also have strict time and length limitations, which play a key role in how stories are told.

Frederich Bach's film The Man Who Planted Trees is a great example of the depth and range of what can actually be told within the technical limits of an animated short story. In this case we explore a film where the story of a shepherd who's sole quest to re forest a barren valley, is expressed in a beautiful painterly way.

 The Man Who Planted Trees is an example of a character driven story involving a main character who is following his dream.

Soar and Kiwi! both involve a main character who is following their dream. This dream, coincidentally, has to do with flight in both cases. This time, auteur theory returns in an interesting way, in that both films have a director with a very clear idea of how they want motivation to play into their storytelling. Both films were created by graduate students and the films were their final MFA thesis projects. The Academy of Art's own Alyce Tzue won the Student Academy Award for Soar.

"Life is all about doing something for someone . . . be it something small! I aimed to portray how a relationship between two very different beings can change lives for better. Open eyes and open minds. If you want to do it—do it. No matter what comes your way, just go for it with all your heart and all your might!"

Alyce Tzue

Module Outcomes

• Critique short films.
• Explain the difference between a short and feature film.
• Analyze one aspect of short film of your choice - work in groups, report findings to class.