Welcome to Diversions, Echo's creative section for entertainment, recommendations, and everything else! Read on for a roundup of animated shorts to keep you going this week by Annie Hui '23.
At a time when bite-size videos are reaching their peak, you would think that short films might get a share of that attention. This film category encompasses a valuable art form, but is sometimes treated as an afterthought. What follows is a list of hand-picked animated short films for you to watch this week, one for every weekday.
It’s Monday again, so we’re starting off fresh. A 6-year-old boy bounces down a city street and suddenly stops dead in front of a coin-operated ride. The ride is a spaceship. The boy scampers into the cockpit, his face held in a mask of grim determination. Then he realizes he just seems to be swaying stupidly. With a rush of disappointment, this naive explorer hatches a plan. A plan tough but not impossible, just like this Monday.
Tuesday is arguably the worst and the grind is far from over. Much more heartwarming than homework stress, this film describes a runt dog with a big dream of becoming a Southeastern guide dog. “Our dogs save the day, every day, for people with vision loss and veterans with disabilities.”
By now you’re probably facing the usual mid-week crisis, so here’s a beautiful distraction. An Oscar-winning animated short, this film stood out in a year where award nominees were criticized for their lack of racial diversity. Hair Love is a refreshing and sweet story about an African-American dad learning to style his young daughter’s natural hair for the first time. This one is an essential watch.
Thursday is the new Friday and basically the weekend, but it’s important that we stay grounded. This video will help us do just that. Illustrating the underbelly of modern society, 500,000 years of mankind’s destructive relationship with the natural world are revealed in under four minutes. It’s borderline funny, multi-layered, and compels us to press pause and think as we prepare for the weekend.
You’ve finally made it to Friday. Let’s end this week on a good note! This short follows a closeted boy whose secret is put at risk when his heart pops out of his chest to chase down his crush. In the simplest way possible, this film throws you onto a roller coaster of emotions. After all, love is love.
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