Cover (Photo: Unsplash)
(Photo: Unsplash)
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Don't get it wrong, these award-winning animated shorts aren't just "cute". Check them out online:
Not enough time to binge watch your favourite feature-length films? These short narratives are just as good and equally as thought provoking. Check out some of the best free-to-stream short films we've found online—perfect for your fifteen-minute break.
Read more: Cannes Film Festival 2022: 3 Must-Watch Films Showcasing Filipino Talents
Hair Love
A tear-jerker through and through, Hair Love is among Sony Pictures Animation's Oscar-winning films. The short, which focuses on a father learning to do her daughter's hair for the first time, explores themes of family and illness, while also shedding a light on the cultural norms of an African-American family. Directed by the same people behind hits such as The Proud Family and Up, Hair Love is a must-see for every family!
Life is Beautiful
Anton gets a second chance at life in Life is Beautiful. Slightly sardonic, this short film explores the troubles of the "little man" as he struggles with life. Covering such tough themes as suicide and reincarnation, this short film leaves viewers with an open-ended question on whether life is worth fighting for—or whether it is nothing more than a Sisyphean task.
See also: A Fan of Anime? Have You Seen These 5 Shows on Netflix?
If Anything Happens I Love You
A twelve-minute short that's become more relevant than ever, If Anything Happens I Love You is a Netflix short film that centres on grief. Faced with the loss of their daughter—who died in a school shooting—parents must learn to cope with feelings of sadness and despair. Titled after the last text their daughter sent them, this Netflix short film is just a tiny glimpse into the loss that's felt by victims of violence.
Louis' Shoes
Understanding autism is at the core of Louis' Shoes, a short film on a French schoolboy with special needs. The protagonist, Louis, constantly transfers schools because of his differences; as a child, he prefers order and stability, which is not often afforded to him, but symbolised through his Velcro-strapped shoes. Though in the end, he finds himself in yet another different classroom, Louis also discovers that empathy can still be found in a world that is often quick to judge.
Garden Party
Beautifully rendered n 3D animation, Garden Party was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards—and it's obvious why. Though it merely follows a colony of frogs at face value as they rampage through an abandoned mansion, it soon becomes evident that something sinister has taken place. Dark and eerie, the short film's end marries together an incredible soundtrack that creates a blood-curdling ambience for viewers willing to wait till the end.
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