The Short Films that Inspire Me.

In this list are short films, music videos and commercials that I have found over the years that have added to my collective of inspiration. These are sometimes to do with their story, their visuals or even their technical level of animation. Sometimes it's not always about the big budget feature films that brings that spark to my creative influences, I'm always in awe by how script writers, animators and and to tell a story in 30 minutes or less is a challenge at the best of times for me.

"Chuck Steel: Raging Balls of Steel Justice"

I became aware of the work of Mike Mort back in 2000 with the airing of the series "Gogs" on the BBC channels, and for me it was a visually attractive style, with classic "Tom and Jerry" violence mixed with slightly gross, playground antics, it was brilliant. Then in 2013 I discovered Chuck Steel, this was such a step up from Gogs, the adult humor, the action sequences, the animation smoothness and the clay sculpture details are just amazing. When I watch this short I never feel like its only 15 minutes, it feels like a 30 minute special and that's what I love about it! 

"Bedshaped"

This music video for the band Keane was released in 2004 which was always a great watch between my BA lessons. It was directed by Corin Hardy from his short film "Butterfly", what appeals to me about this video is the Tim Burtonesque design and theme for the characters and sets as well as the use of projected rotoscoped band members on the sets.

"Moving On"

I absolutely love the work of Ainslie Hederson and this music video he directed for the band James is no exception, the simple idea of people made of woolen thread and at the end of their lifespan they unravel reforming into a infant to a new mother. The song lyrics alone are strong and moving but the imagery always puts a lump in my throat, I suppose it's because it reminds me of family members who have also passed on that I wish could have stayed just a little longer. It's an amazing piece of animation performance and one that has a lasting impression on me.

"Godzilla Vs. Anguirus"

This is a little out of place here, since my love for Godzilla belongs more in the Feature Film blog, but this little short, made my YouTube animator Fred the Dinosaurman, is beautifully presented considering the scale these claymation puppets. The animation is fluid and you get the sense of weight from the puppets movements, even some of the mannerisms of Godzilla and Anguirus are captured perfectly. It's a brilliant little tribute video to a long standing film franchise.

"D is for Deloused"

I've been a fan of Robert Morgan ever since I saw his short film "The Cat with Hands" at a UK animation festival. His gritty world textures and disturbing character designs are one of the many factors I enjoy viewing his work. Whilst his style does not reflect through my own work, his success in making shorts that are outside of main stream animation gives me hope that my own work will be accepted to audiences. 

"Claycat's The Thing"

Lee Hardcastle's work in claymation was an interesting discovery for me, originally I stumbled across his YouTube upload of Pingu's The Thing and enjoyed its homage to both the original Pingu characters and the 1982 remake of The Thing, sadly, HIT Entertainment didn't see the fun side of this and asked that the video be taken down. Lee removed the video and came back with a remake, exactly the same version but with cats... and with 1.4 million views and counting, his work has most defiantly built up a cult following and for good reason too.

"The Maker"

Written and Directed by Christopher Kezelos, this short film is set in a isolated world where a rabbit-like being (based on the work by Amanda Lousie Spayd) goes through the processes of creating life in a limited window of time. What I love about this short film is its reflections on a creator role, through my eyes, specifically those who work in stop-motion. The processing of planing, designing building your puppet and then going through all the motions learning skills to make the puppet move and finally adding music to give life to your project. I especially love the movement of the eyes in these puppets, very subtle and life-like.

"Prehistoric Beast"

In 1984 animator created this short film after his work on the Star Wars Trilogy, when I first saw this short in the early 90's I was blown away by the level of detail, the realistic approach to the puppets and the lighting and set. The atmosphere that Phil built into this is breath taking and the animation is a great study of animal behaviors and artistic license. This short has been one of the base line inspirations for my own short film Wildlife on Mars since 2011.