2024 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animation

So I just went out and watched the Oscar nominated animated shorts for the 96th Academy Awards! 

Overall two things really stood out: the breathtakingly beautiful, creative and impressive animation, and the almost complete lack of subtlety. All 5 of the nominated shorts, plus one of the “highly commended” shorts have very obvious topics or issues that they want to address. Some do so better than others. But all are impressively animated and if being nominated purely on the animation quality, all are worthy nominees.

1. Pachyderme (France, 11 min.) - 4.5/5

Probably the short that best conveys its underlying theme without being assertively overt with the messaging. When it finally clicked for me what was happening, my stomach dropped. And yet the restraint to only imply and never display is appreciated. And the symbolism utilised throughout is certainly impactful. Maybe too brief to win the award, but it’s my vote.

2. Ninety-Five Senses (USA, 13min.) - 4.5/5

From the couple behind Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, and with a vocal performance from the excellent Tim Blake Nelson, I found this to be a fascinating exploration visually of the 5 senses, but within a narrative that felt somehow off. Not sure if it was anti-capital punishment, but it certainly tugs your heart strings very unsubtly as we meet this condemned man enjoying his last meal and explaining how his sense of his senses shapes his outlook on life, as his nears it’s end. Loved the different animation styles and found it the most narratively compelling of the five. 

3. Letter to a Pig (France/Israel, 17 min.) - 4/5

I was absolutely loving this, until the last third which lost me. It wasn’t bad, I just found it got too caught up in its own mixed metaphors to coalesce into something. The rotoscoped animation is really impressive, and it’s a very timely reminder of the horrors that were committed in the Holocaust and the survivors who are still haunted by them, but the “pig” goes from saviour to tormentor to victim, and I’m not sure if that’s meant to reflect the cycles that continue, because the short itself doesn’t seem sure either.

4. Our Uniform (Iran, 7 min.) - 4/5

Easily the most creatively animated, and with a story that felt so deeply personal and compelling, but it also felt too short, and surface level. Plenty is stated about what wearing a hijab in school is like in Iran, but we only glimpse moments when the true feelings felt are expressed. It almost feels self-censored, wanting to be honest, but not too open. Has some really impactful moments and I’m still curious as to how they pulled off the animation because it’s so creative. 

5. WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko (USA, 11 min.) - 2/5

Wētā Digital animated this, so yeah, it looks fantastic, but it’s also the most unsubtle and self-congratulatory, right down to the title. “Did you know war is bad?”… who’d’ve thunk! Honestly, the needle drop at the end moment made this so eye-rollingly cringe inducing, but I loved Thomas Newman’s score, and found the actual interwar chess match via carrier pigeon to be cute and compelling. Wouldn’t be surprised if this wins despite being so on the nose. 

Highly Commended Shorts:
Wild Summon (UK, 14 min.) - 2/5 

The animation is both stunning and also deeply disturbing. Seeing a photorealistic diver as a salmon is a weird experience, and as impressive as salmon are, they also taste good so I’mma still eat them even if they are impressive creatures. Felt very preachy and again just strange to see a human be a fish. I get the message, just didn’t change my mind. 

I’m Hip (USA, 4 min.) - 2/5

Legendary animation director John Musker (Basil, the Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog, Moana) directed, produced and animated this jazzy musical short about a cat who’s “hip”. That’s it. Not super impactful, no message, just a cat, being an arrogant nuisance, as he riffs on how “hip” he is. Impressive animation, but indifferent to the actual “story”.

Overall, was great to see them all on the big screen! And I continue to find animated short to be the category that so frequently pushes the visual language of cinema!