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"ALMA"

“Horror for kids?!” Generally, we don’t associate a children’s film with horror, however ex-Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas thought otherwise when he decided to produce “Alma”. Alma is a brief 5-minute film that was released in the 14th of June 2009 and has won numerous awards in addition to the Best Animated Short in Los Angeles & it recognition in the fantastic fest awards. Although it has many achievements, parents tend to oppose of the film’s mild themes horror and consider it inappropriate for their sons and daughters. I, in contrast disagree with this opinion. I believe that alma should be viewed by youngsters of all ages, or to the least the braver kind. Alma is a creepy yet whimsical short film. It starts off with a little blond girl skipping down the rock cladded streets of a snowy Barcelona. She comes across a wall of names and jots her name right in the middle and we now know that her name is Alma. Her attention is then caught by the store behind her where behind its glass, stood a doll. This doll was no ordinary doll, it was the exact miniature version of Alma. Intrigued she enters the store looking for the doll and ends up becoming the doll itself Rodrigo’s use of storytelling is solely being centered around children, since it lacks any sinister attributes and is creepier than anything else. He approaches this with many uses of foreshadowing and without the usage dialogue. So, every scene is a metaphor. For instance, right before a doll sucks the soul of it victim its eyes have no depth and color. Then after Alma is situated inside the color of the eyes changes to that of Almas, green and full of life. Her soul gave the eyes life, after all eyes are the windows to the soul and because of that I believe that that since Rodrigo hails in Spain, the use of “alma” which means soul in Spanish is cleverly placed. The environment that he displayed has various hints of the event, like the posters. The poster was plastered at the side of the wall where Alma obliviously skips past. These posters were those of missing persons, you could tell be the picture laid in the center of a pale brown paper. Or, the time she scribbled her name at the wall. The wall was reflected by the shops window. If you put these two together, I that the wall is a supposedly a list of their victims and Alma is next. Speaking about the shop, I applaud Rodrigo he is truly what I feel a professional. In the vast array of assorted dolls, that you could interpret the gender, culture and generation a doll is from and I understand that this is the shop’s collection. Its collection of prisoners, and amongst them is a boy on a bicycle. He is the highlight, where the audience finally get what’s going on. When he tries to escape through the opening, but his attempts were futile as the door shuts itself. No-one is leaving. In conclusion, I consider this film rather tame and to say it’s inappropriate is quite an exaggeration. After all, this is story with morale. Alma was a victim, but she was not innocent. Her action and attitude express this. At the start, we her scratching her name and throwing the chalk at the floor which I presume is very inconsiderate. Then the time she tries to enter, instead of knocking she wiggles the handle and when she fails to enter, she throws a snowball at the door. The shop then opens its doors for her and she doesn’t even say a single hello, to indicate she’s coming in. Alma actions infers that she has intention of stealing the doll and her attitude displays that she doesn’t care. To wrap this up, I stand by my word that alma is to be viewed by children of all ages, because it teaches them not to enter private property or to steal. A lesson that would definitely embed in the mind, but not in a cruel way, it shows the real world in a more child friendly way, it’s similar to the 2009 movie Caroline, but less excessive. That is why alma is probably more suited for children when introducing them to ideas of horror. This will allow them to be braver and morally intelligent.

-Mitchelle Hinolan

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"INVASION"

Invasion is a 2009, science fiction, short film animated movie directed by Clement Morin. It is about the “EFFORT” of an “alien dude” who travels from different galaxy to earth with a duty to fulfil, and that is to impress the love of her life. But his journey in accomplishing and doing his goal weren’t that easy. In order for him to succeed, he must travel a hundred and thousands of miles to do his said task. He rode a car, jump from a crushing plane, entering a human’s house that could cost him his life, then sneaked inside the comfort room and even dived into the toilet bowl. When he successfully conquer all of the obstacles and hindrance in his way, he did what he needed to do and triumphantly proved his self. With this psychology review, I found the movie clip really delightful, which gives a picture of the word “EFFORT”. According to MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY, the word effort came from the Middle French “esforz” and was first used in 15th Century. It means a serious attempt, something produced by exertion or trying, and the total work done to achieve a particular end. I myself felt gratified that this “alien dude” sets an example and gives justice to it. Having a deeper look into it, realizations and lesson came into me, that we must give our best, in order to succeed in everything we do. May it big or small, we should give our all. “EFFORT”, nowadays is really significant especially to us, the younger generation and students in terms of our studies. This animated short film is a great tool in giving definition to morals and values. The characters share the same nature to us humans. Generally, this movie is marvellous. I am glad that it was created by a brilliant director and I was able to watch it. It was really worth my time. They say that aliens came to abduct us, and take over or destroy our planet. But this “alien dude” proves himself that he is capable of doing what human dudes can. -Isaiah Caleb Arcete

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"DESTINY"

Destiny is something that happen in the future, the things that someone or something will experience in the future. The short film entitled “Destiny” was produced at French school Bellecour Ecole d’Art. I really enjoyed watching it since the display of it in the film was amazing and for me the writer really did a great job. The film was about a man living by his own in the house with many clock. The man in the film was trying to stop his destiny since he dream of what’s going to happen to him. Nobody can stop his or her own destiny since it is already our time or it is for us. As I watched the short film “Destiny” I was so stunned because the situation keeps on repeating, he keeps on waking up from his dream, at first he thought that he already woke up from his dream after the first crash but then the man was so shocked when he saw his own self doing the same routine. I really love that part of the film because it was flawlessly done, the writer and the animator really did a great job. Since the man already knew what will happen to him he tries to stop it and then fail, he keeps on waking up and doing the same thing trying to stop his future, until he threw his alarm clock to a wall clock and everything was in slow motion and finally he thought he already avoided what will happen to him. I was happy knowing that he succeeded in stopping his unfortunate future. Truly I can say that it is worth watching because the writer really did a great job. You really need to watch it till the end so that you’ll be able to know what really happened to him.

-Mary Antonette Pailon

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“IN A HEART BEAT”

In a Heartbeat is a 2017 computer-animated film produced by, Ringling College of Art and Design. Written and directed by Esteban Bravo and Beth David, the project was funded through Kickstarter where it racked up a total of $14,191 from 416 backers on a goal of $3,000. The short film concerns a closeted boy who has a crush on another boy and his heart's desire to be with him. The short has received wide praise on various platforms. In a heart beat is a short animated film with a lovely concept on same sex. There was this young boy who has a crush on other boy in their school. He always admire his crush from afar, but find his heart that following his crush desperately, causes him to confront his crush but his heart broken in the process. Try to watch this short animated film and you will be witness the cuteness overload, the two boys, and the heart. Being attach with same sex is hard, lot of challenges and criticizes to be face. People who are willing to accept criticizes are truly strong, their willingness and love for each other is unconditionally despite of hurtful words. They are willing to take risk for their love. Many people are against in same sex relationships but that's not the reason for them to stop loving each other. There are times that I don't like seeing people in same sex that are sweet together, cuddling but seeing this animated film makes me understood how it feels to be with same sex relationship. It clearly says that when it comes to love it doesn't matter of who you are, it doesn't matter what people will say as long as you love each other. People will also accept your relationship may be not today but on the other day time will come and they will accept you of who and what you are. People easily crtiticize of what they may see, but the heart that feels cannot be stop.

-CG Janine Rodriguez

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BORROWED TIME

                                    “THE GRIEF OF THE PAST”

                           by CHANTELLE ASHLY P. DEMEGILLO

                Committing mistakes in our life is very inevitable. In our daily living, every decision we have done results onto either success or failure.

                 Borrowed Time, a short film by Lou Hamou-Lhadj and Andrew Coats, character Artists on Pixar and Disney Films have come up with a professed film for us, not only suitable for the  youth but for the adults as well. People who came from different walks of life, may reflect on the lesson the film wishes to deliver to its viewers and resonate it to their daily lives.  

                 On the glimpse of the film, it all started with a gloomy weather with a sheriff standing above the cliff having a face filled with dejection which gave me an idea that the film storyline would be tragic. The sheriff walks through the place above the cliff wherein there were broken wheels of wagon, skull and debris. This gave him sudden flashbacks of the tragic event that happened on that day. Along with his father, they were riding on a wagon which was eventually chased by the criminals resulted into an unexpected catastrophe of his father hanging on a cliff. I was thinking that the sheriff was not able to help his father is the reason behind his disappointment, but I was wrong. The scene where his father used his rifle and handed it to his son to raise him up in order to prevent him from falling, it gave me the prediction that the story will end tragically and it did. The sheriff did accidentally pull the trigger. I felt sorry for the young sheriff. The series of events might have had given him trauma for the rest of his life. The tragic memory was suffocating him and despite the years that had passed, he still blames himself for the death of his father which made him thought of ending his life in order to escape the nightmare brought by that memory.  The thought of him ending his life is not the solution and It made me glad that after seeing the pocket watch that was used to be his father’s, he gave up the thought of ending his life by jumping off the cliff.

This short film gives us the message that we, as a human, must forgive and renew ourselves for the betterment of our lives. It also serves as a reflection into our faith: we should repent for our sins we commit and ask forgiveness to our God who is always merciful, in that way it will give us hope until the end of life. Facing our battles and struggles in life on bended knees is far way greater than turning our backs away from it and just take the easier way out in order for us to escape it. The grief of the past will always be a better lesson in every circumstances in life.

I would say that the film, together with its creator and contributors, is highly commendable and really deserved the nomination and award not only for its impressive graphics and storyline but for the message it wishes to convey to the viewers of this film.

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Bear Story

"Historia de un oso" or "Bear Story" in English is the first ever Chilean movie to win an Oscar depicts a bear telling his story.  This 11 minute Chilean animated short film was directed by Gabriel Osorio Vargas; and it was written by Vargas and Daniel Castro. The animation was amazing in my opinion, and the story is heartbreaking; and yet, it's also beautifully touching.

It's a short film story of an elderly male bear who makes a living with a portable peep show that shows the adventures of a male adult bear, who was forced or ripped away from his family and off to the circus but later escapes, and is reunited with his family. The male bear in the peep show is clearly a representation of the male bear running the peep show.

For me, the peep show represent his own life since at the start of the film, we see him doing repairs on the peep show before going to work. The house is empty and it is very early in the morning, we see a large bed that has clearly been slept in by two bears. The kitchen chairs are pushed back as if someone ( maybe his family) left them like that. And finally the son's room is tidy but looks like it hasn't been touched for some time. The bear's sad expressions were triggered by memories of what he almost permanently lost, rather than of current loss.

I absolutely love this short film, it's such a sweet story, but it also touches on the brutality of man's exploitation of animals for entertainment. There is a mixture of melancholy and uncertainty and the many possible outcomes that the film showed. It is really amazing so if you ever have the chance, watch it because you won’t regret it.

-Bea Isabelle G. Lopez

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Paperman

by Walt Disney (Directed by John Kahrs)

              For the first  time since 1990, Disney Animation has created an animated short to accompany a feature release (the last time was Mickey Mouse in The Prince and the Pauper, released with The Rescuers Down Under). The film, titled Paperman, which will screen with Wreck-It Ralph, is an incredibly charming little film that also showcases a revolutionary animation technique. Told entirely in pantomime, Paperman is slightly reminiscent of the beloved classic The Red Balloon in the seemingly-sentient actions of inanimate objects.

The short film was so attention catcher for people who looking for a destiny. Have you ever felt a love at first sight? Sacrifice your work and not giving attention to the huge stack forms the boss has just dropped in box, because of the girl you have just meet ,but suddenly you want her to notice you but all your efforts was fail and starting to give up. This short film Paperman is about to an ordinary guy George, who works at an ordinary job, schlepping himself into and out of the city on one of the daily commuter trains. One windy day, he has an accidental encounter with a nice young lady Meg, who then boards her own train and vanishes out of his life almost as soon as she entered. As he enter in his work he slouch and sight as his boss drop a  mountain of paper works, until he happens to glance out the window and discovers to his surprise that his dream-girl is at that moment sitting near the open window in the building across the street. He waves, to no avail. She hasn’t seen him. Desperate to get her attention, he turns to the stack of paper in front of him, quickly crafting one paper plane after another and hurling them from the window, hoping to get just one of them across the street and into her hands. But all was fail, until he used the last paper with the kiss mark of the girl but didn’t work to her to notice. Until he tired, but the paper plane moves itself to bring the man to her dream girl, and at last they meet again because of the destiny they called.

                This is how strong love is, the destiny will the one will find ways to bring you to your love once. The George determination to catch Meg’s attention is one of the mankind that most people want. The efforts and perseverance was totally inspiring, this is what women looking for. But sometimes the lack of confidence and giving up immediately is one of the conflicts of everyone’s story. That’s why destiny is always there to support you and bring to the right person to make you happy. This short film Paperman was so amazing, especially the concept was not that looks boring even it’s a black and white and told entirely in pantomime, Paperman is slightly reminiscent of the beloved classic The Red Balloon in the seemingly-sentient actions of inanimate objects.

               For people who always have determination, aiming hope for their dream ones like George, I just wanted a little warm thing. Something simple I could start with. A single relationship with a person that was new and pure. Where could be you and they could be them, and that's all that is expected, and we could build this world where there was someone else other than us to think about and be about. The relief of being able to give the world someone else and let it be theirs. Let them have their turn. So it doesn't end with us. This is a great way to inspire you how to believe in a true love or a destiny.

-Sumbillo,Rona Lee