Best Short Animated Films--Oscars 2013

Here are the five movies that were nominated for Best Short Animated  Films for the Oscar's this year:

• Adam and Dog," Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
• "Fresh Guacamole," PES, director (PES)
• "Head over Heels," Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
• "Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"," David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
• "Paperman," John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)

'Paperman' was the winner, and I do think that it was the best of the final five, but they are all worth watching.  Best of all, they are very brief--the category is aptly named, with the longest being 15 minutes and the shortest just 2 minutes, so you manage the whole thing in under an hour, even if you decide to rewatch one or two of them.  The other great thing is that they are all available on YouTube--no need to pay to see them, or even to look too hard.   Finally, they represent a broad range of the art of animation.

'Paperman'  is plot driven and sweet.  Our hero is instantly likeable, and when he falls for someone on the train and then sees her in the office building across the street, he sees his opportunity and seizes it.  We are all rooting for him, and the manner in which he pursues her is charming.

'Head Over Heels' is my second favorite short--it is a claymation film of an older couple who are a bit at odds with each other and they have a gravity defying living arrangement.  It is whimsical and charming as well.

I did not like the story as much, but 'Adam and Dog' reminded me of the work of Hayao Miyazaki--the animation is the lush, detailed outdoor scenes that I adore of Miyazali's work.  'Fresh Guacamole' is very fun in a quirky way, and do not discount the Simpson short animated film--it has a wonderful ending that will not disappoint.

I watched lots of short animated films when I had cable TV and unfettered access to the Independent Film Channel and the Sundance Channel. Now that I am living an Internet streaming-only life, I really appreciate the ability to see these top notch creative works.