Best Animation Films

Animation Category

Natko Stipaničev’s ‘Arka’ Is an Unconventional Interpretation of Life Through the Strata of a Grand Cruise Ship

Natko Stipaničev talks to us about mimicking stop motion with 2D & 3D to create his bizarre animated world aboard a doomed transoceanic cruise ship.

Animation

A Mother Battles Grief in a Dense and Vivid Fantasy World in Matt O’Donnell’s Animated Short ‘Runelight’

Matt O'Donnell describes the pleasure of creating the 3D animation behind the vivid world featured in his short film.

Animation

A Father and Son Wrestle With the Nature of Loss in João Gonzalez’ Oscar Nominated Short ‘Ice Merchants’

João Gonzalez breaks down how the distinct visual aesthetic of his Oscar nominated animation intersects with its themes of grief and loss.

Animation

Reality Crumbles in Lachlan Pendragon’s ‘An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It’

Lachlan Pendragon takes DN through the creation of the clever yet whimsical character models featured in his metarealism Oscar nominated animation short.

Animation

A Mariner Takes a Sudden and Astounding Voyage in Wendy Tilby & Amanda Forbis’ Oscar Nominated ‘The Flying Sailor’

Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby explain how they blended 2D and 3D animation techniques with live action for their explosive multi-award-winning short.

Animation, Live Action

The Philosophical Musings of a One Eyed Shell Delight in Dean Fleischer Camp’s ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’

Director Dean Fleischer Camp joins DN for an in-depth interview about turning his viral YouTube shorts into a beloved Oscar-nominated feature animation.

Animation

John Stevenson’s BAFTA Nominated Animation ‘Middle Watch’ Sees a Struggling Sailor Face the Extraordinary

John Stevenson reveals the lessons he learned directing for major studios and how they guided him in the creation of his BAFTA nominated short.

Animation

Hannah Jacobs Embraces Life’s Uncertainties in Her Affirming BAFTA Nominated Animation ‘Your Mountain is Waiting’

Hannah Jacobs shares how she created the meditative yet surreal tonal amalgamation of her BAFTA-nominated short about rediscovering how to trust your gut.

Animation

The Unintended Consequences of Technological Evolution are Unravelled in Sean Buckelew’s ‘Drone’

Sean Buckelew joins us to explain how the phrasing of an online headline inspired his narrative about an AI drone with a conscious.

Animation

Sara Gunnarsdóttir’s Oscar Nominated ‘My Year of Dicks’ Takes a Female Forward Look at Teenage Sexuality

Sara Gunnarsdóttir breaks down working with different animators to create a multi-layered retro portrait of author Pamela Ribon for her genre-mashing short.

Animation

Lado Kvataniya’s ‘Burn’ Is a Caustic Warning Against Our Collective Disillusionment at the Hands of Propaganda.

Lado Kvataniya & Sergey Kolesov detail how they worked together to reflect the pernicious role of modern day propaganda in their caustic animated music video.

Animation, Premiere

A Delusional Man Meddles With Space and Time in Sascha Vernik’s Sci-Fi Thriller Animation ‘Losing It’

Sascha Vernik breaks down the process of creating the stylised, vivid and pulpy visual aesthetic of his trippy, time-hopping animated short.