Film Streams is known for bringing critically acclaimed movies to the Omaha community, and this month is no different with its presentation of the 2013 Academy Award nominees for Best Animated Short Film.
“Oscar Shorts!” has become an annual event for the non-profit movie theater. It gives audiences the opportunity to see all of the short films nominated for an Academy Award in one sitting.
The short films recognized this year use many styles of animation and come from several countries around the world.
If you saw the movie “Frozen” in theaters, you may be be familiar with the animated short “Get a Horse!” This Disney cartoon combines the past and present forms of animation with both hand-drawn and computer-generated images. In this nominee, Mickey and his friends are enjoying a wagon ride until their foe Peg-Leg Pete causes chaos. He captures Minnie, and Mickey must figure out a way to save her. “Get a Horse!” creatively uses the two styles of Disney animation to tell a funny story and bring these favorite characters to life.
“Mr. Hublot” is an animated short film from France that tells the story of a man living in a futuristic, industrial city. Living with OCD and afraid of the outside world, Mr. Hublot likes to maintain his orderly lifestyle and keep to himself. Suddenly his life changes completely when he rescues a robot dog and must learn to live with a big disruption. This heartwarming nominee balances the amusement of owning a pet and the seriousness of mental disorders with animation that pays great attention to detail.
The third nominee is “Feral,” which is the story of a young boy who has grown up in the woods. A hunter saves the boy from being attacked by wolves and brings him into civilization where he must adapt to a completely different world. Although this American short film has a rather grim storyline, the animation itself is beautiful in its bleakness.
“Possessions” is about a man who is traveling through a forest and must find shelter from a storm. He comes to an abandoned shrine, but he discovers that goblin spirits still inhabit this mysterious place and bring objects to life. This short film from Japan uses vivid colors and shadowing to complement its energetic and adventurous story.
The fifth nominee is “Room on the Broom,” which was made in the United Kingdom and is based on the well-known children’s book. It tells an endearing story of a witch and her grumpy cat who are on a flying adventure. During their travels, they pick up a few more animals, much to the cat’s dismay, but run into trouble when the witch’s broom gets too heavy. “Room on the Broom” is the longest of the five nominees but was adorable nonetheless.
Fans of the Academy Awards will no longer have to wonder what the short films are like and will be able to see them before the Oscar ceremony airs on March 2. As always, predicting the Oscar winner is never easy, but “Mr. Hublot” or “Room on the Broom” may take home the statue because of their stunning animation and engaging stories.
In addition to the animated shorts, Film Streams is also showing the five nominees for Best Live Action Short Film. Showings of both the animated and live action shorts continue through Feb. 20.