As a prelude to next weeks review on Avatar, I will be reviewing a short 5 minute film that gives a similar kind of theme. Well actually, Avatar has several themes and this short film unintentionally manages to focus on just one of those themes.

The town is cheerful. It’s obvious that it’s winter. There is a little boy playing in the snowy street. He writes a name on the window and this spells Alma. We assume that it is his name because all of the other words are names of people to. And why would he write someone else’s name? He drops his chalk and turns around to see something peculiar. It is a doll of him in the shop window. Alma looks at the doll curiously. The doll is wearing the same clothes, same hairstyle, same hat etc. Alma seems shocked. And upon looking at his hands in fear, the doll vanishes. Alma is even more curious and enters the shop to find that it only gets worse from his first step into the shop.

This film is related to Avatar in a way of two dimensions becoming one. The fact that Alma enters a transformation sequence towards the end of the film relates to a similar sequence in Avatar where the marine becomes the one of the Avatar species. Yes it isn’t the same but the boy became something that is not human, and that is enough to relate to Avatar. And is enough for this to be a prelude to Avatar.

Aside from the relation to Avatar, this film sends out a very important message to parents and their children. It is basically telling kids to always hold their parents hands and never go into unknown places alone, even if you are curious, cause you never know what could happen. It is also saying that parents should never let their kids wander off alone. These important message sit strongly in the film and even though to some it may seem vague, it is there in its creepy form.

The animation is similar to that of Shrek, Toy Story, and just basically Pixar’s works in general. This is because of the smoothness and and texture of the objects and characters. This film is a little flaky in some parts of its animation, but that is necessary to portray the message and this old-style winter theme. Even though the animation could never live up to Pixar and Disney in terms of its animation, it does a very could job of effect in terms of transformation, vanishing, and creepiness. It also does a good job in terms of scenery, detail and realism. The realism helps portray that important message and pushes the animation to a higher level that has won the film awards. It also makes the film more enjoyable to watch. (Even if there are some What The Fuck moments)

The music reminds me that of Mozart. It feels sad, negative, and augmented. Now, I am not saying that any of Mozart’s music is negative, sad, or augmented. It is just that they music in this film seems that way. This does help strengthen the unique message it portrays. It does add to the creepiness and can make us feel worried about what could happen to Alma and the doll. But it really takes its effect at the end and boy does that send chill shivers down my back. The music is well suited for the short film and even won the film an award.

Like most short films, this one can be found on Youtube. However, unlike the majority of short films made, this one went further than Youtube. It has its own website known as http://almashortfilm.com/. This short films has been to numerous short film festivals and has a vaste list of awards that it has received. These awards include; Best Animation LASHORTSFEST July 2009, and Best Opera Prima I CASTELLI ANIMATI November 2009. Its festival vists include the ones above and various other viewings across the world.

Made by Rodrigo Blaas as his first short film directed and with a extensive list of professionals including; French animator Bolhem Bouchiba, character designer Carlos Grangel, and sound designer Tom Myers. This is a short film that deserves that treatment it got and it is worth a watch. I wonder if James Cameron viewed this and got some ideas before he made Avatar?

Rating: 3 ½ / 5 Rubber Chickens

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