Description - An animated short film which, with the help of multiple Zoetropes, tells the tragic story of a little lamb, loosely based on the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale.The Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale provides the main storyline. However, the roles of the humans and animals are exchanged: the human characters in the film are depicted as anthropomorphous animals. The animal in the story, the big bad wolf, is here a human being.
Little Red Riding Hood's family consists of the mother sheep, the lamb (Little Red Riding Hood) and a grandfather sheep. The forester and his wife are dogs with a soft spot for sausages. The wolf, a butcher, is a man with a serious problem - he has run out of meat.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I found the animated short, The Sausage Run, very engaging. The visual qualities and the concepts are exciting and clever. I was engaged immediately and watched it more than once to allow myself opportunity to see more details.
This film portrays three generations of sheep and the impact of humans or animals representing humans on the sheep family, using the Little Red Riding Hood story as a takeoff point.
Even without dialogue, the story is very easy to follow. The use of a zoetrope (optical disk) is very cleverly incorporated into the film. The protagonists conduct their lives in five separate zoetrope. The representations of animal demise is cleverly done and thought provoking at same time. The animation is excellent, although there are some specks on the video that make it look as if it's an old film print. As the various story threads progress, the viewer descends into each of the circles and thus has a feeling of overseeing each character's purpose in the story. The characters are all well imagined and drawn and the costumes they wear help clearly identify their individual roles. It's set in a forest with remote huts, which helps support the Little Red Riding Hood theme. The background music works very well in setting the pace and enhancing the emotions. The main characters are sheep and the generational gap between them is clearly and easily denoted. The main human's purpose and impact on their lives is very well shown. A dog serves as the park ranger; his role is both as protector and possibly a threat at same time, which is a clever use of the character traits. The film certainly makes the viewer interested in the concept of zoetropes and wanting to know more about them plus it brings up the question of using animals as food.
The message of the film is about the impact of humans using animals for food. It does contain acts of violence and, while the violence is implied by a blank screen, it is an important part of the story. One character has a knife and another has a gun, both of which are implied as the implements of death. Also, we see the resultant sausages, presumably made from one of the animals.
I give The Sausage Run 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. While the subject and content could be upsetting to some people, the beautiful nature of the animation and the different concept of zoetrope is very interesting and many people will enjoy that unique aspect of this film.
Reviewed by Richard L., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - found the animated short, The Sausage Run, very engaging. The visual qualities and the concepts are exciting and clever. I was engaged immediately and watched it more than once to allow myself opportunity to see more details.
This film portrays three generations of sheep and the impact of humans or animals representing humans on the sheep family, using the Little Red Riding Hood story as a takeoff point.
Even without dialogue, the story is very easy to follow. The use of a zoetrope (optical disk) is very cleverly incorporated into the film. The protagonists conduct their lives in five separate zoetrope. The representations of animal demise is cleverly done and thought provoking at same time. The animation is excellent, although there are some specks on the video that make it look as if it's an old film print. As the various story threads progress, the viewer descends into each of the circles and thus has a feeling of overseeing each character's purpose in the story. The characters are all well imagined and drawn and the costumes they wear help clearly identify their individual roles. It's set in a forest with remote huts, which helps support the Little Red Riding Hood theme. The background music works very well in setting the pace and enhancing the emotions. The main characters are sheep and the generational gap between them is clearly and easily denoted. The main human's purpose and impact on their lives is very well shown. A dog serves as the park ranger; his role is both as protector and possibly a threat at same time, which is a clever use of the character traits. The film certainly makes the viewer interested in the concept of zoetropes and wanting to know more about them plus it brings up the question of using animals as food.
The message of the film is about the impact of humans using animals for food. It does contain acts of violence and, while the violence is implied by a blank screen, it is an important part of the story. One character has a knife and another has a gun, both of which are implied as the implements of death. Also, we see the resultant sausages, presumably made from one of the animals.
I give The Sausage Run 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. While the subject and content could be upsetting to some people, the beautiful nature of the animation and the different concept of zoetrope is very interesting and many people will enjoy that unique aspect of this film.
Reviewed by Richard L., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 10 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 12-18
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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RUMPA - BENTE MAALEN
Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGE 13-18
Description - Fifteen-year-old Pauline commits social suicide in class and in front of her idol, film star Ingvar Lykke, when she accidentally posts a private snap. But instead of dying of shame, she rebels against an ocean of unwritten rules.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - What I like about Rumpa is that we watch a young girl standing up to her idol and for what she believes. She is not afraid to say what she believes about him, even though she used to idolize him. She stands up in front of the whole class when she knows that she will be made fun of and tells the entire class that what her idol was saying was wrong.A young girl's idol comes into her class. She does not agree with what he says when talking in a character and tells the class that.
I like that the storyline gives context for why the young girl acts the way she does. It follows a story arc that makes sense. The camera work is very good. The shots in the bathroom stall impressed me the most, because we see both the young girl and her best friend in two separate stalls talking through the wall, which makes it more dramatic. The sets suit the story; it takes place in a school. The music when the protagonist is daydreaming enhances the feelings she has towards the actor at that time. The music is dramatic and kind of romantic. I particularly like the ending song. Pauline (Milla Reppen-Gjelseth)'s character development is well sequenced; you can tell that she has idolized the actor for a long time and we also see that she does not like to be made fun of. Her speech to him is spot on, well delivered. I especially like when she calls him on thinking that Ophelia's suicide is romantic - and points out how it is an issue with teens today. That is very well spoken and poignant. Martin's (Siver Sablagi-Eltoft) character development also is handled well; from the beginning you can tell that he is in love with Pauline and it develops naturally throughout the short film. The story flows very well. My favorite part of the film is the ending because it shows that her best friend is there for her always. The dialogue is in Norwegian with English subtitles.
The message is to stand up for what you believe. There is some partial nudity when one character has his shirt off; another person is in front of him so you hardly notice it.
I give Rumpa 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18, plus adults. By Lorelei T. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - What I like about Rumpa is that we watch a young girl standing up to her idol and for what she believes. She is not afraid to say what she believes about him, even though she used to idolize him. She stands up in front of the whole class when she knows that she will be made fun of and tells the entire class that what her idol was saying was wrong.
A young girl's idol comes into her class. She does not agree with what he says when talking in a character and tells the class that.
I like that the storyline gives context for why the young girl acts the way she does. It follows a story arc that makes sense. The camera work is very good. The shots in the bathroom stall impressed me the most, because we see both the young girl and her best friend in two separate stalls talking through the wall, which makes it more dramatic. The sets suit the story; it takes place in a school. The music when the protagonist is daydreaming enhances the feelings she has towards the actor at that time. The music is dramatic and kind of romantic. I particularly like the ending song. Pauline (Milla Reppen-Gjelseth)'s character development is well sequenced; you can tell that she has idolized the actor for a long time and we also see that she does not like to be made fun of. Her speech to him is spot on, well delivered. I especially like when she calls him on thinking that Ophelia's suicide is romantic - and points out how it is an issue with teens today. That is very well spoken and poignant. Martin's (Siver Sablagi-Eltoft) character development also is handled well; from the beginning you can tell that he is in love with Pauline and it develops naturally throughout the short film. The story flows very well. My favorite part of the film is the ending because it shows that her best friend is there for her always. The dialogue is in Norwegian with English subtitles.
The message is to stand up for what you believe. There is some partial nudity when one character has his shirt off; another person is in front of him so you hardly notice it.
I give Rumpa 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18, plus adults. By Lorelei T. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 14 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 12-18
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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BUNNY OR MONKEY? - ANNA LOBACHEVA
Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 3-6
Description - The animated series touches upon the problem of self-identification of children born in mixed-race families, using the example of a 5-year-old girl named Zabezoo, whose mother is a rabbit doe and father is a monkey.Zabezoo gazed at her grandparents' family photos for a very long time. When she looked in the mirror She couldn't get this one big question out her mind.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Bunny or Monkey is an adorable animated short that I really like. It is a bit childish, but it is cute and has a good lesson behind it.
The storyline follows Zaebezoo, the protagonist, who wants to know if she is a monkey or a bunny. So Zaebezoo goes around asking both of her parents which one she is and, in the end, she finds out that she does not have to be told or choose.
I like that the story has a purpose and that, in the end, the main character learns something. The 2D animation is cute and adorable. The little costumes fit the characters personalities so well and they also fit the storyline. There are different locations, which is another reason why I like it. Zaebezoo's house and front yard are very detailed.
The music in the story seems to be spot on. There are visual effects when Zaebezoo is thinking about all the different foods and it looks cool. There are four characters in this short: the bully is the guy who made Zaebezoo insecure in the first place; the dad is part monkey and tells her that she is a monkey first; the mom is a bunny who tells her that she is a bunny first. There is character development with Zaebezoo where she realizes that she does not have to be a bunny or a monkey; she can be both. She realizes this when she sees a sun shower for the first time. I learned that I can be more than one thing if I want to be. My favorite part is when Zaebezoo finds out that she can just be herself, which is more than one thing.
The message is to be who you want and don't question yourself because of others.
I give Bunny or Monkey 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 6.
SaniyaRain F., KIDS FIRST
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Bunny or Monkey is an adorable animated short that I really like. It is a bit childish, but it is cute and has a good lesson behind it.
The storyline follows Zaebezoo, the protagonist, who wants to know if she is a monkey or a bunny. So Zaebezoo goes around asking both of her parents which one she is and, in the end, she finds out that she does not have to be told or choose.
I like that the story has a purpose and that, in the end, the main character learns something. The 2D animation is cute and adorable. The little costumes fit the characters personalities so well and they also fit the storyline. There are different locations, which is another reason why I like it. Zaebezoo's house and front yard are very detailed.
The music in the story seems to be spot on. There are visual effects when Zaebezoo is thinking about all the different foods and it looks cool. There are four characters in this short: the bully is the guy who made Zaebezoo insecure in the first place; the dad is part monkey and tells her that she is a monkey first; the mom is a bunny who tells her that she is a bunny first. There is character development with Zaebezoo where she realizes that she does not have to be a bunny or a monkey; she can be both. She realizes this when she sees a sun shower for the first time. I learned that I can be more than one thing if I want to be. My favorite part is when Zaebezoo finds out that she can just be herself, which is more than one thing.
The message is to be who you want and don't question yourself because of others.
I give Bunny or Monkey 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 6.
SaniyaRain F., KIDS FIRST
Runtime: 6 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 3-6
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
