Narrowed down from an amazing 2000+ entries, this year’s survey of the best in animated short films covers the gamut from sumptuous painterly Russian styles to the most inventive and expressive CGI, including NZ-made Poppy.
Films — by Country
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Aotearoa New Zealand
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Korea
- Mexico
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- The Netherlands
- UK
- USA
Japan
Departures
Okuribito
Academy Award 2009: Best Foreign Film. In this beautifully performed character study an unemployed cellist finds fulfilment and a depth of human connection in the most unlikely profession.
Love Exposure
Ai no mukidashi
A delirious and hypnotic masterwork of epic proportions complete with Catholic guilt, kick-ass kung fu schoolgirls, a loony cult and upskirt photography. “This movie will cleanse you of your sins and leave you horny as hell.” — NY Asian Film Festival
Ponyo
Gake no ue no Ponyo
The latest enthralling masterpiece of all-ages wonderment from Japanese animation genius Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away). “Great fantasy and charm… Will delight children ages three to 100.” — Hollywood Reporter
Red Cliff
Chi bi
Action maestro John Woo returns to China for this historical epic, the biggest budget Asian movie ever made. “Ratchets the entertainment factor up to 11.” — Japan Times. With Tony Leung, Kaneshiro Takeshi.
SIGGRAPH Asia 2008 Highlights #2 – Asian Panorama
The best of recent Asian CGI shorts – narratives, ads, music videos – as selected from a 1000 entries at the prestigious SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques) Asia Festival.
The Sky Crawlers
Sukai kurora
Spectacular anime from the maker of Ghost in the Shell tells the story of a group of genetically modified eternally-young fighter aces in a world where war has become a company-sponsored reality game.
Still Walking
Aruitemo aruitemo
“This sublimely poignant character study will likely… be recognised in time as one of the best Japanese family dramas ever put on film.” — Time Out Hong Kong. From the director of Nobody Knows and After Life.