Canada Vignettes: Trees

Rocky and Bullwinkle

October 2014 •English

After receiving the key to the city for their heroic efforts, Rocket J. Squirrel notices that Bullwinkle falls in love with a robotic moose. Unbeknownst to him, inside the moose is Boris Badinov, who, along with Natasha Fatale and Fearless Leader, are carrying out another plan to eliminate Rocky & Bullwinkle.

THEM

July 2019 •

A son, banished from his village for refusing to worship a false idol, bears witness to the brewing conflict beyond that may likely destroy civilisation itself.

Summer Ghost

November 2021 •Japanese

An urban legend says that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will beckon the "summer ghost," a spirit that can answer any question. Three teenagers, Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo, each have their own reason to show up one day. When a ghost named Ayane appears, she reveals she is only visible to those "who are about to touch their death." Compelled by the ghost and her message, Tomoya begins regularly visiting the airfield to uncover the true purpose of her visits.

Party Central

February 2014 •English

Mike and Sulley are back at Monsters University for a fun-filled weekend with their Oozma Kappa fraternity brothers. The gang is throwing their first party, but no one’s showing up. Luckily for them, Mike and Sulley have come up with a plan to make sure “Party Central” is the most epic party the school has ever seen.

The Tower

January 1984 •English

In this early work and collaboration between sisters Emily and Georgia, a figure journeys through a bewildering, menacing world. The film was created using a plethora of materials, including color-changing children’s markers and spray paint, and many of the specialized supplies, like cels, cel paint, and grease pencils, were leftovers from their parents’ famed Hubley Studios.

Ombr

June 2024 •

Cedric

January 2006 •German

Death as a global service provider? Unthinkable! So far Death has thought that too. But then his nephew Cedric had the crazy idea of founding the company AFTER LIFE while his uncle was away. This company takes over the craft of death with the latest technology and markets it worldwide.

I Love Hooligans

September 2013 •Dutch

A football hooligan feels unconditional love for his club. However, being gay, he has to hide his identity in order to survive in this world that is so precious to him.

Howl from Beyond the Fog

July 2019 •Japanese

Set during the Meiji reformation era in a small village in Kyushu, Japan. The story revolves around a young boy named Izana and a blind woman named Takiri, the two encounter the large monster Nebula who since ancient times was feared as the god of lake Amenosagiri. Theme of the film focuses on the Japanese concept of light and darkness, as told by puppetry and model miniaturization of the films’ world with practical special effects by Keizo Murase.

Zing

May 2011 •

Day in, day out, Mr. Grimm is busy with his job as the Reaper, harvesting people's lives. One day, his monotonous existence is interrupted by the door bell. It's a little girl. She wants her cat back. Little does she know that she's the next life on Mr. Grimm's list.

The Buffalo Boy and His Flute

December 1963 •Chinese

A young boy who likes to play the flute dreams that he has lost his water buffalo.

The Radical

August 2019 •English

This beautiful short, commissioned by UCLan’s Creative Innovation Zone, is an intricate hand-drawn journey through the life of a local activist, George Dewhurst. An ordinary working man from Blackburn, George was charged with High Treason, shortly after The Peterloo Massacre in August 1819, for speaking at a gathering of workers in Burnley. Narrated by one of George's descendants, 8-year-old Monty Speed, this beautiful animated montage depicts events in George's life in the year 1819, following a quest by descendants to uncover his grave and raise awareness of his story.

In The Bird World

February 1974 •Ukrainian

Short humorous sketches. The first is called "solid character", and it describes the history of a tough chick, which was brought to a hairdresser for the first time. The second is about the uncomplicated life of a bird, which, however, did not prevent her from publishing own memoirs. The last story, "Fathers and Sons" tells of the relationship of adults and offspring.

The Leader

February 1978 •Ukrainian

The leader of a flock of geese talks about the cruelty of people, but not all of them.

The Tree and the Cat

February 1983 •Ukrainian

Away from people, animals, forests and fields stood a very tall tree. It did not need anyone, it was completely indifferent to everyone. Once a cat wanted to learn the style of life of the tree, which has allowed her to stay near it, so that she could take over its attitude to everything around. But eventually the cat affects the tree as well...

The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper

September 2005 •English

During the holiday season, when the animals of the Central Park Zoo are preparing for Christmas, Private, the youngest of the penguins notices that the Polar Bear is all alone. Assured that nobody should have to spend Christmas alone, Private goes into the city for some last-minute Christmas shopping. Along the way, he gets stuffed into a stocking

Big Buck Bunny

April 2008 •English

Follow a day of the life of Big Buck Bunny when he meets three bullying rodents: Frank, Rinky, and Gamera. The rodents amuse themselves by harassing helpless creatures by throwing fruits, nuts and rocks at them. After the deaths of two of Bunny's favorite butterflies, and an offensive attack on Bunny himself, Bunny sets aside his gentle nature and orchestrates a complex plan for revenge.

Gone Fishing

February 2017 •English

On Motunui, Maui tries to catch a fish with his magical fishhook, only to be comically foiled by the ocean.

Dear Diary: World's First Pranks

February 2021 •English

Eep reveals how a comical accident led her and Dawn to discover the joys of tricking their families and set about performing "the world's first pranks."

Knock at the Door

March 2000 •

Journey of a man's visit to an all-male sex club bathhouse.