The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012: Animation

Why Did the Dinosaurs Disappear?

January 2011 •Spanish

Short film based on the idea of what it would be possible to see the earth from a distance so that allowed us to see their past, see the dinosaurs, Romans, our grandparents.

Words, Words, Words

June 1993 •Czech

In a cafe, people talk, their words become expresively-shaped balloons. An older waiter tries to connect with a young woman who's reading. She brushes him off, but gets into an animated and romantic conversation with a young man. A dog goes from table to table drinking beer and wine when people aren't looking. Older men talk about sexual conquests until one of their wives interrupts them. The young couple argues; he starts to leave, she pleads, he leaves anyway. The waiter tries to help. Old guys talk until they nod off. Women chat. Later, as the waiter cleans up, the finds the young woman's book. He sighs, the dog sleeps it off.

Christmas at Moose Factory

January 1971 •English

A study of life at Christmastime in Moose Factory, an old settlement mainly composed of Cree families on the shore of James Bay, composed entirely of children's crayon drawings and narrated by children.

The Street

June 1977 •English

This film deals with a Jewish family in Montreal, Canada as they care for a dying grandmother and the young boy who is impatient to get the room he was promised as soon as she kicks the bucket.

Bao

June 2018 •English

An aging Chinese mother suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively, giggly dumpling boy.

Mr. Frog Went A-Courting

January 1974 •English

In this short film by animator Evelyn Lambart, a handsome frog courts and wins a mouse for his bride. The colourful animation does full justice to the events that take place during and after the wedding breakfast. Sung by Derek Lamb to lute accompaniment.

The Flying Machine 3D

February 2011 •English

A family takes a journey across the globe on a strange and amazing flying machine, experiencing a series of adventures along the way.

Wild Life

February 2011 •English

An English dreamer experiences both the beauty and harshness of nature when he relocates to the Canadian prairie.

The Falling Sky

June 2018 •English

Refashioning the original intention of footage lifted from an online animated news outlet, The Falling Sky is a cautionary tale about the inexplicable sea and the tumultuous sky—a poetic tour through the dense landscape of recent news in a recap of human foibles, follies and crises that are increasingly out of alignment with the forces of nature.

Le Tour Utrecht: Bon Voyage!

October 2014 •English

Tim has a romantic date to watch the start of the Tour the France in Utrecht with his girl. But he ends up at the wrong side of the barriers and has to find a way to get to her.

Distant Islands

January 1981 •English

This short animation uses appliqué and embroidered tapestries to recall a young girl's happy summers spent sailing with her family off the coast of British Columbia. Each tapestry, meticulously stitched by hand with brightly coloured yarns, evokes the memory of leisurely days at sea, drifting among the islands.

The Night Before Christmas

January 1951 •Russian

Based on the work of Nikolay Gogol. Handsome blacksmith Vakula who fell in love with village beauty, Oksana, is ready to do anything for her liking. Even to fly on the devil's back to Saint-Petersburg and ask the Empress for the slippers that he can present his sweetheart.

Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka

January 1953 •Russian

Soviet cartoon film, filmed in 1953 by the director-animator Olga Khodataeva based on the Russian folk tale.

Moth

May 2019 •English

A wandering through the primal emotions of birth, motherhood, body, nature, metamorphosis and dance.

Cartoon Noir

February 1999 •English

Six animated shorts eschew traditional animation by featuring supernatural elements and darker themes, such as alien snatchings, life among mannequins and a spiritual rebirth. Among the films are "Ape," which features a couple fighting over a cooked monkey every night; "The Story of the Cat and the Moon," which is a tale of unrequited love; and "Gentle Spirit," which is based on a Fyodor Dostoyevsky story.

The Eye & the Ear

January 1945 •English

Four types of visual interpretation of four songs by Karol Szymanowski. Polish words by Julian Tuwin, English translation by Jan Sliwinski.

The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda

January 1973 •Russian

A popular Soviet cartoon based on the classic fairy tale The Tale of the Priest and of his Workman Balda. The film is notable for its songs performed by one single actor Oleg Anfroiev using different voices.

Musical Insects

June 2013 •English

Film time takes on book time. An homage to a Bette J. Davis' illustrated text, itself an homage to the small music makers of the insect world.

The Star of Bethlehem

December 1956 •English

The Three Wise Men from the East follow the star to Bethlehem, but hostile spirits try to stop them on their journey.

The Little Chimney Sweep

June 1955 •English