Bunny

In the world of computer animation we often see very visually impressive feats but it is very rare we see stories just as impressive. Bunny is a simple and touching tale of love and loneliness. When I first saw stills I assumed it was stop motion because the character was so warm and real. Quite an achievement.

This won the Academy Award for Animated Short and it's easy to see why, even in a fairly strong field of nominees. The technical aspects alone would justify the award. It's a visually arresting cartoon. I've seen much less attention to detail in "set decoration" in feature-length live-action films! But the visuals are only part of the tale here-indeed, it is the tale itself that is at the heart of things here. The characters matter, the interactions make sense and the story is interesting to the viewer (although, at least in my opinion, the primary reason this won out over another nominee was the superior visual look and feel of Bunny and the race was close there, as well. Too bad they didn't end up tied) without becoming cloying at the end. Good to see this getting wider release on the DVD of the feature Ice Age, by the same studio. Let's hope features don't take up all their time and energy, so that they can occasionally give us a shorter marvel like this. Well worth watching. Most highly recommended.

First of all let me say that this short film had some of the most impressive computer animation I've ever seen in my life. Truly impressive and mesmerizing.

I do have one major complaint though. The story is friggin' stupid! I'm sorry but my personal belief is that an animated short film should NEVER try to be dramatic, stick to pure comedy and cuteness. Maybe it's just that I was expecting something else having seen "Ice Age" before "Bunny", but I was just waiting for something funny to happen and it never came. The whole oven/portal thing was lame! Maybe it's just my ignorance, but if it wasn't for the commentary on the "Ice Age" dvd I wouldn't have understood what the writers/animators were trying to say at all.

I'm sorry, but I thought the story was just boring and stupid, but the animation was excellent. I will say this though, the little moth was pretty cute (and extremely well done). In any case, I would definitely still recommend seeing this short film (despite my dislike for the story), due to the animation and it's extremely short length. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading.

-Chris

This is a lovely example of computer generated animation--especially for 1998. While during the last few years, CGI has been so common that even novices can make nice films thanks to readily available rendering software, for 1998, this was a pretty spectacular film. Remember--back in 1998, the ONLY game in town for this type of animation was Pixar--this was three years before Dreamworks released Shrek. So hats off to some lovely animation--it must have involved a lot of hard work.

Now as for the story, I saw the film and read many of the reviews and I am left feeling that I must be a pretty shallow person. I could have cared less about the significance of the film and the oven scene--I just wanted to laugh or care about this film but didn't. For some, this is fantastic symbolism. For me, it's just really nice animation.

FYI--This film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

A great animated piece is one that satisfies the basic elements of story, art, and sound emotion; but a true masterpiece transcends these essentials and brings forth the artistry of humanity. Such is the case of Chris Wedge's (Blue Sky Studios) "Bunny." Through stunning visuals and a heart-warming story of an anthropormorphic metamorphosis, "Bunny" is a flawless example of genuine animation. Although the story will most likely be misunderstood by children, it will bring a smile to their face none the less. I was touched by Chris' animated piece and I find it so rare to find an short (especially one that is only 7 minutes long) that brings such strong convictions.

Baking alone in her weathered house, hearing only the sounds of the lonely night, "Bunny" receives an unexpected visitor: a nocturnal pest. Searching for the light in such an unachievable manner, a single moth clinks and clanks upon "Bunny's" fixtures. The old ragged "Bunny" persistently tries to remove the hairy moth, but to no avail, the moth is slow to quit on its mission. Through anger and fury brings raw and nostalgic yearnings; her past is awakened while rays of light cover the darkness. Through fantasy and hope, "Bunny's" life is finally fulfilled.

Computer animation is a timely medium. The style and appearance of the film gradually surpasses its predecessor with the rate of technology. Only the story is set in stone. This aside, Chris Wedge and Blue Sky Studios have made the most visually stunning piece of animated film to date. Utilizing the latest in CGI technology and a technique called "radiosity" which replicates light in its most purest form, "Bunny" exhibits a sense of realism that has never been captured until now. The most subtle details are committed to precise accuracy: the fur on "Bunny's" body, the shadows and glares upon glass, and the camera selections and movements all contribute to its excellence.

"Bunny" won my heart over as it would do to any individual. It has proved to be one of the greatest computer animated shorts in all aspects of the medium in recent history.