Bunny

Sometimes I read reviews by other users on the IMDb as I write my own and I made the mistake of doing that for this film. Only about 15 people have written reviews at the time I am writing this, but as is generally the case, I was astounded at some of the things that people had to say about this brilliant film. Just as many people praised the quality of the animation as people who pointed it out as a way to see how far animation has come since it was released. One user even wrote that the animation was clearly dated, as though it were old and unimpressive. What is truly odd is that I think that the person who wrote that has written more reviews on the IMDb than anyone else on the site, and yet he completely missed the fact that the ragged, worn out stuffed-animal appearance of Bunny is all animated. This is not go-motion, it's pure animation and it's absolutely stunning.

Even more astounding were a couple of complaints that the ending was stupid, or confusing. At the moment I'm having a hard time deciding which of these ludicrous claims is more foolish. The movie is an animated short with more of a somber feel than the typical animated short, and deals with what might happen to people when they die. This is, of course, all explained in the intro to the film, although had I not watched it I find it hard to believe that I would have been confused by an ending that featured an elderly bunny rabbit crawling into her oven and then flying into a white light, especially since she sprouts wings on the way. Director Chris Wedge describes it as sort of a fun way to look at the reality of death if, as Tigger might say, you can imaginate such a thing.

The entire film is very quiet and almost depressing, even when we identify with Bunny for wanting to get rid of the pesky moth, she shuts it outside in the dark, turning off the porch light and leaving it in darkness, at which point feelings of annoyance turn instantly into feelings of sympathy. In the space of no more than a second or two we go from wanting to swat the moth to wanting to bring it back inside. This, I have to say, is absolutely brilliant screen writing (by the way, another IMDb user made the astonishing comment that animated short films should stick entirely to comedy and cuteness, which itself is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on this site or anywhere else. I personally take it to be the same as saying that female actors should stick to romantic comedies).

There are lots of clever touches in the film, such as the fact that Bunny uses a walker just as any aging woman would, but she still hops along with it. It's one of those things that you wouldn't even think about but that add tremendously to her character when you see it. Bunny is, even without the hopping, probably the most complex character that you could hope to see developed in a 7 1/2 minute animated film without a syllable of dialogue. She has lost her husband, lives alone, and while we want to feel sympathy for her (and ultimately do), it is unsettling that she shuts the moth out in total darkness, almost as though she were starving it, and then even more unsettling that she swats it dead, stirs it viciously into her batter and loses her temper, hurling it into the oven and slamming the door with what must be the great majority of her might.

When she falls asleep just afterwards, it is, as Chris Wedge explains in the intro, her symbolic death, and the film changes drastically from a lonely old woman cooking alone in her lonely cabin and into a portrayal of her path to Heaven and reunion with her lost husband.

What I especially like is that the movie never becomes preachy, it doesn't show her becoming young again and dancing in Heaven with her husband, it simply shows her growing wings on her way into the light and then, in possibly the most moving few seconds that have ever been animated, there is a dissolve to her and her husband's wedding photo and moths fly up behind them, superimposing angel's wings onto the photo.

My grandfather passed away recently and, since I own an editing studio, I made a video eulogy using family pictures that spanned something like the last 30 years, and am now making DVD copies to send out to my 10 aunts and uncles and countless cousins, and I ended the video with my grandparents' black and white wedding photo from the early 1950s in Colombia and superimposed it over a short clip of the sun shining through moving clouds. It is truly a moving video, so I can clearly understand the motivation behind Chris Wedge using it as an ending. I feel honored to have had a similar idea, and even more disturbed that anyone would call it stupid or confusing.

This is finally an animated short film that is not about it's animation, unlike Scrat's Missing Adventure, Boundin', and even Geri's Game, which is one of the cleverest and most charming animated short films I've ever seen. All of these are wonderful and fun animated short films, but none of them approach the power of Bunny.

Bravo.

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.

An elderly rabbit, widowed after many years of marriage, lives alone in her house. One evening she is baking when she is continually bothered by a moth in her kitchen. However is the moth only there due to her bright light and open window or does it have another purpose?

The Oscar winner from a few years back for best animated short shows today what huge leaps have been made in the field of animation. That is not to say that it is poor but it certainly looks dated despite being only a few years old already.

While the animation may not stack up it is still effective and it is easy to forget you're watching an animated rabbit. I'm not suggesting it looks realistic, only that it is given sufficient character to allow the viewer to forget the technology involved in creating her. The plot is a little sombre but quite thoughtful and encouraging. Given that it is on the Ice Age (I think) DVD viewers may expect it to have that sense of humour, however it is more clever than funny.

It doesn't make a great deal of sense but it is quite nice and it still looks good unless you're expecting it to compete with the most recent CGI creation – in which case it can't and won't. However an interesting short that shows how far the field has come so quickly.

I saw it on video, and it was impressive - very sweet & funny, and the animation is unbelievable. I can't wait to see it in a theater- its coming to Film Forum in New York City in May. I loved it.

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.