Strange Invaders

While FOR THE BIRDS copped the Oscar in 2002 for Best Animated Short Film and definitely deserved the award, nominee STRANGE INVADERS really captured my heart. While FOR THE BIRDS had top-notch graphics and an amazingly likable and cute story, there was a certain bizarreness about STRANGE INVADERS that made me laugh even harder than I did with FOR THE BIRDS.

To begin with, the animation looked as if you took the animators from the BOB & MARGARET television series and got them seriously drunk. While the style is similar, the quality of the animation isn't great. However, this is actually a bit of it's charm, as the styling and colors used all really made the most of this ultra-simplistic hand drawn approach. However, the big star of this animation is the writing--with some of the most surreal and just plain strange plot elements I've ever seen on film. Suffice to say, it's a lot like the old classic film VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED--but funny!! For normal folks, you must see FOR THE BIRDS. For weirdos and lovers of the fringe, you must see STRANGE INVADERS--a delightfully wacky alternative to all the polish of FOR THE BIRDS.