My Year of Dicks

I went searching for this short after seeing someone complain about it being on Hulu. I figured if it made someone clutch their pearls online I would probably be interested. I was right.

I found this animated film to be incredibly well-done and relevant. The main character, Pam, had perfect and understandable reactions to certain things. Her inner monolog could've been my own when I was a teenager, and I thought her struggles and reactions were spot-on. Her friends, including her male friend, had appropriate behavior for teenagers, to include that "one friend" who always instigated risky behavior. I'm sure we all had that friend who always had questionable intentions.

With no spoilers, the ending great. Again, some of the events in each chapter literally could've been my own experience and, I'm sure, what teenagers now are going through. There was a feel-good message at the end that was great advice for any young woman, especially in the current societal pressures women in general face. I can definitely see why the film has received so many awards.

Road to the Oscars 2023. This short is nominated in 1 category and it´s animated short. Animated short is fun this year. It seems like a lot of wacky and weird things and not just the average. Now a lot has to happen to really make a short hit with me. This one really did it´s best and I liked what I saw. From the title and description, I was afraid it was going to be an artsy and vulgar short, but it was a pleasant and what felt like authentic story about how being a teenager sucks.

Pam is a young teenager telling you the story about how she is trying to lose her virginity and her year of dicks she´s been with.

The animation at display is a mixed and weird bag. The short shifts from a minimalistic and flat art style to different art styles in each chapter all depending on Pam's boyfriend. The art styles range from gothic art, neo, anime and some horrific art. Some art styles stand out more than others, I found chapter 1´s art style appealing and cool while chapter 3 had a really generic anime style. It´s interesting and fascinating how many different styles are used, and I was entertained all the way throughout. The main flat, boring and minimalistic art style reserved to real life while the rest is Pam´s fantasy, is unappealing to me. I think it´s that it´s too minimalistic. It doesn't really look like characters move and mouth flaps seem none existing at times. There is a lot to like here in terms of animation, but also a lot of things I didn't like.

This is a good idea for a story and the authenticity is the key to it. Without you believing in the character and their story, the short falls apart. It can seem a bit too predictable with the ending to an unrealistic degree, but I believe it. It´s a story about the anxiety, pressure, and terrible sexual encounters of our youth. Rather if it´s being scared for the first time, expecting romantic things, getting "the talk" with parents. It´s all relatable to a degree and it just feels authentic. I think everyone can find a small part of their past here or an encounter that relates just a little bit. Overall it´s about being a teenager sucks on so many levels.

There are some cool artistic choices and scenes here. The chapter two floor scene was cool. The fantasy scenes of chapter 1. The terrible talk scene in chapter 4. All shown and animated so well. Pam´s thoughts and feelings are shown beautifully through animation here and I really loved what it was going for.

The short is in 5 chapters and I think some stand out more than others. They also can feel like they undermined each other as the encounters don´t have a red thread but are different short stories from the same perspective. I forgot what happened in chapters I just watched, and while I enjoyed it, the short can feel a bit disjointed.

My year of dicks is both uncomfortable but also nice. It incapsulates the worst times and best times of being a teenager and dares to tell this story, a topic I feel like everyone is making jokes about now and also needs this more grounded look as it´s important to talk about no doubt. It´s a short that is uncomfortable, nice but mostly just an authentic tale of a young girls life.

Oscar predictions: I feel like this years animated short category is a bit broad and it´s hard to say who´s got the biggest chance. I liked this one more than the other I´ve seen but I think a short like this might be a bit too much for the academy, and as far as buzz goes, I don't think this is going to win. But hey, if it does, good on it.

The super cheesy narration of our young protagonist secret journal nicely embellishes the numerous animation styles presented ; continuously changing depending on the emotion or the effect any person in the scene has on her, which augments the ''could have been corny dialogue'' with some much-needed support by elevating what it tries to communicate quite successfully. It's also cool to have the 90s portrayed this well, especially since there isn't much cinema venturing into the nostalgia of that era. It's positively intimate, hilarious and intentionally cringy (in a good way). Favourite Oscar short of 2022.

I watched this film as part of my yearly oscar round up (best animated short) and was so struck by it that I felt like I needed to write a review. The film is (at the moment) available to watch for free on vimeo, do check it out.

The connection between this film and the work of Richard Linklater is easily made because of their similar visual style and use of rotoscoping animation. The film uses this technique quite smartely creating a sense of universality whilst remaining deeply personal. The mixing in of both real life footage as well as more fantastical animation works briliantly and enhances the aformentioned personal touch. We aren't just watching a story, we are experiencing the life of an actual person and are being drawn into their perspective. The rotoscoping technique, as a result of its intentionally rugged and crude finishing, not only brings us deeper into the mindset of the main character but also evokes the hazy memories of, and nostalgia for the 90's.

The connection with Linklater does not solely lie with its animation, its storytelling too very much reminds me of films of his. Just following a person around as they experience the awkward beauty of life, and love. Many will recognize elements of themselves in this film and look back at their early romantic endeavours with a mix of joy and dread, but hopefully mostly a sense of having learned from their past. The film jumps from failed relationship to failed hook up to failed one night stand, all with plentyfull teen angst. This angst and awkwardness is continuesly undercut with breezy comedy that one cannot help but smirk at. I wouldn't call the film a comedy, but that's what makes its humor so effective, it is everday, it is the kind off humor you would experience with your friends.

The voice-acting of the film fits perfectly with the tone and storytelling. You never contemplate that these are actors, the voices are those of the characters.

I haven't seen the other nominated films yet, but they would have to be hella great to beat this. Check it out. While you're add it also give Linklater's latest, Apollo 10 1/2 a watch on Netflix.

Saw this at the Brooklyn Film Festival and loved it. Gorgeous, unexpectedly emotional animation; beautiful writing; wonderful vocal performances. I've been thinking about it since I watched it. A 90's story in suburban Texas, but the feelings and yearnings and disappointments are universal.