Zacharias Kunuk is the director of stop-motion Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice. It’s one of 15 animated short films vying for the 2022 Oscar prize. Kunuk details some of the key visual and story strengths for Animation Scoop. (This interview was conducted as an Email Q&A.) Jackson Murphy: The film shows a strong, unique relationship between […]

In a year filled with unique shorts vying for the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award, director Claude Cloutier’s Bad Seeds is certainly unforgettable. In this Email Q&A, Cloutier describes what went into making his Oscar shortlisted entry. Jackson Murphy: How did you come up with the concept? Claude Cloutier: The concept for Bad Seeds […]

One of this year’s Oscars Animated Short Film finalists is Mum Is Pouring Rain, from director Hugo De Faucompret. It’s a hand-drawn short about a girl named Jane who tries to find happiness and hope during the holidays as her mum is struggling with depression. De Faucompret discusses all aspects of his wholesome short in […]

The Musician is directed by Reza Riahi and produced by Eleanor Coleman. It’s a dramatic animated short about an unexpected reunion between a man and a woman during the attack of the Mongols. This powerful story and stop-motion, paper cut-out techniques helped earn The Musician Best Animated Short Film honors at last year’s Tribeca Film […]

Director Alberto Mielgo’s painted animated short The Windshield Wiper is one of the 15 finalists for the upcoming Best Animated Short Film Academy Award. The Emmy and Annie Award winning Mielgo (of Love, Death & Robots and TRON: Uprising), explores the state of romantic relationships around the world in honest and visually striking ways. He […]

Erick Oh was Oscar nominated last year for his enthralling animated short film Opera. He could be on the ballot again this year for his latest, personal animated short, Namoo, which is one of the category’s 15 finalists. I spoke with Oh over Zoom about this unique time in his life and what he hopes […]

As Animation Scoop continues its in-depth look at all 15 of this year’s Best Animated Short Film Oscar finalists, the spotlight now shines on Flowing Home, a drama from director Sandra Desmazières. In this Email Q&A, Desmazières explains the significance of her short and how its story and visuals will impact audiences. Jackson Murphy: What […]

With the Oscar nominations just a little over a month away, another contender emerges in the Best Animated Short Film category. One of the 15 finalists is Step Into the River, from director and animation teacher Weijia Ma. She joined me over Zoom from Shanghai for this Animation Scoop Q&A. (This interview was edited for […]

Hugo Covarrubias is having a very good 2022 so far. His dramatic animated short Bestia is one of the 15 finalists for the Best Animated Short Film Oscar. It’s already nominated in the same category at the Annie Awards. And later this month, Bestia will be shown at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Covarrubias takes […]

Michaela Mihalyi and David Stumpf are the directors of the wild animated short film with a memorable title: Sh_t Happens. After successful Sundance and Venice showings, this saga of a man, his wife, a deer and the terrible things that can happen in the average day, is vying for Oscar and Annie Awards consideration. Mihalyi […]

The Fabric of You comes from writer/director Josephine Lohoar Self. After making waves overseas, this stop-motion short is vying for Best Animated Short Film awards consideration in America. Self’s bold story, about the memories of two male mice falling in love in the ’50s, is structured with a great deal of thought and attention to […]