Within the world of animation, most experimentation occurs within short format productions, whether they be high-budgeted commercials, low-budgeted independent shorts or something in between. The growing number of short film festivals around the world attest to the vitality of these works, but there are few other venues for exhibition of them or even written reviews. As a result, distribution tends to be difficult and irregular. On a regular basis, Animation World Magazine will highlight some of the most interesting with short, descriptive overviews.

If you have the QuickTime plug-in, you can view a clip from each film by simply clicking the image.

This Month:

The Hunger Artist (2002), 15:50 minutes, directed by Tom Gibbons, U.S. Contact: tgibbbons@escfx.com

Eternal Gaze (2003), 15:50 minutes, directed by Sam Chen, U.S. Website: www.EternalGaze.com

Rockfish (2003), 8 minutes, directed by Tim Miller, U.S. Contact: Sherry Wallace, Blur Studios. 310.581.8848; Email: sherry@blur.com; Keith Gayhart, Artisans PR. 310.837.6008; Email: kgayhart@artisanspr.com

Nibbles (2003), 4:34 minutes, directed by Chris Hinton; Canada; produced by Ron Diamond, U.S. Contact: Rebecca Battle, Acme Filmworks. 323.606.4203; Email: pr@acmefilmworks.com

Destino (2003), 6:40 minutes, directed by Dominique Monfrey, France; produced by Baker Bloodworth, U.S., executive produced by Roy E. Disney, U.S., created by Salvador Dali, Spain. Contact: Howard Green, Walt Disney Studios. Email: howard.green@disney.com

Gone Nutty (2002), 4:45 minutes, directed by Carlos Saldanha, Brazil; produced by John Donkin, U.S. Contact: Linda Zazza, Blue Sky Studios. Email: Linda@blueskystudios.com

It’s Oscar® time! That’s Oscar® with a ®, pardner! Oscar® Oscar® Oscar®. Yes, the Grouch has never had it so good. Thirty years on Sesame Street, and the green guy in the trashcan is looking fit, tousled, and ready to kvetch. Also, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is making its annual awards presentation. Cheers everybody. Five films have been nominated for Best Short Film (Animated): noble efforts all, surely. But before the survey of nominees, a look at a few short listed shorts that will not be feted on February 29,, 2004.