This brilliant spoof of alien abduction stories is the first film from famed soundman Gary Rydstrom. Of course, the sound is perfect, but Rydstrom translates his sound skills to make a hilarious short with perfect timing.
In the story, teen alien Stu must look over a huge board of switches to lift a deeply slumbering farmer from his bed. For each mistake, the looming glutinous supervisor, Mr. B, scribbles down notes on a clip board. Will Stu succeed or will be lose his cool?
Rydstrom's timing and pacing is impeccable. For all intents and purposes, the film is a single joke, however it's still funny upon repeated viewings. The slapstick is perfectly combined with character. Stu's reactions are wonderfully exaggerated. There is a classic squash and stretch cartoon vibe to this short, which is a landmark for CG animation. The character design is also superb. The gelatin-like bodies of the aliens are unique. Stu with his oversized helmet adds to the character's emotions and personalities. You get a quick sense that he is young and inexperienced just by his look, while you sense the opposite from the stoic Mr. B.
Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short, LIFTED is one of Pixar's best shorts, ranking right up with LUXO JR. and GERI'S GAME.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
