Hollyshorts Film Festival – Kids & Family Animation

The offering of all ages programming this year at Hollyshorts Film Festival has offered topics that are relevant yet engaging. From the first monkey in space to children predicting the future of our species…no topic is off limits for all ages. It is especially fun for those in the younger category, making these stories something beautiful to watch through animation.  

Ham 

As part of the space program in the 1960’s, scientists decide to see if a monkey can handle the instructions to navigate launching into space and returning. Enter Ham, the first chimpanzee to head into space. Ham trains on basic toys to learn the controls of the ship he will pilot. On Earth, Ham is just a chimpanzee…but his ascent into space changes the course of his history and the history of space exploration indefinitely. 

Written and directed by Rudy Martinez, Ham places the story of the historic chimpanzee into a first-person narrative through the medium courtesy of Heather Henson and Handmade Puppet Dreams. While we watch Ham navigate his daily life of testing prior to launch, it is clear that he sees the games all as a form of play. Yet from space, the games begin to make sense and Ham’s fears of never returning to Earth are assuaged when he realizes those very games are what will help him make his descent back down. The story of Ham becomes a cute but relatable topic for young children in a story of understanding. 

The Brave Locomotive 

For little locomotive Linus and engineer Henry, life goes at a kinder, slower pace. Transporting people from station to station is what they love to do best. But when the Railroad Baron (Drew Jansen) introduces a new contract to Henry to man the much-larger, faster train Samson…poor Linus is relegated to the rail yard. However, what happens when Samson’s powerful engine and speed put the passengers in danger? Can Linus save them in time? 

What makes The Brave Locomotive an endearing story is the message it conveys. Dreamed up by Andrew Chesworth with music and lyrics by Tom Hambleton, this short film offers a meaning that resonates with all of us: sometimes bigger isn’t always better. While the Baron is eager to do things bigger and faster, it can also come with more consequences. Where Linus would stop for a turtle on the tracks, Samson would run over them. Linus allows passengers to enjoy the ride whereas Samson is motivated to get the job done. Not everything needs to be bigger, faster or more efficient. Sometimes being kind and taking the time to be in the moment is more important. 

Swing to the Moon 

What would you give to accomplish your dream? For one little spider eager to see the moon, that goal is one they will never forget. Even when achieving that dream appears daunting and large, this little spider will stop at nothing to reach the very goal they seek – the bright light in the night sky. 

Directed by Marie Bordessoule, Chloé Lauzu, Adriana Bouissié, Vincent Levrero, Nadine De Boer, Solenne Moreau and Elisa Drique, Swing to the Moon is a touching narrative that shows the art of perseverance and how it can pay off. While the little spider eagerly tries to reach the moon, the path is fraught with uncertainty. From the unpredictable flight path of fireflies to a peculiar tall structure, the spider takes on the challenge of reaching their goal with determination and wonder. Eventually, finding that the structure leads to a rocket launching and achieving that ultimate endgame: being closer to the moon. 

The Carp Has Leaped Through the Dragon’s Gate 

For one little carp, the goal of becoming a dragon takes a lot of time, hard work and the help of their community. But what happens until they reach their goal? And how does that path to their dream appear? 

Created by Ryan Adkins, The Carp Has Leaped Through the Dragon’s Gate is a retelling of a famous tradition: if a carp can leap through the Dragon’s Gate on the Yellow River, they will become a dragon. Combined with the stunning imagery that Adkins evokes, the little over three minute film will have you rooting for one little fish that wants to be a dragon against all odds. And when that hope is lost, a school of fish to rally behind them for support. Because sometimes, it takes a village….or in this case, a school. 

Starling 

On the night of their daughter’s birthday, a couple light the candle on a birthday cake and make a wish…in front of an empty chair with a picture next to it. Their wish sends the spirit of their daughter in the shape of a star to Earth for that moment, but will the star make it in time before they lose their magic? In Mitra Shahidi’s film Starling, one shining star will stop at nothing to reach their parents in need of hope after such a profound loss. 

Yet the story is more than just about a star. It’s about continuing to keep dreams alive, even when they feel like they’re gone. For the spirit of their daughter, she will stop at nothing to get home and grant her parents one last wish for her presence. Shahidi captures the angst and beauty of Starling’s story without the use of language. Because sometimes, the greatest of emotions can only be felt, not heard. 

My Jumper, It Roars! 

 When words fail for one girl and frustration takes over, where does that frustration go? Apparently, into the jumper she wears. But, eventually, even a jumper can reach its limit of emotional intake. In Isabella Spagnolo’s short film My Jumper, It Roars!, one girl tries to find her voice in a world that seems to overlook her.  

Spagnolo reminds us all about the importance of being heard. For the young female that is eager to speak up, she learns that all her prior frustrations of not speaking up have manifested in the very piece of fabric she wears. And in order to finally use that voice, battling that hurdle is tough but worth the price of giving up the very crutch she has come to need. 

The Tiger At The Zoo 

How can one day at the zoo change the life for one little boy? Apparently, when you dress in a tiger costume eager to play while the exhibit is off limits and the rest of the world ignores you drastic measures need to be taken. Written and directed by Matthew Kalinauskas, The Tiger At The Zoo is a touching story that embodies how even the most unique of individuals will eventually find their place.  

What struck me most about the storyline was the loneliness that the little boy felt when he couldn’t be near the very tiger he admires. And even when he does reach the goal of being near his idol, with the rest of his classmates watching him, he proves that there is nothing scary about tigers. Instead, he embraces the very interests that make him who he is. 

Hello to Me in 100 Years 

If you could see yourself in one hundred years, what would you love to tell your future self? More importantly, what would you like to learn about the world you see in that future? Created by Wu-Ching Chang with the help of Taiwanese children, Hello to Me in 100 Years is a glimpse that children give us into the future they see for themselves. 

Chang’s idea of having children narrate the story proves to be an effective and relevant way for other young individuals to relate and the reality of those ideas coming to fruition. Whether it be food prepared by robots, machines doing the work of people, virtual church or our own decisions polluting the air…children are more in tune with the future than we realize. Yet not all the realities are bleak. The children also believe that cars will fly, homes will be able to float on water and launch into space and we will find new places to live. Our future may oftentimes seem lonely, but the hope of continuing to move forward and thrive is there.