For the past two decades, the Oscar Nominated Short Films have been made available on the big screen by SHORTS. Now in its 20th year, the program returned to theaters on February 14, 2025, showcasing all the nominees across the Live Action, Animated, and Documentary categories. This is the only chance to catch these films in a cinema before the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025.
For tickets, visit www.shorts.tv/theoscarshorts.
This year’s Oscar-nominated animated shorts showcase a range of various subjects, but the common thread is an exploration of the human spirit. From surreal introspection to youthful curiosity, each short offers a window into a personal transformation. I’ve ranked the shorts based on how they resonated with me emotionally.
YUCK!
FRANCE/13 MINS/2024
Original Title: Beurk !
Director: Loïc Espuche
At a summer campsite, seven-year-old Léo and his friends express disgust whenever they see couples kissing. The romantic longing of others is revealed when an individual’s lips glow pink and sparkly. Despite outwardly joining in the mockery, Léo harbors a secret desire to experience a kiss himself. Gentle and charming 2D animation captures the nuances of childhood that include fitting in, peer pressure, and a first crush. Special mention to Aliénor Doublet’s evocative score which uses synthesizers to craft a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.
MAGIC CANDIES
JAPAN/21 MINS/2024
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Based on a Korean picture book, this story centers on Dong-Dong, a lonely boy who discovers his marbles are actually candies that, when eaten, enable him to communicate with inanimate objects. The setup is pretty odd. It sounds like he’s taking hallucinogenic substances, but somehow, it all plays out rather sweetly. The computer animation has a tactile quality that suggests claymation, rendering this the most aesthetically creative of the nominees. These magical interactions, one with a couch, for example, allow the boy to gain new perspectives on his life and relationships. Delightful.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS
IRAN/20 MINS/2023
Directors: Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani
A former captain who has PTSD lives with his daughter in an isolated seaside house. One day, a beached whale appears near their coastal home, and the incident will be a catalyst that will alter their lives. The father is tall and thin, like a cypress tree. The evergreen is a metaphor for resistance, purity, and innocence in Persian culture. However, it also offers little shelter from the sun, just as the father provides little support for his daughter. They present a complicated relationship between father and daughter. Simple but artistic, hand-drawn shapes are visually pleasing, which elevates it from some in this competition. This wordless entry is a poetic portrayal of trauma and healing.
WANDER TO WONDER
NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, FRANCE, UK/13 MINS/2023
Director: Nina Gantz
Three miniature actors—Mary, Billybud, and Fumbleton—used to star in a children’s television series called “Wander to Wonder” in the 1980s. After the sudden death of the show’s creator and presenter, the trio is left alone in the studio. Despite their growing hunger and deteriorating costumes, they continue producing increasingly bizarre episodes to maintain their connection with their audience. Creepy characters desperately plead for our sympathy. Yet I couldn’t care less about these disturbing people—especially the one who has a habit of exposing himself.
BEAUTIFUL MEN
BELGIUM, FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS/18 MIN/2023
Director: Nicolas Keppens
Three Belgian brothers travel to Turkey for cheap hair transplants. As the procedure approaches, their insecurities come to the forefront, testing their brotherhood. Humor is derived from making fun of the fear that middle-aged men have in going bald. The cruel account revels in utter contempt as they are depicted as pathetic and unattractive. Yet there’s an unexpected amount of nudity. I’m sorry. What’s the point?
02-18-25