By Camden Ferrell

As the final part of our series on this year's Oscar nominated short films, we are going to talk about the whimsy and magic of animation. This year's nominees feature different mediums of animation and a variety of stories from a kid who discovers candy with magical properties, to a short about three brothers as they await a hair transplant. This is typically the more light-hearted of the three short categories, and we're here to let you know what we think and what might win on Oscar night.

5. In the Shadow of the Cypress

This movie follows a former captain who is suffering from PTSD as he lives by the sea with his daughter. While this short takes ambitious thematic swings, trying to tackle complex topics like trauma, parenthood, and human connection, it just never feels completely cohesive as a film. The animation, while still gorgeous, doesn't really compare to the animation of its competitors that are more engaging and creative if nothing else. This is still an apt movie that mostly breezes through its 20 minute run time, but I just had a difficult time finding myself captivated by its narrative.

4. Wander to Wonder

If the Oscar's voted on weirdness, this would definitely have it in the bag. Mary, Billybud, and Fumbleton are all stars in a 1980's children's program but are left to their own devices in the studio after the show's creator dies. This is one that gets very weird very fast. I'm all for strangeness and general tomfoolery, but this short is hit or miss with its attempts at absurdism. Some moments are quite engaging while others feel weird for the sake of being weird. The darker elements and unique blend of live-action and animation do elevate this at times for me though. I love to see movies be outlandish, but it just doesn't always work out.

3. Beautiful Men

This movie follows three brothers as they await hair transplants in Turkey as they grapple with their own insecurities. One of the more solemn entries in this category, this is a movie that has a serviceable story but is mostly carried by its phenomenal stop-motion animation. As a narrative, it's quite conventional and maybe not as strong as the movies that are lower on this list, but it's hard not to admire the subtle, slow, and beautiful craftsmanship on display here. Not one that I was super entertained by, but it's one I admire greatly.

2. Magic Candies

Another stop-motion animated short, Dong-Dong is a kid who doesn't have a lot of friends, but one day he buys a bag of magic candies that gives him a new view on life. This one would be easy to write off as a drug metaphor, but I found myself quite captivated by this young child slowly expanding his worldview whether that's through communicating with his dog or his living room couch. It's beautifully animated and tells a simple yet wholesome story that all viewers will relate to in some way.

1. Yuck!

Couples kissing each other on the lips, what's grosser than that to a group of young kids? Just like all of the other kids, Léo likes to make fun of people kissing until one day he finds himself curious about it. This is easily the most straightforward of all the animated shorts, but it's hard not to see a little bit of your younger self in a short like this. It's cheesy and predictable, but it does something that good movies do: it reminds you of what life used to be like when you were younger. It features the most underwhelming animation of all the nominees, but it's hard not to find this cute little short infectiously saccharine and adorable.

Will Win: Beautiful Men
Can Win: Wander to Wonder
Should Win: Yuck!

The 20th annual Oscar® Nominated Short Films theatrical release, presented by SHORTS, is coming to cinemas starting February 14, 2025.​

By Camden Ferrell

Documentaries can highlight important issues plaguing our complex and layered world, and they can also inspire and find joy in people's achievements and their passions. Whether that's watching a young Japanese girl prepare for her school concert, or watching a brave victim of a school shooting stand up for herself in front of the world, this year's Oscar-nominated documentary shorts are full of pain, joy, tragedy, and hope. Below, I will highlight each of the films while also giving my best guess as to what will end up winning on Oscar night.

5. The Only Girl in the Orchestra

As someone who spends a lot of their free time playing in a community orchestra, I truly wish I could appreciate this more. It's competently made, but I can't say there's a real unique vision guiding it. Orin O'Brien has had a wonderous career, and she is a legend in every way imaginable, but it's a shame the doc can't do her the justice she deserves. I'm hard pressed to find any major flaws other than it's far too conventional and underwhelming to leave a lasting impact. O'Brien has some very interesting musings on art and working with an ensemble, but it's mostly muddied by a documentary that isn't interested in trying new things with this particular medium of storytelling.

4. I Am Ready, Warden

Each year, there's always a documentary that has good intentions, preaches a message I can personally get behind, but is ultimately let down by its execution. While I did mostly enjoy this documentary and its nuanced way of viewing the death penalty, it feels borderline manipulative in its execution, and it doesn't sit quite right with me as a viewer. While it's not asking you to forgive the crimes committed by its subject, it also tries to create a sympathetic character in an effort to push its thesis, a tactic that has mixed results. There are some extraordinarily moving moments in this doc, but I just wish it dug a little deeper without any cheap emotional wins. 

3. Instruments of a Beating Heart

Definitely the most enjoyable documentary short this year, this tells the story of a Japanese girl who is given the job of playing the cymbal at her school performance. What we see is a conventional yet still unique perspective of this young, ambitious, and emotional girl. There's something wholesome yet heartbreaking about watching a kid take something so trivial so seriously. It reminds us of our own youth, where we would also cry because of a minor failure that seemed so important at the time. It's a cute documentary that worked more than it didn't.

2. Death by Numbers

This short film follows Samantha Fuentes, a victim of a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Watching someone my age show such sincerity and bravery in the face of utter tragedy is always admirable, and this doc honors her story without feeling like it's exploitative. Her words are powerful, and it feels like an act of catharsis. It won't ever heal the wounds that were created that day, but I'd argue the world is a better place because people like her speak up. If this doc can be faulted for anything, it can be that its runtime can sometimes undermine it's message, but this is an emotional and brave documentary showcasing the lasting impacts to such an unnecessary and tragic epidemic in America.

1. Incident

Another unfortunately timely documentary short, this film uses security cameras and police body camera footage to showcase an incident that occurred in Chicago in 2018. Told mostly in real time, this is an utterly devastating and angering experience. It is so meticulously crafted by its filmmakers, and it helps paint a vivid and upsetting picture of what went down in such a short period of time. It's hard to imagine putting any other movie in this top spot, because Incident is so incredibly harrowing and well-made, I'd be remiss to put it anywhere but the top. This is definitely something that everyone should be watching.

Will Win: Incident
Can Win: Death by Numbers
Should Win: Incident

The 20th annual Oscar® Nominated Short Films theatrical release, presented by SHORTS, is coming to cinemas starting February 14, 2025.​

By Camden Ferrell

This year's Academy Award nominees for Best Live Action Short Film covers all walks of life like a family trying to obtain a green card, an intelligent young factory worker in India, a ranger protecting African rhinos, a train being stopped in search of Muslims, and a woman suffering an identity crisis in a tech-heavy world. Catching up on each year's slate of nominees is always an interesting task as these categories are unpredictable and expose you to films both good and bad that one might not have otherwise seen. Below, we at disappointment media will break down the highs and lows and try and offer some insight into who will be going home victorious on Oscar night.

5. Anuja

A well-intentioned short film following Anuja, a factory worker (who is played by an actual girl from a children's home for Indian street children and working children), this movie is adequately made and conventional to a fault. Anuja is a brilliant young girl who finds herself torn between a society that forces her to work and aspirations to put her intelligence to good use. It highlights a troubling reality that exists for many kids in India, but it ultimately feels inconsequential. It doesn't adequately explore her story in any meaningful way to the point that it almost feels like a proof of concept for a feature that would inevitably do the story more justice. There are some good performances from these child actors, but it doesn't feel like it has the substance to be anything more than passable.

4. The Last Ranger

This is yet another competently made movie that feels like it's a piece of something much bigger and more compelling. Litha is a young child who gets a chance to experience Africa's natural beauty alongside a ranger. However, as we are all too aware, poachers arrive in an attempt to brutally steal a rhino's horn. What ensues is danger and an all too common reality for the men and women who protect some of Earth's most scarce and majestic creatures. Cindy Lee directs a mostly decent film, but at nearly half an hour, it doesn't feel like it fully earns that runtime. It's also a short film that feels far more suited for the documentary format in order to capitalize off of the call to action it is so desperately aiming for. 

3. I'm Not a Robot

Definitely the lightest of the nominees in this category (although this one can still get quite dark), this is an intriguing film that gets points for its creativity if nothing else. Lara is a woman who consistently fails to pass a CAPTCHA online, leading her to suspect she might not be a human after all. What follows is a full-blown Black Mirror-esque identity crisis. It features a strong leading performance from Ellen Parren and decent musings on humanity from writer/director Victoria Warmerdam. However, there's some invisible factor here that's preventing it from elevating to anything more than a moderately intriguing thought experiment. Like I said, it gets points for creativity, but it just doesn't satisfy the same itch as the better nominees in this category.

2. The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

This short film follows a train traveling in Europe that is stopped by paramilitary forces who are attempting to locate Muslims and take them off the train. As the title suggests, one man stands up to this timely act of oppression. What this film does so well is subvert expectations in a way that truly solidifies its core themes. In addition to that, there's an extremely nuanced and profound message about the the absolutely thin line between action and a desire to action. We must confront our own characters and see if we can delicately traverse the gray area between who we are and who we want to be when faced with adversity. However, despite these great elements, what's keeping it from my #1 spot is that even for its brief runtime of 14 minutes, I feel like it was losing some steam that unfortunately softened the impact of its final moments.

1. A Lien

This was easily the hardest of the short films to watch. While these categories often skew towards timely themes, this one is especially brutal to watch given the current climate and new administration in the United States. This film follows a family as they show up for their interview to start the green card process when unforeseen complications arise. Writer and directors David and Sam Cutler-Kreutz create an utterly chaotic and stress-inducing environment without feeling like they have relinquished any control as directors. Its erratic camera work, execution, and great performances make this a memorable and distressing experience that shines a light on a pervasive and predatory issue plaguing this nation that was founded by immigrants not too long ago.

Will Win: The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Can Win: Anuja
Should Win: A Lien

The 20th annual Oscar® Nominated Short Films theatrical release, presented by SHORTS, is coming to cinemas starting February 14, 2025.​