Animated Shorts
D: various
Sure, the last time you saw “animation” might have been as the opening act for Carrot Top at the Chuckle Bucket, but this collection of animated shorts has – gasp – a social message. Nearly every short in this hourlong feature critiques humanity’s willingness to destroy itself, whether through violence, pollution, guns, or words. “A Buck’s Worth” creates an awkward confrontation between a homeless man asking for a dollar and the man who’s put on the spot. “Convenience” is a chilling, student-produced cartoon from the University of Southern California, in which a young boy is medicated into a stupor by a TV action hero. “The Meatrix” is, obviously, a spoof on The Matrix, in which a cow named Moofius informs a pig of the horrors of corporate farming. Most enjoyable, however, is “Learn Self-Defense,” the story of a simple man named George who is a god-fearing husband and father, until he is robbed and beaten. He decides he must learn self-defense, and the final scene shows George in a 10-gallon hat, skipping down Main Street in Anytown, USA, and polishing off any person who gets in his way. These shorts definitely aren’t the “feel-good” type, but the message should be applauded.
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 11:30am
This article appears in March 18 • 2005.