The Wanderer

The range of diversity and creativity of the graduation films coming out of The Animation Work these past months has been nothing short of inspiring. The final short of this year's series, The Wanderer, ends on a high note. Taking us through the lifespan of plant-like alien being the short poses the question, what would you do if you only had one day to live?

Created by a team of third year Character Animation and CGI students, The Wanderer is a strange, ephemeral and beautiful short and a perfect way to tie off this year's collection of graduation films. Congratulations Class of 2015!

A Shot In The Dark

A Shot In The Dark by Dark Rye is a documentary about hope, following the story of a mechanic called Jay Dean who finds a new lease on life after finding inspiration in the unlikeliest of places- His junk heap. Following a serious back injury and an error in judgement that ultimately deprived him of the ability to work on cars, we witness the transformative journey of an individual into darkness and back, thanks to the power of creative inspiration.

Jay Dean was a mechanic and that was that. He’d certainly never considered becoming an artist. But a back injury in his early 30's led to multiple surgeries. Jay found himself unable to work on cars and unable to provide for himself and his wife. He forgot all his goals, took to bed depressed, and tried to figure out what he was going to do with the rest of his years. One day, as he was cleaning his tools, empty and lost in existential uncertainty, he suddenly began to see something in the junked car parts in his garage. They called to him. He had an artistic inspiration. Jay began to make lamps out of them. The lamps, in return, began to make him.

Valley Of Dolls

Ayano Tsukimi lives in a remote village in Nagoro situated on Shikoku, one of Japan's four main islands. After a boom and bust cycle from a hydroelectric dam, the town's population dwindled from a few hundred to just a few dozen, and Ayano took on a distinct hobby to make her town a little less barren and lonely.

The Valley of the Dolls features a town's transformation into an eclectic wonderland, filled with hundreds of dolls crafted in the likeness of those who've either passed away or left Nagoro behind. The ten year project has ultimately drawn the curiosity of visitors, who stop by to take photos and enjoy the curious visuals. The most telling part of this little documentary is the ending, in which Ayano shares her beliefs on life, death and dolls with us.

Ai Pioppi

This slice of life mini-documentary offers us a look at the life of Bruno, a wise Italian man who tells the fascinating story of how his restaurant, Ai Pioppi (The poplars) came to be. While narrating the story of how he started building rides to give his rustic 'osteria' a unique calling card, he also shares some truly insightful thoughts on life, existence and death that are nothing short of though provoking. Lovely cinematography and a soothing score ease us into the relaxing world of Bruno's playground. It's inspiring to see a man with so much determination and passion yet, despite his age.

Hidden among the trees of an Italian forest, Bruno has been building swings, slides, seesaws, gyroscopes and roller-coasters for the last forty years. They are his passion and a way to attract clients to Ai Pioppi, the restaurant he runs with his family. 

Peruvian Prison Aerobics

Taking place in Peru's notorious Lurigancho prison, Storyhunter's documentary gives us a peek into a strange cultural phenomenon in the form of large scale prison aerobics, prevalent in some third wold country prisons. Known as 'Full Body,' in Peru, the doc follows the explosion of the program within the confines of the prison system, as well as an attempt to break a world record for the most people performing the routine. Anyone get the feeling this will be the next big thing hitting the paid advertising circuit sometime soon?

Convicted of kidnapping, Alejandro Nuñez del Arco brings together more than one thousand inmates to practice Full Body aerobics in the courtyard of one of Peru’s most notorious prisons. With armed guards peering from above, Nuñez del Arco attempts to break the world record for the most people simultaneously performing the exercise, whether inside a jail or not.

On Departure

As a means to express director Eoin Duffy's loss of a brother, On Departure is a soft, ambient short that conveys a sense of loneliness while simultaneously offering a feeling of ease. Presented with a soothing track, On Departure perfectly encapsulates what we all hope our loved ones experience upon their journey through death. The unique style of animation makes for a peaceful journey through an empty airport as the lone traveler makes his way to his end, which showcases the cinematic mindset of Eoin Duffy's direction style.

It's Not About the Nail

It's a pretty common issue that takes place in male-female relationships: Woman has an issue, doesn't want help, just wants to vent. Man is a problem-solver, and doesn't understand the need to vent unless an answer is being sought. This frequent dilemma is humorously showcased in this short about a woman who's problem is not only simple, but highly visible. Literally visible. (I'd like to take this time to remind readers that is not always the case, thankyouverymuch). It's a communication barrier that problem won't be solved any time soon. This is one of the many reasons why alcohol exists.

The Show by Rebecca Hayes

This is an awesome, subtle short about the everyday life of a traveling circus. From the clowns to the Armless Wonder, and the Siamese twins, these folks are just like us. Kinda. All the while a little clown/jester boy happily skips from tent to tent, causing all sorts of mischief along the way. It's all rather anti-climatic, but a cool and rather relaxing animated short all the same. It was created, directed, and animated by Rebecca Hayes!

Things Organized Neatly

The Essentials (Via)

Things Organized Neatly is a Tumblr dedicated to aggregating themed sets of items organized neatly..The imagery is a window into another persons life, showcasing different tastes, hobbies and activities. I personally can't get enough of this stuff. Check out a few more examples after the break!