In Player Two, brothers bond over a shared love of The Legend Of Zelda
Those who grew up playing Nintendo with their siblings should brace themselves for some emotional catharsis in the next few minutes. Player Two is a nostalgic and thoughtful animated short about two siblings, Luke and Ben, and the video games that connect them, specifically Nintendo titles like The Legend Of Zelda. The film, which runs under four minutes with credits, is the creation of filmmaker Zachary Antell, who previously schooled viewers on the similarities between Star Wars: The Force Awakens and A New Hope. This movie, presented in a style that looks hand-painted, is closer to home. A lot closer, actually, like in the living room. The narrator explains what it’s like to be a younger sibling who is indoctrinated into the world of video games by a knowledgeable older brother. “When you’re born second, you’re put into someone else’s world,” he explains. “You follow them. You’re player two.” But this is not a movie about being second best to a domineering older brother. Instead, this is a movie about the profound bonding that occurs between siblings over hours of marathon Zelda and Mario sessions.