Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that can lead to the greatest joy. Take Li Wen Toh’s “Space Critters,” his first year film for CalArts that features the perils of bringing animals into space for obscure experimentation. It’s a very straightforward, madcap short that harkens back to classic Looney Tunes’ frantic pace and wordless calamities. And even though the short is only a minute and a half long and none of the characters speak, they are all more fully formed personalities than most full-length films produce.
It’s a cute, fun little exercise in animation that suggests great things for the creator’s future work in the program. It’s an impressive effort, reminiscent of traditional animated shorts, that still has its own unique voice and perspective. Plus it also has what appears to be a dead floating rabbit as a principle character, so that’s something.
Space Critters from Li Wen Toh on Vimeo.