Fantastic Fest 2008

It's been said that animation isn't just for kids anymore. Well, that's ESPECIALLY the case at Fantastic Fest. We'll be showcasing all aspects of genre entertainment in animated form, some of which will make you laugh, and some of which will make your body revolt. BERNIE'S DOLL Dir. Yann Jouette / UK, France / 2008 / 12 min. A self-loathing cat food canner looks for happiness in all the wrong places, especially when he learns that a "female" companion can be ordered by mail. Beautifully animated in a style that proves to be less cute n' cuddlythan first glance would have you believe. BLOOD WILL TELL Dir. Andrew McPhillips / Canada / 2007 / 4 min. A uniquely animated nightmare that follows the beat of your pulse and unweaves the secret link between man and insect. Music by Sigur Ros. CITY WASP Dir. Stephan Wicki & Tod Steven / Switzerland, USA / 2007 / 6 min. A man combs a semi-sentient metropolis to create his own personal symphonic Frankenstein! Live action animation combines with an arguably musical score to create a short that's guaranteed to be unlike anything you've ever seen. A COFFEE VENDING MACHINE AND HIS SWORD Dir. Chang Hyung Yun / Korea / 2008 / 29 min To ward of defeat in his future life, a dying ninja warrior wishes to be reincarnated with a skin of steel. He returns to modern-day Korea as a coffee vending machine. DOG Dir. Hermann Karlsson / Scotland, Iceland / 2006 / 2 min. A loving eulogy to man's best friend. This animated comedy features a canine skeleton and some goofy yet sincerely tearful memories. THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MR HOLLOW Dir. R. Gudino / Canada / 2008 / 6 min. A simple photograph becomes increasingly sinister upon closer scrutiny, until nearly every evil that lives in mankind's heart is unleashed upon the viewer. From the fiends at Rue Morgue! FANTAISIE IN BUBBLEWRAP Dir. Arthur Metcalf / USA / 2007 / 4 min. You think it's hard being a human? Try living your life as a roll of bubble wrap! This semi-animated short follows the lives of several little poppable pals as they fall in love,question their existence and -- of course -- get fatally pinched by human fingers. FILM NOIR Dir. Osbert Parker / UK / 2006 / 4 min. A senses-shaking tribute to the criminal acts of yesteryear, as traditional film noir elements are transformed through animation and bizarro artistry into a wholly original gripping thrillride. FISH Dir. Naoko Masuda and Max Margulies / USA / 2007 / 2 min. The filmmaking team behind last year's FF hit THE BIRD, THE MOUSE AND THE SAUSAGE are back with a new stop-motion food tale that reveals the nature of pescatorial reproduction. GAME OVER Dir. PES / USA / 2006 / 4 min. We don't need no fancy arcade...we got an arcade RIGHT HERE! Mysterious innovative stop-motion wizard(s) PES bring the universal excitement of video games into the real world in bold, unnatural ways. KARAOKE SHOW Dir. Karl Tebbe / Germany / 2007 / 5 min. Here at FF, we've always recognized karaoke as a true art. But filmmaker Karl Tebbe succeeds in turning up the karaoke insanity to visually deafening levels in this megashock of musical indulgence. MUTO Dir. Blu / Argentina / 2008 / 8 min. Street art taken to the illogical, beautiful maximum as an urban landscape is transformed into a moving palette of impossible creatures. Is this the most ambitious animation project of the century? Yes. THE SQUIRREL NEXT DOOR Dir. Carla Coma / Canada / 2007 / 2 min. True love sees no barriers...including species. Taxidermy animation that will make you want to run out, kill things and create great art. VIOLETA Dir. Anna Solana & Marc Riva / Spain / 2007 / 13 min. Violeta makes a new friend and takes him back home to meet the folks. Too bad the depths of depravity of this family is unparalleled in the history of animation. THE WATERMELON CHICKENS Dir. Won Jong-Shik / Korea / 2007/ 8 min. Watermelon-eating chickens inadvertently kill a boy's grandfather. The child vows revenge...at all costs.

A self-loathing cat food canner looks for happiness in all the wrong places, especially when he learns that a "female" companion can be ordered by mail. Beautifully animated in a style that proves to be less cute n' cuddly than first glance would have you believe. Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details.

A uniquely animated nightmare that follows the beat of your pulse and unweaves the secret link between man and insect. Music by Sigur Ros. Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details.

A man combs a semi-sentient metropolis to create his own personal symphonic Frankenstein! Live action animation combines with an arguably musical score to create a short that's guaranteed to be unlike anything you've ever seen. Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details.

To ward of defeat in his future life, a dying ninja warrior wishes to be reincarnated with a skin of steel. He returns to modern-day Korea as a coffee vending machine. Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details.

A loving eulogy to man's best friend. This animated comedy features a canine skeleton and some goofy yet sincerely tearful memories. Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details.

A simple photograph becomes increasingly sinister upon closer scrutiny, until nearly every evil that lives in mankind's heart is unleashed upon the viewer. From the fiends at Rue Morgue! Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details. Director Rodrigo Gudino and producer Marco Pecota will be in attendance.

You think it's hard being a human? Try living your life as a roll of bubble wrap! This semi-animated short follows the lives of several little poppable pals as they fall in love, question their existence and -- of course -- get fatally pinched by fingers. Appearing as part of the ANIMATED SHORTS program. CLICK HERE for details.

Brief Summary: FEAR(S) OF THE DARK is a unique collection of fearful tales by the world's most cutting-edge, acclaimed graphic artists. Their intertwined stories make up an unprecedented epic where phobias, disgust and nightmares come to life and reveal fear at its most naked and intense. Full Description: "A sophisticated showcase of contemporary animation. The best short, by Mr. Burns, is a science-fiction nightmare of erotic slavery, with elements of ALIEN and Kafka's METAMORPHOSIS." Stephen Holden, New York Times "Rich, inventive. Often gorgeous to look at, and clever. I don't imagine you'll want to miss this black-and-white feast." James Van Maanen, Greencine Daily The concept is simple:six of the world's best graphic artists (Blutch, Charles Burns, Peirre di Sciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti, Richard McGuire and Marie Caillou) were asked to create a black and white short film based on their own personal nightmares. The resulting monochromatic quilt shows a vast range of styles and tones. From the comedic, the bloody, the experimental and the downright creepy, all of the films are incredibly imaginative and effective in their own way. Charles Burns; this graphic novel titan delivers our favorite film of the bunch. A young entymologist finds more comfort in his six-legged friends than the humans in his life, but when he brings a woman home, their companionship might prove to be problematic. Blutch: His film, a hunter chasing his own particular brand of varmint through the woods is interwoven in small segments, providing a narrative thread to the entire tale. Pierre di Sciullo: The only animator on this project produces the most abstract entry. Patterns of lines and shapes morph across the screen, narrated with his more politically aware concepts of "fear". Mari Caillou: In counterpoint to di Sciullo, Marie's lighthearted, anime-inspired story follows a young girl haunted by violent hallucinations while asleep and tormented by bullies at school while awake. Lorenzo Mattoti: Easily the most virtuoso animation talent of the group, Mattoti chronicle's a monster who is terrorizing a small village, told from the perspective of a former resident of the town. Richard McGuire: The final segment is a straight-forward haunted house tale, but animated in a fresh, bold and creative style. The story is sparse, but the amazing visual imagery is the real focus. (Tim League)