We can always use a little more escapism in our day; not too much, just a short journey to the outer reaches of the human consciousness and imagination. More often than not, this trip is enabled by incredible and transporting short films. Not incidentally, then, you’ll notice that most of these 10 Surreal Animated Short Films we’ve assembled are about some kind of travel. Won’t you come along with us?
“Galileo” by Avrillon Ghislain
It’s just like The Rocketeer in all the best ways, plus it nearly made us cry.
“Paper War” by Makaio Tisu with Megatron
So that’s how paper really feels about being replaced by pixels!
“The Lady and the Reaper” by Javier Recio García
This delightful, pro-euthanasia, Indian Jones-ian short is up for an Oscar next month.
“Woos” by Andrius Kirvela and Gediminas Siaulys
This is your brain trying to paint while you’re on acid.
“The Head” by Matias Vigliano and Dante Zaballa
This beautiful hand-drawn animation is a little Takashi Murakami-esque, plus a classic monster movie about a machine- and vehicle-eating beast.
Music Video for “In Our Talons” by Bowerbirds, directed by Alan Poon
Stop-motion animals dancing to anthemic rock makes us happy. An environmentalist message also helps.
Music Video for “Where Dream & Day Collide” by Madder Mortem, directed by Christian Ruud & Kim Holm
This looks right out of some crazy sci-fi anime movie, plus the extreme contrasts between nature and machine are rather magical.
“Garuda” by Nicolas Athane, Meryl Frack, Alexis Liddell, Andres Salaff and Maïlys Vallade
The multi-colored bird and motif of ascent remind us of Up. The unique animation style makes us think of traditional Turkish mosaic. These associations are both very good things.
“Tachaaan” by Rafael Cano, Carlos del Olmo, and Miguel A. Bellot
Well, you probably would have to be a jerk to want to be a human cannonball, right?
“Get Out” by Charlotte Boisson, Julien Fourvel, Pascal Han-Kwan, Tristan Reinarz, Fanny Roche
Ha! This one is really disturbing until the twist ending.
