The Drift (2007) by Kelly Sears

Judging by her website, Texas-based animator Kelly Sears spends much of her time foraging (great word, that) for materials in boxes of photos at antique markets. The Drift is a moving collage accompanied by a monologue. By combining old photographs of American life, Sears tells the story of an alternate-history space race and hippy counter-culture in which a group of astronauts go too far and in true 2001 style end up discovering something alluring, dangerous and awesome in the true sense of the word.


The film does an excellent job of summing up the story of an entire generation's hopes, dreams and downfall - the technology worship and optimism of the fifties followed by the tragedy and disillusion of the Vietnam War and the Cold War. It's a powerful exploration of America in the mid-twentieth century, like Alan Moore's Watchmen or the recent game Fallout 3.

The Wayward Hat (2009) By Grahaeme Cowie

Animation Digger is back after spending some time in Egypt and working hard on other things! This is a hugely entertaining film by Grahaeme Cowie about a stolen hat with plenty of slapstick comedy and a pair of brilliantly formed main characters.


As with all well made animation it's the attention to detail that stands out. Witness the leaves twirling and blowing down the street, and the homeless man's walk cycle that suits his rotund figure perfectly. The characters are very colourful and bold, which sets them apart from the backgrounds just enough to enhance their presence without appearing out of place in their surroundings.


Expect to see more on here from the students of Vancouver Film School as I continue to raid their Vimeo channel.

Beauty is the Promise of Happiness (2006) By Jon Yeo

Jon Yeo's three year old short film is a visually stunning combination of video, 3D animation and still images. Imagine eighties Britain under the control of a sinister regime attempting to stamp out rogue deities. An assassin is sent out to kill an imaginatively rendered god, and in the process is consumed by it.

The harsh snowy world seems held together by old bits of electrical equipment, and its people have eyes that glow like light bulbs. The deity is the only character with a human face, and its lurid, over-saturated redness makes it seem even more out of place.

The film is a great example of what can be achieved with one actor, £60 and a lot of images. Judging by his website, Yeo is now hard at work creating idents for Sky.