Comic-Con Museum recently showcased eight award-winning animated short films from Argentina, Germany, Malaysia, and the United States. From the experimental to inspirational, from the farcical to the fascinating, fans of animation were treated to eight winners of the Best Animated Film award during the past 20-plus years of the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival.
Gorgonas. A retake on the classic story of the Gorgons brought forward to the modern world and turned into an apocalyptic horror story, the film debuted in 2006. Written and illustrated by Salvador San, Argentina. (see below)
Fission. A motion-graphic film that tells the simple story of a man who sees himself as graffiti on the wall. The captivating graphic starts to draw on the wall, following (and sometimes attacking) the man. The conflict becomes out of control along with the stunning graphic animation, and leads us to the end of the story—a metaphor of repetition and endless “FISSION.” Debuted in 2007. written and illustrated by Kun-I Chang, New York, NY.
Wolf Dog Tales. An animated film that takes us through a series of stories with animation based on indigenous sand paintings, revealing ancient wisdoms of what animals teach us about respecting life. Debuted in 2012. Written and illustrated by Bernadine Santistevan, New York, NY.
Summer Bummer. A man about to go swimming imagines what horrors could be lurking in his backyard pool. Debuted in 2013. Written and illustrated by Bill Plympton, New York, NY.
MITE. The film was produced in a one-shot movement. In a hotel hallway, the camera plunges into the microcosm of the hotel corridor carpet. Between crystal structures and inhabitants of this world, we see an American house dust mite at work. Debuted in 2014. Written and illustrated by Walter Volbers, Germany.
The Looking Planet. During the construction of the universe, a young member of the Cosmos Corps of Engineers decides to break some fundamental laws in the name of self-expression. Debuted in 2015. Written and illustrated by Eric Law Anderson, Sherman Oaks, CA.
Wishing Box. A film about adventures on the high seas with a silly pirate and his lovable monkey companion; an enchanting and fun story with a message about greed and success. Debuted iin 2019. Written and illustrated by Lizzie Zhang and Nan Li, San Francisco, CA.
Horologist. Obsessed with time, a character called Sand finds a way to sell time itself. While his rich customers stay young, they never question Sand’s discovery and the source of their youth. Debuted in 2023. Written and illustrated by Jared Lee, Malaysia.
