After last week's bizarre cartoon "Rabbit", we're sticking with animated animals for a special double-bill. First up, the 2007 French short "Oktapodi"; a Graduate Student Project from Gobelins L'Ecole de L'Image. This 2-minute animation is about a pair of besotted octopuses that become separated, but the one left behind goes to extraordinary lengths to be reunited with its mate. Comical, vibrant fun in the Pixar mould. You may also be interested to know that "Oktapodi" is one of this year's Academy Award nominees, in the short film category. As is our next short film...
Does it seem a little unfair to have this Pixar short competing with the likes of "Oktapodi" at the Academy Awards? Perhaps so. Regardless, Doug Sweetland's excellent short "Presto" (shown before WALL·E last summer) is absolutely wonderful: a snooty magician grapples with his disobedient rabbit and a magical hat on-stage. Can Pixar spearhead a return of Looney Tunes-style cartoon shorts like this? Pleeeease.
