The Worm- Short Horror Animation Review

I am a huge fan of Hilda, both the graphic novel series by Luke Pearson and the animation, directed by Andy Coyle. When I heard that Coyle had created an animated horror short I knew I had to watch it as I do love his work. His previous animation, the 12 minute short ‘The Pine Creepers’ was phenomenal and seemed like a Creepy Pasta or SCP Foundation story. This follow up, ‘The Worm’ was much anticipated and I cosied up one cold, winter’s night to see what scary story the collective would come up with next.

The story is short but simple: A young 17 year old girl, Sparrow Moon, seems to see creatures from another dimension. She is sent to a psychiatrist to discuss what she sees but he doesn’t believe her…until he starts to have nightmares too.

I very much enjoyed this short animation. Though the animation is limited, due to budgetary and staffing constraints, what has been achieved is commendable and downright amazing. The story is very simple but effective as the narrator recounts the story with an air of resignation of someone who is doomed to a fate worse than death.

I would highly recommend this short horror animation to everyone as it does get under your skin in a PG-13 kinda way.

LINK- Hilda- Complete Series 1 Netflix Review

LINK- Hilda- Complete Series 2 Review

LINK- Hilda: Complete Graphic Novel Series Review

LINK- Comics in the Classroom

LINK- What Comics Have Taught Me

The Pine Creepers- Short Horror Animation Review

I am a huge fan of Hilda, both the graphic novel series by Luke Pearson and the animation, directed by Andy Coyle. When I heard that Coyle had created an animated horror short I knew I had to watch it as I do love his work.

The story is short but simple: over 12 minutes we hear from the narrator about his camp out in the woods with friends during the heatwave in 1995. The friends make camp in the woods near an old beaten-up car and enjoy each others’ company whilst chugging some warm beer. One of the friend shares a local urban myth of the Pine Creepers, creatures who stalk the woods looking for victims. Whilst they go to sleep for the night, something seems to be waiting for them.

Though the animation is limited, due to budgetary and staffing constraints, what has been achieved is commendable and downright amazing. The story is very simple but effective whilst the narrator recounts the story with an air of someone who still remembers the events of that night.

The fun, cartoony medium belies the horror that lurks beneath the surface. The art style is CalArts, short for the California Institute of the Arts. It is one of the biggest and most well-known art schools in the world and has been very influential in the 2010s, being the art style of choice for Gravity Falls, Gumball, Steven Universe and many more. The style usually features characters with rounded faces with noodle-like arms and legs and bean like smiles. They usually have thin lines which do not have depth and the colour palette is often more muted and less detailed than a more painterly approach of some other art schools. Some have hated on it but I have not had a problem with it, provided that it is done well. And, in this case, it has been done excellently.

I would highly recommend this short animation as it does surprise and delight in equal measure.

LINK- Hilda- Complete Series 1 Netflix Review

LINK- Hilda- Complete Series 2 Review

LINK- Hilda: Complete Graphic Novel Series Review

LINK- Comics in the Classroom

LINK- What Comics Have Taught Me

Ouro, A Sci-Fi Short Animation About Vengence

There are some amazing animations out there and finding the truly outstanding ones can bebit of a task but I have one to share with you. Ouro is a revenge story about a girl who is murdered but then brought back to life through a mystical snake. So far so 80's tropey but in essence this is very 80's, apart from the animation which reminds me of the angular styling of Samurai Jack, Batman: The Animated Series or, for the connoisseur anime fan, The Big O. The music is synth pop infused electronica and suits the visuals well. 

The short animation, directed by Pierre-Jean Le Moël and Eva Jiahui Gao, is wordless yet so much is conveyed in its short 3 minute run time. Give it a watch!