Watched the new set, want to write out my thoughts while they're clear.
Spoilers, obviously
I was thinking about how I want to do this, and I think I'll go from worst to best.
- The Pit by D'art Shtajio.
Oof. This felt like a fever dream. The story makes absolutely no sense, and while the art is competent, it doesn't in any way redeem the nonsense of the story.
- Journey to the Dark Head by Studio Mir.
This is my spiciest take. Mir's work is gorgeous, but this short doesn't do anything interesting with Star Wars. I really come to visions for unique takes on the lore and visuals, and there were like two brief flashes of that in this short, but I was longing for it to delve deep into a Korean star wars, and it just didn't. Those sith monks we saw for 5 seconds absolutely ruled though.
- Sith, by El Guiri.
Absolutely beautiful art, but kind of an empty story. The droid is very good, the art that she paints at the end is goofily bad. And that's all I feel I have to say about this one, which is why it goes here.
- The Bandits of Golak by 88 Pictures
Aargh, I feel so conflicted about putting this here. Indian star wars rules? It's so so cool to see that spin on the world? But the art is pretty stiff, and the story feels like it's trying to cram too much stuff into a short space. I think the truth is that I would have put this way higher, though, if it hadn't been for the ending. Cannot believe they had the temerity to show us a loving sibling relationship that ends with the sister being kidnapped by the jedi and the brother being left alone. And it's meant to be happy???
- Aau's song by Triggerfish
This has exactly the same complaint as the last one. How dare it end with poor little Aau being forced to leave her loving dad, and that be framed as a happy ending??? It's bullshit. This gets to go one higher than The Bandits of Golak because the art is gorgeous, absolutely sublime. Shame the jedi suck so bad!!!
- I am your mother by Aardman
I feel conflicted about the position of this one too. Aardman are always competent, and this is 100% precisely what you'd expect from their version of star wars. It's very predictable and aimed at kids. In many ways I feel like it should be lower than something like the bandits of Golak, which isn't as polished but feels fresh. But this is the only story with no jedi or sith - that's got to count for something. And it is funny, the mini death star on the posh girl's racer made me laugh. So it's here.
- The Spy Dancer by Studio La Cachette.
Now this is tasty. The art is gorgeous, the setting rules, I love the character and environment design. It has great occupied France energy. I also really like how the story feels like a moment in the middle of the lives of all these people, letting us vividly imagine backwards and forwards around the snippet we got to see.
- In the Stars by Punkrobot
This is basically joint first, and it only gets a slight tip to second because it's a bit more predictable than number 1. But it ruuuules! The art is incredible. There are infinite good details, like the older sister wearing a stormtrooper breastplate that she's repurposed. And as cheesy as the climax is, the love between the sisters is so absolute and sweet. I cried both times I watched it. Also, it is sick as hell to see a Chilean studio tell a version of star wars that is so explicit about colonialism and indigenous rights. This one is really really special.
- Screecher's Reach by Cartoon Saloon
Wow, Eve, can't belive you put the Irish studio first.
So I'm a stan, okay, sue me?? I was always going to be predisposed to like this one, because I'm a huge fan of cartoon saloon's art style, and because it means so much to me to hear Irish voices front and centre in an animated star wars short (where else am I going to get a little kid saying kick you in the arse?). But this is also such a subtle and deft piece of storytelling. We get so much info about the workhouse and the life these kids lead in that first single pan. The kids feel like distinct characters immediately, full of life and feeling. The environment art and background details are fabulous, and it truly blends star wars with an Irish sensibility.
And then that ending... It's so unexpected, it rules. The sith master looks phenomenal, and the framing and pacing of the whole sequence with the ship, it's incredible.
And even though it's not quite as explicit as in the stars, this is absolutely also a story about empire and colonialism and the choices it pushes people to make. The use of workhouse makes that clear as day. But the fact that it pushes her into the arms of this clearly sinister and yet also warm and magnetic force... Ahhhh it's so good! They did so good! Star wars is good, actually!!