In this animated short, a playful group is dancing when they become aware they're being watched by a huge, menacing head. When the head interrupts their good time, they take action in an unexpected way, forcing the giant head to undergo an altered state of mind.
Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
This animated short poses some interesting questions: what if buildings pulsed, trees tapped out beats, or shadows could whistle a tune? Through the creative interpretation and animation of the city's natural rhythms, Orange orchestrates a contagious urban dance.
Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
In this animated short from the Hothouse 5 series, two creatures wonder, What is a hole? They have different points of view. Their debate leads to an idea, an idea that changes the world. This is a story of practical magic.
Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
In this animated short, an oafish ghoul and his soft exposed brain are met with ruin when the brain is unexpectedly killed. Though paralyzed, the ghoul attains a fresh brain and is fed with new life.
Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
In this animated short, a layered narrative exploring memory and family history is constructed using a collage of family photos, photocopies and personal audio recordings. The film explores the fragility of personal memory, and photos as physical tokens of that memory.
Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
In this animated short from the Hothouse 5 series, a lonely old lady sits in an empty room knitting. As her thoughts wander, her dreams take the shape of fanciful knitted creatures and objects that cocoon her in a pattern of wonder and comfort.
Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
Director Carrie Haber delves deep into the anxiety, thrill and uncertainty of six aspiring animation artists as they are plunged into the twelve-week trial-by-fire that is the NFB's Hothouse for animation filmmakers.
In this short animated film a robot rambles about frenetically, receiving countless electronic messages through his antenna every second. Despite his fatigue and stress, he never slows down. The only thing that might bring his frantic journey to an end is a traffic accident.
Produced as part of the third edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
Transformation, technology, higher powers, breath. These ideas and elements roil around inside Toronto artist and filmmaker Zane Kozak's CG-animated short, taking us on a somewhat troubling but eerily mystical journey from the human form to... something entirely different.
Produced as part of the 6th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
Filmmaker Fred Casia, inspired by the iconic '50s-vintage View-Master stereo viewer and '60s-era TV nature shows, takes us on a weird and wacky 3-D safari through the jungle that is the human digestive system. With 2-D digital animation set into a diorama-esque stereoscopic space, Casia creates a small, bizarre gem.
Produced as part of the 6th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
As a young woman finds herself lost in daydreams while clumsily performing the tradition of making pierogies, she invokes the presence of her grandmother, who guides her through the messy ritual. The film is a fusion of hand-drawn animation, folk art and stereoscopic drawings made in space, by Calgary illustrator and filmmaker Kiarra Albina.
Produced as part of the 6th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
A small boy is left alone to play in a large and empty house. A dark cloud starts to seep in from behind the mail slot at the front door. As it fills the space, a monster forms. The boy runs away, but the creature is always near. The chase will not end until the boy discovers the source of his fears. The film uses a combination of 2D hand-drawn animation, 3D backgrounds and particle effects.
Produced as part of the 8th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
Ages 9 to 11
Health/Personal Development - Bullying & Discrimination
Health/Personal Development - Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
Physical Education - Safety/Fair Play/Leadership
Is the big head a bully or does it just not know how to appropriately ask to join in the fun? As the big head approaches, are its intentions good or bad? How can the viewer tell if the big head is friendly or nasty? This film is a discussion starter about evaluating situations and deciding how to defuse or escalate possible conflict.