This short film celebrates the joy and imagination of stop motion animation in a delightful way.
From filmmaker Antoin Niclass, comes this wonderful short film. about a monkey trying to find a home of his own, having had a glimpse of a forest on a computer screen.
It might only be 10 minutes long, but Into the Forest still manages to make an impact during this time because it celebrates the wonderful and painstaking process of stop motion. This is expressed in a variety of ways including the opening sequence in which we see the monkey puppet being brought to life by an animator and the way in which instead of removing digitally erasing support rigs it retains the studio elements.
Throughout the running time, the creativity as the monkey (who meets new friends who he helps put together) develops a forest of his own through a variety of materials he finds around the studio in which he was created. Watching it all come together, it is hard not to have a smile on your face.
It makes for perfect viewing for younger audiences as it has enough in it to capture their attention and remain invested in the outcome: we want the monkey to have a home of his own. There is an endearing element to it, helped by the score that enhances the feeling of adventure that is unfolding in front of us.
There is a lovely consistency in tone and by keeping the premise straight forward makes it hard to resist.
Overall, Into the Forest succeeds in many ways in terms of celebrating stop motion animation and the power of imagination. Well worth watching if you can.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️