Alma, a short animated jewel directed...by a Pixar animator !

This week-end i have a animation jewel for you. The animation of this short animated movie called "Alma" is just as good as Pixar's shorts and, although it was not produced by Pixar, there is a good reason for that as Rodrigo Blaas IS animator at Pixar Animation Studios! Back in 2009 Lee Unkrich, Toy Story 3 director, was telling to everyone all the good things he thought about "Alma" which tells the story of a little girl attracted by a puppet she see in the window of a toy store, for reasons you will discover, no spoiler.

For Rodrigo Blaas "Alma" was a private animation project done in Spain with his brother Alfonso and other friends. Since 2009 the movie had screenings in many films festivals around the world, won many awards, and almost won the "Goya" - Spain Academy awards - of best animated short this year. Some of you will probably think that the story line and atmosphere of this short animated - with its Art Nouveau and expressionist style - is not that far from Tim Burton's universe and it's not totally wrong but, for me, "Alma" is closer to the Twilight Zone stories. It last less than 5 minutes so you don't have any good alibi to don't watch this little jewel! Go ahead!

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Picture and video: copyright Rodrigo Blaas