Three Short Films in Review
For viewers who want a single-standing film but cannot afford to spend two hours enjoying one, a Disney short film serves as an enjoyable five-minute production. A collection of short films is available on Netflix and other online sources. Although some of the films are tacky commercial fillers, many of the recent ones are excellent in all aspects such as story, music and animation.
The Little Matchgirl: 3 stars
Based off of Hans Christian Andersen’s original story from 1846, “The Little Matchgirl” depicts the last moments of a young Russian girl’s life as she struggles to sell matches in the snow. There is no dialogue or sound besides a segment of Alexander Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 in D Major in the background. Walt Disney Animation Studios usually does not create movies with no musical numbers, a love story or humor, and the decision to create a short film instead of a full length feature fit this story well. Although younger children may not understand the transitions of the girl’s reality into fantasy, I found the film extremely bittersweet.
Like most Disney short films, the animation is not the traditional two dimensional form of the full length features. The quality of animation and color transforms the viewer into the scene on the cold streets and the feast by the fire that she imagines as she lights her matches. It is a film worth taking the time to watch, but it is not one that warrants multiple viewings. It is a beautiful combination of visual and auditory components, but it is a downer compared to all of the other films a viewer could watch.
Frozen Fever: 1 star
Compared to other short films made by Disney, “Frozen Fever” was intolerable. Similarly to the movie’s scene featuring Anna singing before her sister Elsa’s coronation, this is a musical style film featuring Elsa’s preparation for Anna’s surprise birthday. The short film, released two years after the original movie, lacks the magical aspect of the animation from the first.
The misunderstood logic of Olaf’s abilities could pass when there was a cute song featuring him, but this new concept of tiny snowmen who appear when Elsa sneezes makes no sense and does not contribute anything to the story. Elsa wears a green dress and conjures flowers in this film which is aggravatingly inconsistent. Most of the major concerns with this film involved were reflected in the tons of merchandise that Disney marketed and sold as “new” Elsa, Anna and Olaf dolls. All in all, “Frozen Fever” is not an entertaining piece that provides any feelings of amazement that usually accompanies most Disney classics.
Feast: 4 stars
“Feast” tells the story of Winston, an adorable Boston Terrier, and his relationship with James, a person who accidentally drops a fry in front of Winston on the street. The most appealing aspect of this movie was the relatable connection between a loyal dog and human. Unlike most animated film that include talking and singing dogs, the animators created a character whom we can clearly envision in our own lives.
The story shows how the introduction of another person into a close friend’s life can often feel like being pushed aside. Winston struggles with his jealousy, and when James ends up reverting into a sad and unmotivated person, Winston overcomes his personal issues and helps James—a lesson that a parent would want to teach their child. By the end of the film, Winston welcomes more additions into his owner’s life and they both end up being happy. If you enjoy animated dogs and appetizing food, “Feast” supplies comfort during hours when you should be doing work.