Harpya

I had never heard of this film until less than a half hour ago and now that I've seen it I cannot believe it had ever escaped my knowledge previously! THIS is what filmmaking is all about! It's damn brilliant, and one of the creepiest films I've ever seen, regardless of length. It's a bit confusing as there is likely a bit more context one would need in order to totally understand the overall point of the film (harpies obviously come from mythology, and it feels like this short contains many references to said mythology and may be a parable of sorts); however, regardless of my knowledge on other matters, "Harpya" was one fun ride! It's highly experimental, utilizing a bizarre technique combining animation and live action to eerie effects...basically the definition of the "uncanny valley". It also seemed to have a surreal sense of black humor that recalls the great Jan Svankmajer, an animation genius who I admire above most other filmmakers, so a recollection of him in favorable response to a film is always a good sign from me!

This animated film from Canada is very well made but it's also a film that probably most viewers would probably not seek out for themselves. As an art film, you have to respect the time and energy it went into it but commercially it just isn't very satisfying.

The film consists of images scratched onto a black background. The film consists of a variety of odd shapes and designs with no anthropomorphic images at all. The images appear and disappear and seem to move to the music. In fact, this is the part that impressed me so much--the animation and music did film perfectly together. However, after initially being impressed, I soon grew tired of this. Even though the film was short, it wasn't short enough for me and a little of this seems to go a very long way.

Overall, interesting and you have to respect the effort but also not the average person would watch.

a man saves an "interesting" type of bird's life and takes it to his home. but the bird (or bird like human or whatever) slowly starts to ruin the man's freedom to eat or to go outside. all the food is eaten by the so called "bird" and while the man is trying to escape, bird eats his lower part of the body. with the help of a phonograph, he manages to escape from the house but cannot escape from his destiny.

this 9 minute masterpiece has used the animation techniques very smartly although it has been done in 1979. the idea was not explained with cliché techniques either. from the film I understood that a man who helps another might dig his own grave by doing this. cause the one whom you have helped may not help you back. besides he/she can even harm you. so I think this short film was arguing whether one should be individualistic or not (with a pessimistic view.

a must see for all short film and animation addicts.

I've always enjoyed short films and this animated effort is one of the best I've seen. Created by Belgian auteur Raoul Servais, it's a simple reworking of a legend from ancient Greece, that of the harpy who torments men by eating all of their food. Servais uses animation to great effect, as real actors are transformed and become people living in a make-believe world that looks quirky and beautiful at the same time.

Eliciting excellent performances from the two leads, Will Spoor and Fran Waller Zeper, this eight-minute feature is utterly weird and often horrific, and it's currently doing the Internet rounds on account of its scary nature. Its top-class animation makes it unmissable for those with an interest in the arts while in the meantime it stands alone as a horror film far more terrifying than 90% of recent genre fare.

This animated film from Canada is very well made but it's also a film that probably most viewers would probably dislike. As an art film, you have to respect the time and energy it went into it but commercially it just isn't very satisfying.

The film consists of images scratched onto a black background. The film consists of a variety of odd shapes and designs with no anthropomorphic images at all. The images appear and disappear and seem to move to the music. In fact, this is the part that impressed me so much--the animation and music did film perfectly together. However, after initially being impressed, I soon grew tired of this. Even though the film was short, it wasn't short enough for me and a little of this seems to go a very long way.

Overall, interesting and you have to respect the effort but also not a particularly enjoyable film to watch.