Wat's Pig

I have recently been watching gobs of Academy Award nominated animated shorts. In 1997, QUEST won the award and it was amazing visually. However, while WAT'S PIG was made in a more old fashion style (using claymation), I much preferred this film to the final winner. Part of it was that for a claymation film, it was gorgeous--with terrific backgrounds and characters. And, even more importantly, I enjoyed the film--and this should be the reason we watch cartoons and other animated films. It was funny and well-written.

The plot itself is a lot like a fairy tale. At the beginning of the film, the King and Queen have twin boys. One is kidnapped and the lost in the ensuing chase. The boy is discovered and raised by a pig farmer--unaware of the boy's identity. Years pass and the prince is a rather poor leader. Then, by chance, his brother (a pig farmer whose best friend is a pig) enters the picture to save the day.

See this film--it's good for a laugh.

Not unlike THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER this is the story of a baby prince who is kidnapped by the thief in the night and ends up being adopted by a pig . If the plot sounds kind of silly don't worry because it's an animated claymation cartoon . If it was live action the whole thing would of course be ridiculous but you can get away with bizarre frivolity in cartoons

With all these type of animated short stories the plotting and the story takes second place to the animation and when I say Peter Lord is the director of CHICKEN RUN that's all you need to know about the affectionate , effective type of claymation animation seen here . The story is told with a slit scan technique which keeps everything tightly paced and there's little dialogue which will help it in finding an international market . It was also Oscar nominated . Deservedly so

This is the classic story of two brothers, separated at birth, one becoming royalty and the other raised by a pig farmer. Of course, the royal kid becomes self centered and jaded, while the other becomes kind and grateful and strong. And then forces throw them together. It isn't any great shakes, but the animation is colorful and jolting and I liked that, even though the story has been told so many times.

From the same studio that brought you the Wallace and Gromit cartoons. Comes the weird and funny PRINCE AND THE PAUPER tale.This sure got my cousin's interest in it and I like it a lot too.Only I would much prefer the Wallace and Gromit cartoons and movie also CHICKEN RUN for one special reason they are a little more funny than this Aardman short.though I thought the beginning part was funny.At the beginning I thought it was funny because when the nanny came and saw the bandit take her baby's and screamed.I thought she made a very funny scream I thought.though I was surprised to see that this short film was only 11 minutes it seemed more like it was 15 minutes probably because I was board but never mind.But still this short film is pretty funny you should try it sometime

I remember that I first saw "Wat's Pig" several years ago at the animation festival held in an independent theater in Portland. What an impressive piece of work. Watching it, one can see - and I mean see, as there's very little dialog - how the kidnapped brother lives a laborious life, while the other remains a worthless rich person. And who would have guessed that a pig could play this kind of role? I don't know whether this cartoon is currently available anywhere. If it is, then you should definitely find time to see it. It goes to show what one can accomplish through images. Very good.

So, to rework what another pig famously said: B-dip, b-dip...th-th-th-that'll never be all, folks!