Happiness

While this short film does feel a little pessimistic in its interpretations of work and consumerism, it still presents them in an interesting way that makes the viewer think. I feel like this could have been just another movie or short showing the flaws of society, it it unveils those flaws in an interesting and visually striking way. The lively animation Paired with the classic music, serves as a meaningful yet cautious take on the meaning and purpose of happiness. This is probably one of Steve Cutts better shorts and it shows.

It's the most stunning short I've ever seen. Never thought that I would see something that would stalk with me for so long. Pretty much everyone I know has seen it. It's a marvelous little masterpiece that condences in a few minutes the "glorious" modern lifestyle of humankind. We've reached a point in time when we're so full hatred to one another, so depressed, so... unhappy. We can only imagine of a perfect society or so called utopia, but the current "state of the world" still has some work to do to change trajectory and find viable solutions for future generations to come.

Story: 9/10. It's not a groundbreaking narrative but it's handled so seamlessly and with an effective sense of humour.

Visuals: 9/10. The animation is very comic-book-like in a good way and makes for very immersive chaos.

Sound: 8/10. Good sound design and choice in classical music.

Inspired by the visual style of 1920s cartoons, this animated short offers a striking commentary on today's society. It paints a disturbingly accurate picture of where we've ended up-highlighting the pressure to chase money whether you're able to or not, the absurd consequences of consumerism (like Black Friday brawls), the relentless rat race in both work and personal life, the effects of overpopulation, and the deepening societal and political divide.

It even touches on the desperate attempts to cope-like consciousness-altering medication-portrayed so ironically that even a rat can feel like Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. Set to Edvard Grieg's classical music, the short beautifully captures what we've become as a society-and it's not necessarily something to be proud of.

Where to start? Well, first off this is what my daily commute to work is like. A literal rat race,the only difference in this animated short is that the rats don't use smartphones as much as us humans.

We see them (the rats) waiting for the train at the tube station - that was very true to life, comical in fact. A tin of sardines pulls up; one sardine falls out, another squeezes its way inside.

There are advertisements everywhere - in your face. Buy, buy, buy, commodity, commodity, commodity. Eat that burger - you know you want it but don't need it. Buy happiness, it's everywhere. Unless it's sold out at the local multiplex.

We've all been there.

Everything here begs the question... is this rat race carefully controlled by the upper echelons, slowly turning the cogs and warping our little brains? It is a scary fact and one that tempted me to turn this off early especially during the Black Friday sequence. Ahh!

The animations are fantastic and the choice of music lends to a sickly soundtrack.

Take from this what you will but be warned you might not like the stark dose of reality that Happiness delivers!