Worth-Watching Animated Short Films on YouTube
Feel-good stories in under ten minutes
I know the feeling when you feel like you want to watch a movie, but you don’t really know what movie you want to watch.
I can spend at least an hour scrolling through Netflix. From all those movie thumbnails and titles on my screen, I often struggle to choose one.
Maybe I was just unsure and a bit afraid to click on an hour-and-half movie, and even after 50 minutes in, I didn’t really enjoy it. I simply don’t want to waste my time.
In a situation like this, I’ll just go to YouTube. It mostly ends up like that.
There are worth-watching animated short movies (by shorts, I mean under 10-minute movies) on YouTube.
If you’re like me– who has such extremely short attention spans, looks for light-hearted films, can’t afford to waste time that could’ve been spent on something more meaningful than a lame film, these are some of my favorite award-winning animated short films you should enjoy watching on YouTube. Easy-to-follow yet intriguing storyline, less commitment.
Don’t worry, I hate spoilers, too. So I won’t spoil anything.
UMBRELLA
The animation says a lot even though it doesn’t have any words.
Despite the stunning animation, this Oscar-qualified short movie is about a boy, a yellow umbrella, and his past memories.
This movie teaches us to reflect on the importance of observing, listening, and understanding that we cannot judge people without knowing what is behind their experiences.
Well, we never know what hell did a person go through in their life. So we must be kind to each other.
WiNDUP
This is another CGI animated short film without any single word spoken. And as its end credit says: this film is dedicated to those who are fighting bravely against sickness and those who are supporting us to heal.
This movie tells a story about a little girl who’s sick and her father. It’s about hope and love.
The poignant story is moving. Not to mention the beautiful music that leads our emotions.
The ending shows us that even in the darkest time, hope exists.
Are you okay?
“Are you okay?” tells the story of two teenagers dealing with online bullying.
From the movie, we know that online bullying can bleed into our real-world lives. Dealing with it isn’t as simple as turning off our devices.
What I love about the animation is that it makes expressing complex emotions much more interesting and relatable.
There’s a slimy purple goo that seems not only gross but heavy — just like sadness or even depression.
The Box
This simple animated movie is about war and how it greatly affects children.
There’s a child and his cat which alters instantly with the sudden war and pushes him into a state of struggle.
The war here doesn’t only change his life but also the role of his box.
The kid firstly uses the box for a toy house, then as things happen, the box can pretty much be anything the kid needs.
Snack Attack
Waiting to board the train, all the old lady wants to do is just eat her cookies in peace, but a teenage boy has other plans for them.
I love how simple the plot is but there’s still a powerful message behind it, like “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “communication is key”.
Happiness
Happiness is written by Steve Cutts that tells an explicit critique of contemporary society.
The rodents in the film here symbolize the people who live in the world of capitalism.
In a nutshell: the brutal truth about “happiness” in modern society is told in less than five minutes.
First Born
This film tells a story about a boy who must prove his worth and show his potential in an upcoming martial arts competition.
He believes that it’s the way to gain favor in his family’s eyes and match his sister’s status.
The colors, animation, and music are just gorgeous.
If you like animations, feel-good stories, and YouTube videos, check out: Best YouTube Animation Channels.
Another list:
Do you have a favorite animated short film? Feel free to comment down below.
