It’s that time of the year again – the festive season that sends some of my friends into a Christmas decorations and mulled wine trance, and plunges others into despair at the prospect of having to spend time with their family.
If you’re finding it hard to get in the mood when it’s 16 degrees outside (or when the world is burning) this very short selection (6 minutes in total!) is a good remedy: tongue-in-cheek, with slightly unconventional takes on Father Christmas.
Santa, the Fascist Years, by Bill Plympton (2008)
Let’s start with a legend of independent animation, Bill Plympton, whose vibrant hand-drawn style and satirical tone are immediately recognisable. In this film from 2008, he opens classified files about Santa’s dark past. Fast-paced, incisive and highly entertaining (if it weren’t for the similarities with current geopolitics).
A Memory of Christmas, by Ainslie Henderson (2014)
I’ve already proclaimed my love for stop-motion animator Ainslie Henderson in this other article. By unearthing an awkward anecdote from his childhood, he manages to create a 90-second film that is both sweet and very funny. Its conciseness and simplicity make it all the more precious.
#merrychristmas, by Chintis Lundgren (2015)
Chintis Lundgren, who describes herself on Instagram as an “animator of birds and drunk rabbits” made a festival hit in 2017 with her short film Manivald. In this animated greeting card (pre-dating the short), we find all the ingredients that constitute the delightful universe she’s been building over the years: gentle colours, cute animals and irreverent humour. It’s silly and pointless, and that’s why I love it.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about the feature film she’s currently developing around the same characters: Saima – Scenes from a Midlife Crisis (pitched at Annecy in 2025).
Joyeux noël everyone!
Cover image: #merry christmas, Chintis Lundgren (2015)
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