The second season of this series consists of 13 animated interstitials featuring quirky encounters that, owing to their often amusing twists at the end, make us laugh and think about our little idiosyncrasies.
Animals are at the heart of this programme. The camels, lama, beetles and cat that appear in the films are cast in everyday situations. Whether the animals appear in settings with which they are naturally associated (rolling in mud in the case of the piglet, for instance) or anthropomorphic ones (like when the kangaroo demonstrates how to use a scooter), the playlets follow the same narrative arc: a starting situation, the introduction of a disruptive element, then a reversal of the situation at the conclusion. While the disruptive element triggers a strong feeling in the main character – irritation, fear, jealousy and so on – the situation turns around in surprising fashion through some funny twist. Thus viewers find themselves laughing on two levels: firstly at the character’s plight – ie at him – and then with him. Throughout the episodes the characters’ encounters pit them against their opposites before they ultimately find themselves face to face with themselves! Finally, as they are snared in their own traps, an obstacle or danger transforms into something helpful, or a fear or an enemy becomes a source of strength or comfort. What adds to the humour of the episodes is that they veer into the absurd, with twists that go against what viewers expect.
The soundscape adds to the films’ humour: with no dialogue, the characters’ joyous misadventures are accompanied by onomatopoeic sounds and music. The framing, the playful use of shadows and colours and the off-camera elements build and then deconstruct the meeting places where the comical developments play out.
But in addition to making us laugh, these short, sketch-like stories ultimately make us think about our little human quirks. A kind of moral emerges from each one, giving these short films the quality of modern fables. Mind you, the morals tend to be quite irreverent. Indeed, “we always need someone dirtier than ourselves” could be one of them!
This hilarious series will bring bursts of laughter from young and older viewers alike.
