6 min · English · Animation
Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter's Oscar-nominated stop-motion, adapted from Ron Koertge's poem: a son remembers his father through the art of packing a suitcase. Five perfect minutes.
English animated short films
38 English animated short films in the cafe, running 3 to 21 minutes. Many are feel-good or thought-provoking. Each is a complete standalone short film, chosen by the cafe and played through its original video provider.
14 min · English · Animation · Documentary
Take a short break with “Ryan” to see the world from another angle.
7 min · English · Animation
A father’s first attempt at his daughter’s hairstyle turns an everyday act of care into a tender story about family and connection.
5 min · English · Animation · Drama
A tiny story with a generous heart. Stay for the moment when its perspective opens up.
10 min · English · Animation · Comedy
A bird too frightened to fly south makes an unusual starting point for a winter journey. Watch if you like small stories about facing a big fear.
6 min · English · Animation · Comedy
Christopher Hinton's Oscar-nominated 1991 NFB animation, set to Wade Hemsworth's folk song about the blackflies that tormented him on a summer survey in Northern Ontario. Five itchy, joyful minutes.
12 min · English · Animation · Drama
“STILL” is a quiet, music-led AI short about memory and grief, and about the people we keep trying for even when we can't fix what's broken.
8 min · English · Animation · Comedy
Cordell Barker's Oscar-nominated 1988 NFB animation: old Mr Johnson tries everything to get rid of a little yellow cat, and the cat keeps coming back. Eight minutes of escalating chaos.
14 min · English · Animation · Drama
Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby's Oscar-nominated NFB animation: in 1909 a dapper Englishman tries ranching in Alberta, armed with badminton, birdwatching and liquor. Painterly, funny and sad.
9 min · English · Animation · Comedy
Oscar-nominated animator Cordell Barker's stop-motion comedy, presented by The New Yorker's Screening Room. A boy daydreams through biology class about godlike powers, and the results are gloriously petty.
8 min · English · Animation
A National Film Board of Canada animation by Jo Meuris, based on Manjusha Pawagi's picture book. Meena hates books until their characters tumble out into her life. Made for ages 5 to 8, charming at any age.
4 min · English · Animation · Comedy
Even an old refrigerator can worry about being replaced. Watch for an animated friendship story about assumptions and the trouble they cause.
8 min · English · Animation
Small paws, big determination. Follow Andy's journey for an animated story about perseverance, help and finding a purpose.
3 min · English · Animation · Comedy · Drama
A swallowed seed turns an ordinary snack into a strange predicament. Try this brief animated comedy for a playful twist on an old childhood warning.
11 min · English · Animation
A professor's obsession leads all the way to the Arctic. Try this animated adventure for mystery, memory and the curious pull of numbers.
7 min · English · Animation · Drama · Comedy
Shirley Zhou's UCLA animation thesis: an ex-bounty hunter makes breakfast while his daughter keeps asking about his old job. Seven charming minutes.
4 min · English · Animation · Romance
A shy painter's pictures have opinions of their own. Try this animated romance for a playful story about finding the courage to show your feelings.
8 min · English · Animation · Fantasy · Romance
One grand ball, and very little time to find love. Try this puppet fairytale, narrated by Stephen Fry, for a story about making the most of the time we have.
9 min · English · Animation · Drama
A meeting with Death becomes an invitation to look back at life. Choose Coda for a brief animated reflection on the things a person can miss while living.
11 min · English · Animation · Science fiction
A surreal, deliberately open-ended story about trust and the worlds people construct for one another.
6 min · English · Animation · Science fiction
A traveller searches across space and time for the origins of the universe and life, arriving alone at a difficult realisation as the cosmos ages.
22 min · English · Animation · Science fiction
Two girls find a way to keep moving through a broken world. A pick for an animated train journey through post-apocalyptic days.
4 min · English · Animation · Comedy · Fantasy
A rude encounter becomes an unexpected lesson in empathy. Try Mime Your Manners for a quick animated reversal of roles.
14 min · English · Animation · Romance · Drama
Miss Todd has the imagination to fly—but the world has other expectations. Watch for a stop-motion musical about determination and making room for a woman's ambition.
7 min · English · Animation · Drama
Try Yulia Aronova's short animation in its English version. A compact pick for discovering an independent animator's work.
11 min · English · Animation · Drama
Steven Hunter's Pixar SparkShort: a young man who hasn't come out to his parents swaps bodies with his dog. Eleven minutes of love, family and a very energetic pup.
6 min · English · Animation
A captured alien fights for survival in a solar system where no one can be trusted.
6 min · English · Science fiction · Animation
A robot workforce becomes a way to look at exclusion in a city. Watch for an animated short that echoes Brixton's history through a futuristic world.
10 min · English · Animation · Comedy
A carefree train ride becomes a darkly comic scramble. Watch for an animated short about class, self-interest and a journey going wrong.
9 min · English · Animation
Why does time seem to speed up as we age? Try this stop-motion short for a darkly comic exploration of that fear.
7 min · English · Animation · Comedy
A missing scarf opens the door to surprisingly big questions. Try this animated fable for a small forest adventure with an existential streak, narrated by George Takei.
13 min · English · Animation · Fantasy · Drama
A boy and an unusual creature find friendship in the dark. Watch for a fairy tale brought to life through distinctive pinscreen animation.
8 min · English · Animation · Fantasy · Drama
A fall into the ocean opens a strange and magical world. Try this stop-motion fable for an imaginative journey through fear, comfort and hope.
5 min · English · Animation · Fantasy
A monster, a colony of birds and a very small rescuer fill this animated mini-opera. Choose The Tale of How for a brief journey into a richly strange fantasy world.
6 min · German · English · Animation · Comedy
Two neighbours seek companionship through online videos: one records a dating profile while the other films a cooking show. Their noisy efforts collide across a split screen.
6 min · English · Animation · Comedy
An art student with poor eyesight follows his teacher's advice to draw exactly what he sees, and becomes an online sensation as an abstract artist. A six-minute animated satire of art criticism.
5 min · English · Tamil · Hindi · Animation · Comedy · Drama
What if a skin tone came with a number that shaped how people treated you? Try this short animated satire for a pointed look at colourism and everyday prejudice.
10 min · English · Animation · Drama
A stranger's death changes the way Ruby sees her city. Watch this animated short for a reflection on fragile lives and unexpected connections.
Related guides
English drama short films · English comedy short films · English sci-fi short films · English thriller short films · English documentary short films · English romantic short films · All guides