The Frenetic and Spirited Animation of "Caveirão"

Well now I definitely want to visit Brazil. This short film by Guilherme Marcondes, also known in English as "The Master's Voice," combines live-action, 2D and 3D animation to create one of the most energetic and beautifully bizarre short films I've seen in ages. Chock-a-block with all sorts of fantastic creatures, this short took over two years to make and has its own dedicated website which describes the film as follows:


"Shot in São Paulo, 'Caveirão' imagines the secret night activities of that city's spirits. Inspired by the darker side of Brazilian pop culture, the film crosses over genres and techniques. Fantasy, horror and cartoon meet through live-action, 2D animation and 3D vfx."

The animation of the spirits is something to behold, so full of energy and life, you want to believe they're real. The way they dance, play dominoes and music, and haul around creepy giant carnival heads is simply uncanny. The live-action character of The Master, a sinister-looking police officer who comes out at night to banish the spirits, is well-acted and interacts convincingly with the animated characters on screen. I enjoyed the subtle narrative underpinning the action, the scene at the end raises questions that intrigued me, and though I have my own speculation as to his origin, I'll leave it up to you to play with on your own. An amazing short film with over-the-top visuals and memorable characters; I look forward to seeing what comes next from Guilherme and his team of magicians!

For a behind the scenes look at the production of this amazing short, check out its website. You can follow Guilherme on Facebook and Twitter.