Last blog post, I invited you to a night of short films… held in a food forest!
It was a special night. Movies. Food. Fuzzy blankets. And everything from dogs and kids to full-grown adults.
A mother and newsletter follower named Heather came up at the end and asked:
“Could I have a list of those short films? I would love to show them to my kids.”
Here are the 6 award-winning short films about life on earth
+ why I chose them as a teacher of sustainable living:
#1. First up… “Piper” By Disney-Pixar
When you are running an evening of short films, you have to START STRONG.
“Piper” by Disney-Pixar was a top contender. Here is why I chose it:
- Good for all ages. Perfect for kids and full of messages for adults.
- It will melt your heart. You can’t help smiling for this little bird.
- Our world needs people like Piper. To be brave and learn from our mistakes. To live differently, be creative, and share abundance. AND have fun. 🙂
#2. “Spring” By Blender Animation Studio
When I teach others to become designers for their own sustainable life, I make this clear:
WORK WITH NATURE. Otherwise, you are working against it. (And nature always wins.)
Your home can become more efficient, your food can grow itself, and the byproduct is abundance.
So how do you work with nature? You live with the Seasons.
I chose this film because:
- Great for all ages + great music. 16 Million views!
- Raises awareness for the important seasonal dates of the year – the Equinoxes and Solstices
- The landscape is gorgeous. Looks just like the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and BC.
- I LOVE HOW IT ENDS… go watch.
#3. “A Fox & A Mouse” By ESMA | TheCGBros
The previous film was about changing seasons, so let’s jump into winter.
Here is why I chose this film:
- Good for all ages. A little girl in the audience gasped, “OH NO! The Fox, Mommy!”
- Conversation starter on the topic of “specism”
- The animations! The Music! You can tell this was made with so much care and love.
#4. “Our Wonderful Nature: The Common Chameleon” by Tomer Eshed
I chose this short film because:
- Educational. Narrated like National Geographic.
- Short and easy watch – 3.5 min
- Hilarious. One of the kids at the movie night was cry-laughing.
#5. “Chateau de Sable (Sand Castle)” by ESMA | CGMeetup
It’s easy to see why this short film has 23 Million views (!!).
Here is why I chose it for my short film list:
- Exciting for all ages & very imaginative. Get swept up in the animation, music, and action.
- We have all built a sand castle. Did yours feel this epic?
- Lessons on: our humanity, our epic fragility, and the temporary nature of all things.
#6. “Course Of Nature” – by Lucy Xue & Paisley Manga | TheCGBros
First I watched this… then I noticed it has 37 Million views (!!). That’s insane!
The more I reflected on the film, the more I realized why it’s so popular:
- Teaches about life and death. And in a way that compares a pet to a cloud.
- Teaches about the earth and the water cycle. We all live in a watershed.
- Good for all ages. Bonus cute-puppy clouds.
#7. “The Last Bastion” An Overwatch Short Film By Blizzard
Start strong and finish strong right? This is my favorite short film of them all.
(Note: I am a nerd and slightly biased… As a bonus this was made by a video game company I like)
I could tell you why I chose it…
Instead, here are a couple of the comments about the film on Youtube:
- Other games: “Gun is gun”
Blizzard: “Gun has PTSD and moral dilemmas” - What if a gun had a soul? And didn’t want to be a gun?
- “I love the message of how something that used to be ugly and evil can turn into something so beautiful.”
I hope you enjoyed this post!
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Hungry for more to watch?
Check out this Tiny House Show I am producing.
Warmly,
Kenton Zerbin
(Kenton is a passionate educator for sustainable living who lives in an off-grid tiny house in northern Alberta. Kenton runs a wide array of workshops on tiny homes, sustainable living, and edible landscaping. He also does consulting and design for homeowners, communities, and businesses)