Without sounding like an elitist snob (though I'll understand if you want to label me one anyway), Animation Express isn't just a collection of cartoons. You're more likely to find these shorts at a film festival than Adult Swim. They're entertaining, but some are really more of an exploration of the medium rather than a funny short with talking creatures and sight gags. The collection hits all manner of animation, from stop-motion to Flash to watercolors. Nearly every style is explored, which is what makes Animation Express so interesting and appealing.
With close to 30 shorts included in the collection, it would be impossible to cover them all. Well, I could but the review would be a monster of a read. Still, a number are worthy of mention. A number have either won or been nominated for major awards, including the Academy Award. The rest are just as good and a great representation of what a skilled storyteller can do within the medium.
My favorite of the bunch is Sleeping Betty, a storybook-inspired visual piece revolving around the king's attempts to wake his sleeping daughter. It's an incredibly weird story that had me alternating between laughter and loud shouts of "What the...?" all the way through. Of all the included films, Paradise is likely the one with the deepest message. It's a story of being stuck in a routine conveyed through great use of tin toys stuck to a track. It's a bit unsettling, but incredibly powerful once the concept hits you.
Madame Tutli-Putli is another of Animation Express's highlights. Winner of numerous awards, including an Academy Award nomination, it is easily one of the collection's more intense films. It's a high-mark for stop-motion animation, mostly though its handling of eyes. Characters are modeled with real eyes composited in later. Eyes are one of those elements animation has trouble with, so seeing real eyes in place of "fake" ones is a bit unsettling. It really works for the piece.
Anyone who says they are a fan of animation owes it to themselves to add Animation Express to their collection. It's a fantastic representation of animation as a storytelling medium and showcases everything it has to offer.
