Time Flies

“It’s always a pleasure to discover inspiring films like this and be reminded of the next generation of talented filmmakers…”

Two flies with opposite personalities struggle to make the most of a 24-hour lifespan. The energetic A-fly rushes to complete every activity on a massive bucket list, whereas the introspective Z-fly searches for a deeper meaning, only to spiral into existential dread.

We’re always excited when it comes to our animated category as the mix of films never ceases to surprise us with stand out films and Time Flies is certainly one of those. What we enjoyed most about this gem of a film was the simple but poignant message told with some truly stunning animation.

Time Flies is an incredible example of pulling together a talented team of filmmakers to create an exciting story. The complexity of producing a short animated film to this high standard called for a range of crew and each of them should be commended for their work as the end result is outstanding. 

The story was written by director LJ Burnett and makes a lasting impression with it’s simple yet inspiring moral which is what makes it work. With the endless possibilities animation has to offer storytellers, it’s easy for that to get in the way of the story and lose sight. In this case, Time Flies never strays from it’s message and makes every scene count.

The choice to feature two totally opposing characters with different outlooks on life but both struggling with the same existential crisis has a wonderful introspective impact on the viewer. Burnett and the team were able to inject plenty of humour into the film by utilising the style of animation which really lent itself to some good laughs.

The animation itself is what stands out first and is very impressive, even against the top quality films we have had the opportunity to see. The level of detail and splash of colour gives Time Flies a totally unique look. The animation is both exciting and fast pace but knows when to slow down to allow for some emotional moments that help nurture the story. The design of the characters is very inspired and has an almost 90s video game quality to it like Earthworm Jim or Rayman. The same can be said of the backgrounds which make for some breathtaking backdrops adding to the stories sense of wonder the world has to offer, reminding what our two characters are struggling with losing. 

The 2D merged with 3D animation style is not something you typically find in a short film and for good reason, it’s very time consuming! We weren’t surprised to learn it took 12 months to produce even with a pool of animators behind it. By utilising Pantheon, a 2D lighting plugin for Nuke (VFX Software) created by SCAD alum Noah Catan, the team were able to produce some startling results. The effect help to create a sense of depth in the film which added scale to the world our characters existed in. Subtle yet crucial details like this shouldn’t be overlooked as they take great skill and time to execute.

Inspiring work here from Burnett and the whole team. It’s always a pleasure to discover inspiring films like this and be reminded of the the next generation of talented filmmakers. We’re delighted to give Time Flies a solid 5 stars and recommend you watch it…

— APEX Film Awards