Before I could plan anything, I wanted to first see what kind of short films were made. My first stop was of course, YouTube where there is a abundance of  animated short films that are created in various art styles and methods. 

Disclaimer : For gathering my inspiration and references I may not only use short films but other creative animated creations as well. 

I first picked four animated short films that looked the most appealing to me. These include the following 

“Snack Attack” (by Eduardo Verastegui)

To begin planning my 5-minute animated short film, I spent time watching 2D animated shorts on YouTube to gather inspiration and understand how professionals structure their stories. I focused on films that used simple but emotional storytelling, since that’s the direction I want to take with my own project.

Two that really stood out to me were “Snack Attack” (by Eduardo Verastegui) and “The Present” (by Jacob Frey). Both are short, 2D or semi-2D animations that rely heavily on visual storytelling rather than dialogue, which is something I want to apply in my own work.

Why I like “Snack Attack”?

In Snack Attack, the film uses exaggerated character expressions, clear framing, and timing to create humour and surprise. I noticed that even without much dialogue, I could understand the story easily through gestures and pacing. I plan to use similar exaggerated movements in my animation to make the characters’ emotions clear, especially since my film will focus on friendship and everyday interactions.

Via Google

In The Present by Jacob Frey, the use of lighting, music, and camera angles really stood out. The warm tones made the story feel emotional and sincere. The framing also helped guide the viewer’s attention to the small but meaningful actions of the characters. For my project, I’ll use soft lighting and limited camera movement to create a calm, slice-of-life atmosphere that feels relatable.

I also noticed how both shorts used sound very effectively. Even simple ambient sounds, like footsteps or background chatter, made the settings feel alive. For my own film, I plan to include quiet, realistic background sounds (like birds or street noise) to enhance immersion without distracting from the story.

From these analyses, I’ve learned that successful short films rely on simplicity and emotion, not complexity. They focus on human feelings and relationships through clear visuals, smooth pacing, and consistent tone.

• Effective storytelling doesn’t require dialogue — emotion can be shown through animation and timing.

• Strong visual composition and lighting help communicate the mood.

• Sound design adds depth and realism to scenes.

• Keeping the story simple but meaningful makes it more engaging within a 5-minute limit.

This research helped me define the tone and approach for my final animation: a 2D slice-of-life short film that focuses on emotional expression, simple storytelling, and soft, natural visuals.

How this will help my final project

This research will help my final project by giving me a clearer understanding of how successful animated short films are created and presented. By watching films like Snack Attack and The Present, I was able to observe different storytelling techniques, art styles, and ways of expressing emotion without relying on dialogue. 

This inspired me to think more carefully about how I can structure my own story and connect with my audience. 

 When I first started using animation software, I kept hearing the term keyframes, but I didn’t fully understand how important they were. At the beginning, I just placed them randomly and hoped the animation would look good. But once I started experimenting properly, I realized that keyframes are actually the foundation of all animation.

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