This Way Home

Loved the elves, nice visually to watch. Oh the magic of the soprano! I really liked the opening scene of the feet. It was evident that you had put a lot of effort into the musical side. So brave when your genre wasn't even musical!

Whilst their pointed features normally point them in the right direction, leading the pack leads to loss of direction and appetite for a would be Elven adventurer. Once again a phenomenal animated musical from Hannah Taylor that burst with colour, vibrancy and catchy tunes.

First timers take note this is how you make the most of your 5 minutes and go big or go home, because with 2D Animation in particular you've got to have something pretty bulletproof before you get going and with a deft and talented hand behind proceedings, this LEGEND OF ZELDA IN THE LAND OF OZ crammed some absolutely doozy songs and well-executed story beats into proceedings.

I liked the touch of commentary about how people can become reliant on their devices because even whilst this film was set in the supernatural wilderness, the loss of a map and a backpack shows how raw and instinctive nature quickly makes people.

Having said that, this is a film that shifts gears like not many others in the competition this year, and it's so pleasurable sitting and watching a film thinking that it is getting good, then it gets really good...and then WOW. There is more than one moment like that but a particular highlight for me was the first song "My Instincts Suck" where a catchy tune then kicks in with rhythm guitars, THEN harmonies, AND THEN the psychedelic spit screen. That's absolute gold.

Some truly inventive storytelling and lore as well, with the modernisation and subversion of lycanthrope tropes where the jazzy dance moves called to mind the big brass band numbers of Busby Berkley classics like CABIN IN THE SKY but on a smaller but nevertheless just as charming scale.

Now for mine I do just wonder if the emotional beats of the story could have been ever so slightly stronger. We get this initially with the character expressing the angst that their famililal pressure generates, with fantastic voice work and animation to show this with pitch point accuracy. But with being lost and looking to get back on track so critical to the story, whilst I found the journey incredibly charming with great comedic beats, the ending felt literally a bit empty. Like we got the sign and the resolution, and life goes on, and I just personally wanted more. But maybe that's just because I wanted to see more of this high quality film. Hard to say!

Story: 4/5
Technical: 4/5
Elements: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Fun new animation work Hannah, I really enjoy your dry humour moments. The first time the creepy forest eyes popped in I loved. And the waffle! Good stuff in such a short amount of time.

Dang I felt like I was watching an excellent Saturday morning cartoon, I cannot imagine how much work this must have taken but the result is just delightful to watch.

I am so impressed by your animation! I may not have all the technical talk down to review it properly, but I absolutely loved it! The songs were spectacular, it was genuinely very entertaining and reminded me a lot of the She-Ra cartoons on Netflix, which I love, and I can relate to the comment above likening it to the legend of Zelda. I’d totally watch your cartoon if you made a series.
In summary, a masterpiece.

These solo animations are getting better and better by the year. The songs were pretty catchy keeping the flow of the film going, and the designs worked really well for the film. It's hard to think of ways this film could've been better without becoming extremely nitpicky.

Delectable fruit, or deadly poison?

Very fun, solid animation work, with great songs and a creative worm’s eye view shot.