Short Stop: Quota makes its point quickly, humorously

Hailing from Dutch animation studio Job, Joris, & Marieke (also the names of the three filmmakers who run the studio), the Oscar-qualified short Quota is an example of time well-spent. Very little time, in this case, which is thematically relevant to the short's concerns. We all have only one brief lifetime to live on this planet, and this planet only has one (relatively) brief lifetime as well. As we go about our business, spending our time, rushing toward death, we're also hastening the death of the planet, too, with so many actions big and small. (The Good Place comes to mind, where every action gives you good or bad points, but because of how complicated being a human is, every action is net negative overall.

Quota's pro-environmental message is straight-to-the-point. All of a sudden, an app appears on everyone's phone, letting them know what their remaining carbon allotment is. Everyone starts at 100%, and everyone's percentage starts going down straight away. The character we meet first is driving a car with the vanity plate CO2HOAX, so I imagine his might be going down a little quicker than some others'.

What follows is watching how various actions impact the percentage's plunge, until we skip a few years and see (presumably) the first person who's going to hit zero. He decides to hasten the process, and livestream it, with humorous, and (cartoonishly) gory results. Pandemonium ensues. It's a lot of fun to watch, especially with the art style. The characters look, to me, like cut-out cookies, and when they meet their violent end, the effect reminded me of a jelly splatter. Effective, funny, and just gross enough.

Quota clocks in at around two and a half minutes, which is a perfect length for a short that's about the way we spend our time, and the earth's time. It's also nice because it has its message, deploys it well, and then goes on its way. When something is this specifically didactic, I think brevity is the right course. Those who already on your page will enjoy it, nod along, give it a thumbs-up and maybe try a little harder. Those who aren't already concerned about the climate are more likely to at least stick it through when the runtime is so brief, and maybe the comedic delivery will make them a bit more receptive to the message, or at least help it stick in their mind a bit more. For anyone who watches, it's a good reminder to care for the world, and the people, around us, and to be a little more thoughtful in our actions from day to day.