Review: Don Hertzfeldt curates a bizarre, electrifying Animation Mixtape

In animation circles, and certainly in my household, Don Hertzfeldt occupies a rarified space. Those who love him, love him. Those who don't love him, maybe haven't seen his stuff? Or maybe they just don't jibe with it, which is fine. But there are few filmmakers whose work I look forward to more than Hertzfeldt. He's a truly original voice, and one who has managed to amass a devoted following (and some Oscar nominations, to boot) while doing things his way.

Hertzfeldt serves as the curator and producer for a new collection of shorts that's touring around the country, called Animation Mixtape, which is a goddamned delight. He provides a (very funny) introduction to the collection, then hands the mic over to a dizzying collection of other animators. It's a fantastic program, one where you can feel the pull of each piece, even if each one isn't to your taste. There's something interesting going on in every single one, and it feels like each one is worth the watch. Per the official site, "The dazzling 85-minute program features exciting, animated shorts from up-and-coming filmmakers, Academy Award nominees and classic pieces that originally inspired Don to start making his own iconic work." Sounds right to me.

Jonatan Schwenk's Zoon

As will always be the case with a program like this, there were some things I liked more than others. That's par for the course. The only "stinker," in my book, is The Flying Sailor, which was also the only short I had previously seen. The Oscar nominee from 2022 obviously has its fans, and I see the appeal, but it just decidedly is not for me.

Picking highlights is almost an exercise in futility, since this is such a well-curated program, but there are two that I particularly loved. The first short, Maks Rzontkowski's Martyr's Guidebook, is a multi-part saga of a man who -- because he picked the smallest slice of cake at a classroom party as a kid -- gets chosen to be the life partner of an angel who looks like a statue that might've been in a Zelda game or something. It is such a wild, electric, exciting piece that takes lots of weird little turns and features really energetic animation. And it's so fucking funny. It's such a strong and smart choice for the opener, because it lets you know that you're in for a program of truly original voices. It's one that will stick with me, and it provided me with a line that feels like it sums up my experience of the program as a whole, in a way: "Sometimes I want to dream, not think." I feel that.

Another highlight, and maybe the funniest entry, is Kasia Nalewajka's Pineapple Calamari, which follows a horse with dreams of winning the big trophy who is also fascinated by the routines of its lesbian owners. The way this one plays out, in wonderful clay-mation, is so bizarre and hysterical. Like Martyr's Guidebook, this feels so much bigger than its runtime. I love when a short can pack so much into mere minutes (I think this one clocks in at less than ten minutes, as do most in the program) and really take you on a journey. Pineapple Calamari certainly does. It paints such a full picture, creates a world, populates it with memorable characters, has stakes. Brilliant, uber-silly stuff.

Kasia Nalewajka's Pineapple Calamari

I also loved seeing a couple Oscar nominees from the eighties here. Mark Baker's The Hill Farm is the longest short in the program, and feels almost Steinbeckian in its sweep and observations. If ever a short felt like an epic, it's this one that details the ongoings of a farm and the people and animals that live on and around it. There's a lot to chew on there. The program ends with Richard Condie's The Big Snit, a nice little bit of controlled chaos that leaves you feeling light and happy to be alive, and to have seen so much good and interesting animation. A nice capper.

If you have the chance, I really recommend catching this. I believe Hertzfeldt has said that this won't ever be released digitally or on disc -- this is a theatrical-only affair. And seeing it with a good-sized crowd in a theater was a fun experience. It's one of those things where everyone who makes it to the theater for it, is probably going to be really into it. So our crowd was lively, borderline rowdy at times, and the vibes were great all around. One of the most fun times I've had at a theater this year.

If you don't get a chance to see this, you'd be well-advised to at least find what shorts you can from it, because yeah, this is good stuff. 

For information about when and where you can see Animation Mixtape, check out their site.