OK, I have to admit that I’m a sucker for animation. From my earlier days of watching Kipper the Dog, to my now adult years and shows such as Bojack Horseman. Animation has always been a huge love for me. Recently, I was able to have the chance to screen a new animated short titled ‘Odd Dog’ and interview the creator Keika Lee. First though, my thoughts.
So while it is only about five minutes, there is a lot that gets packed into such a short time. You meet a boy (based on Lee’s actual son) who feels kinda lonely in the world. The local pet shop has now closed and he’s heartbroken. He’s had a love for animals and has always wanted a dog, but his mother won’t let him have one, she prefers cats. As the boy begins his trek back home he comes up…well and Odd Dog. The boy is stumped. It looks kinda like a cat but also acts similar to a dog. The cat loves to fetch and plays kinda rowdy. Now I won’t totally spoil the end for you, but I do promise that you’ll at least feel something good.
As for the art style. I really enjoyed it. It starts off in a lack of color and just based in black and white. Lee spoke about her love for Charlie Chaplin films and back and white. Toward the end, the film turns bursts into a lovely color pattern. While the change is sudden, the colors and slightly muted, and nothing is too bright. It feels pretty natural and it’s a small detail that I really enjoyed. The score for this is also wonderful. With it being a fairly silent film, music is really key for any movie. I love the moves and waves that the music brings to the two characters and how it helps to set a tone throughout the whole film. I found myself humming and playing the main theme in my mind a few hours after as well so it is a catchy tune.
Yes, I know this is geared toward a younger audience and not the 23-year-old writing this. As the 23-year-old though, I must say that this is a wonderful and enjoyable short for all ages. It’s a story of not only finding a friend in the world but showing that the friend can be vastly different from you or your expectations. That’s what makes a film like this great. It’s something that is a world we are in now, we all need to see. That friendship and a bond like that is important and something we all need. ‘Odd Dog’ is a wonderful short film. Below is my interview with the creator and producer Keika Lee.
