SSF: “Le Gouffre”

Two travelers undertake the construction of a gigantic bridge in order to cross a gulf blocking their way, inspiring with their courage and determination a rural community living nearby.

I’m a sucker for these “painterly” CGI types of films because they’re such an encouraging bridge — Heh! — between the hand-drawn work I love so dearly and the computerized productions that are fast becoming (probably already are) the norm. There were a few moments that left a whiff of the “Uncanny Valley” in the air for me, especially towards the beginning. But that sentiment faded as the tension mounted.

It shows a wonderful attention to detail — The way the light darkens as the sun moves behind a cloud? Fantastic! And the sails? Beautiful! — and does a fine job of capturing its characters with just a few strokes. (The bald cynic, for example? We knew everything about him the moment he appeared. As we did with his daughter.)

But the thing that surprised me the most when I first watched this one was the visual scope. Sure, it looks nice. But it also looks huge. Not bad for a three-man team(!) Here’s a bit more detail, including the fact that there was a significant Kickstarter component behind the short’s completion. (I feel like we’re seeing this kind of thing with more and more frequency. I like it.)

Le Gouffre is the first animated short film produced and directed by Lightning Boy Studio, a young creative team based in Montreal. The film tells the story of two spirited travelers who come across an incredibly wide chasm on their journey and decide to build a bridge to cross it. Released in February 2015, the project had first gained a lot of attention following the huge success of its Kickstarter campaign, which allowed the creators to finance the movie’s post-production. Many were impressed by the passion and determination of the small team of three animators, who spent more than two full years creating the 10-minute film.

The transparency that accompanies your typical Kickstarter campaign means this one comes with oodles of extras, including a “Journey Behind” one that’s really great fun. (There’s even a book.)

Attribution(s): All artwork, publicity images, and stills are the property of the three guys at Lightning Boy Studios. Be sure to check out the rest of their stuff, especially the student films/creative work that led up to this one. And be just as sure to keep an eye on their future.