Touchingly odd story which reminded me of Some Kind of Wonderful!

A duck is in love with a rock – there is really no more to it than that. Another duck spies on him declaring his love for the rock and offers to help him to carry it to a distant cliff, and throw it off. They are unsure what will happen, but for sure it will be something.

I have never read the short prose from which this film comes, but I have seen a previous animated film from Cottee – and the oddity of that one at least let me know to be prepared for something a little unusual. As a story that this what this is, and it has odd moments and ideas, not least of which is the ending itself, which is open to interpretation. For me I took it to be like Some Kind of Wonderful (the John Hughes film); probably this is not a comparison that the writer or director will really appreciate, but at the core it does seem like this – with the rock playing the Lea Thompson / object of desire character. This is clearer at the end, and it is a nice moment which grounds it very much in something relatable and recognizable.

The animation is an odd mix but mostly effective. The characters are a little ugly in construction (by design, not lack of effort) but yet the landscapes and lighting effects are really beautiful. The movement of characters is also a little faltering – although this may have been added to in my mind by the pacing being pretty slow; as a result it did feel like it was moving slower than needed. The music tends towards the obvious ("feel this now") but is just about right enough to stay the correct side of that line.

By the end, the oddity of it drew me in with its voicework and animation and content, but the emotional core of the plot is what makes it all work together well.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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