CSM Character Animation Showcase part 1

CSM HIGHLIGHT 2025

I have few rewards writing reviews. I always have tried to focus on the short films and independent features. A colleague of mine from my days at ‘The Sherlock Holmes Museum’ was kind enough to invite me and in the conversations in the industry about A.I I think it’s safe to say that perspectives and mediums crafted will still be the key to original stories moving forward.

With so Many to choose from here is the highlights I feel you should look out for.

One last time. Pochara Charoensuk.

I’m a mixed 2^nd Gen man born in the 70’s. I am part of the linguistic diaspora where our parents, many, not all, felt it best we only speak English growing up. It was not an aspiration; it was a shield. Even in my later teens having English teachers question what language was spoken in our home. It was the 90’s. One last time is a sensitive exploration of what our heritage and language can give us in the face of such overwhelming othering. My last conversation with my Bengali grandfather was over a bent fan and if I knew the meaning of the phrase ‘Hanky Pankey’. This is a legacy of emotion without the absurdity. É a lorg, ad my other Grand father would say.

How is your Dating App life going? (Jing Gao)

Ive never used an app for dates. I mean i had tinder, i swiped everything and got into arguemnts over roses and if it was better to be a vampire with root canal or werewolf with mange. Two likely lads from Pidgin street talk abotu the dates that yes , you could meet!. Its quaint and reminiscent of the innocence of childres cartoons while having the adult anger and frustration of just trying to meet people. Its erthy, flirty and its humour does take flight thoughtout. Pick a chance get a peice of this pigeon pie.

Munch and Crunch (Kenny Kang)

Classic insect battles given the clayfighters do over in a level of texture and brigh colours that feels like moschops became carnivourous. Its a fun and dramatic battle of animal choreograhy that belies a sense of uncertainty in the otucome.  Tichly texturaed and deftly nuanced. Worth fighting to see.

The Bartender (Kirsten Leung, Eva Salina and Fabian Maxwell Drake)

I can’t write this review without admitting the pleasure of having known Kirsten Leung for a number of years. Her work is an unsentimental clash of pink and profanity, a poisioned stick of bubble gum cyanide delvierying day glow mania and dark soul punches. Filling this feature with elements from Steam Punk Victoriana to a retro future of Dan Dare proportions, the film follows not so much a man out of time as a man out of sorts as his own innui is refelcted in the drinks he swallows. He is more a vehicle for the landscape then the other way around and the ending shows the cycle of limitations turnign to drink will do. It s a fun voyage none the less and you should take a wee dram of it in the cinema.