I agree with you whole heartedly about the visuals and sounds! Don obviously narrated It’s Such a Beautiful Day, and while I think he did a good job, his voice was certainly jarring the first time I watched the film. In World of Tomorrow he actually enlisted his young niece to play Emily, which is a personal touch that I think pays off in spades. She is funny and authentically child like.

World of Tomorrow was also his first foray into digital animation techniques, which explain the sharper visuals 🙂

I perfectly understand why people like It’s Such a Beautiful Day and I also admire Hertzfeldt’s unique vision, but I unhook when he says something gross. It’s a bummer really. I also think the voice acting and the drawings are infinitely nicer in World of Tomorrow.

I think my appreciation for Don’s work comes from his willingness to touch on the emotions that we don’t want to to touch on. This “film” (combined shorts really) is funny one minute and then terribly sad the next. But despite the kaleidoscope of feels the movie pulls you in, I don’t think it’s really a pessimistic or cynical film. I feel like it’s about a man going through something truly wretched and finding a way to not only accept that, but also find peace with it.

**SPOILERS**

The scene with Bill’s father in particular is one of the most touching moments I’ve seen in a film, animated or otherwise. Neither Bill nor his father are truly aware of their surroundings or their history, and yet they are still able to find a sort of resolution in one another’s presence. There is something deeper running between them than any sickness can break.

Ultimately, I can watch much of Don’s work and know that it’s not for everybody. But I think that he has a distinct sense of vision, and he seems willing to stick to that no matter how seeming unlikable his vision is. He made me feel more with a few stick figures than most films can manage with an entire team of talent behind them. Whether you walk away feeling turned off or not, I think talent like that should be respected and admired.

True they aren’t too bloody, but they are still too vulgar for me. It’s hyper pessimism with irritating sound mixing and some genitals. World of Tomorrow shows that you can be deep and even cynical without killing all hope and joy.

Given what I’ve already seen from this guy, especially his sense of humor, I was not expect a film from him titled, “It’s Such a Beautiful Day” to be a very uplifting experience. :p

Just don’t expect it to be your next feel good movie haha

I haven’t watched them yet, I plan to get to the rest of the shorts later today. I’ve been saving the ones that will be discussed in the podcast for last, because I’m assuming that they are the best.

I did like the weird humor. It was quite funny, and very quotable. I’m just not into buckets of blood. I’m not disturbed by it like I was years ago, I just don’t care for that kind of humor. I like a lot of dark humor, but once a bunch of blood and gore get into the mix I don’t like it anymore. I guess I’m kind of a weird contradiction. I’m dark, but not too dark. :p

The three shorts that comprise “It’s Such a Beautiful Day” aren’t bloody, and they are my favorites. If you haven’t already checked those out, you should give them a go.

Rejected is so funny!