THE BEST Short Films

In this beautifully illustrated short science fiction film, a pilot and a spaceship depart on a very long journey with some very precious cargo headed for a better place. Based on a short story by Karin Lowachee and directed by Chad Thompson for Yeah Haus as part of The Verge’s Better Worlds project.

Digital artist Tomin’s short film features one of the slickest and most mind-bending transition effects we’ve seen. Each location starts out looking quite ordinary, but then as the camera approaches, it fragments into blocks, revealing a new scene.

Director Mackenzie Sheppard’s dark and esoteric short film does a great job setting a sense of mood as a moth flies emerges from a white gateway, and visits a series of strange and intense scenes. But is the insect simply a witness, or is it the bringer of chaos? The sequel Butterfly may or may not hold some answers.

While you think you might eventually get to ground level in Julius Horsthuis‘ short film, it just isn’t going to happen. Instead we’re taken on an endless descent into a trippy virtual city created with fractals textured with maps of a city.

Russian animator Lazy Square sums up 30 years of slacking just 30 seconds with this well-executed mini short film. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel for more great animations – we especially enjoyed his unofficial NASA recruitment commercial and his Terminator 2 parody.

In Cidney Hue’s near-future short film, a woman decides to undergo a procedure after her life takes an unexpected turn. Like a 6-minute-long episode of Black Mirror, it raises some deep philosophical questions about technology, while also making a statement about real life.

(PG-13: Language) A woman goes to get her car cleaned, and is joined by an unexpected passenger in this wonderfully creative and unconventional short film by Camille Campbell. It offers up quite the ride despite taking place almost entirely in a old Volvo station wagon in a car wash.

Monster Truck Ninja’s adorable animated short celebrates Batman and Robin with a series of snippets featuring characters from the franchise performing dance moves to a remixed version of Neal Hefti’s classic 1966 Batman theme. Enjoy a 360º VR Batdance here.

In artist Chris Labrooy’s whimsical short film The future ain’t the same as it used to be, he envisions a wacky world where classic cars can float on water, pop their lids, and hop about on a cushion of air. We can’t decide between the Porsche 911 Carrera RS Flamingo or Swan spec.

Artist David James Armsby created this vividly animated short fairy tale about a world that once was filled with excitement, fear, and drama, but that lost its edge when the humans decided they could no longer live with the monsters around them.

This award-winning animated short film from a team of Supinfocom (now Rubika) graduates tells the story of two brothers who become rulers of a pair of islands, trusted with the task of maintaining status quo by the gods. But then one day, something unexpected comes along to throw off the requisite symmetry.

(PG-13: Language) Writer/director Stephan Zlotescu and cinematographer H1 teamed up to create this short film that envisions an insane future in which our obsession with commercial goods has driven corporations to genetically engineer real-world versions of their mascots.

Pursuit of Wonder’s short film might start out like a documentary, but it’s entirely fictional, and more than a little like an episode of Black Mirror. It’s simply described as a story of “a man who finds himself at the beginning and end of everything,” and well worth 9 minutes of your time.

After learning that he’s been fired from his job, a man snaps and turns his clothes and office items into sushi. Stop-motion master Omozoc took over 3200 photos and ruined actual clothes and gadgets in this silly animated short film.

Meet Manivald. Like many foxes, he’s “overeducated, unemployed and generally uninspired.” While living at home with his mom, everything changes when a wolf stops by to repair the washing machine. Chintis Lundgren’s animated short about loneliness and finding yourself is well worth a watch.

Anyone who has ever had to take a call from a parent who has managed to screw up their computer will instantly recognize the conversation in Ben Meinhardt’s hilarious animated short. Though we’re pretty sure even the Geek Squad couldn’t fix this problem.

Yes, folks, we really did land on the moon. But there are still people who believe it was faked. Fabrice Mathieu’s clever short film mashes up footage from the Apollo 11 launch preparations, various interviews and movie clips to make it look like Stanley Kubrick directed it on a soundstage.

(PG-13: Language) Maxine is an adorable little corgi. She doesn’t ask for much in life either – a walk, some pets, and the occasional bowl of her favorite snack food. But she’s not all cuddles and hugs, as we learn from the punchline of Uncorked Productions‘ silly short film.

(Flashing images) Artist Jonathan Plesel’s vibrant sci-fi music video is the perfect visual accompaniment to the crisp and punchy electronic sounds of music producer and DJ 1788-L. You’ll want to go full screen and crank your volume to 11 for this one.

For his CalArts graduation project, animator Lorenzo Fresta created this charming and expressive short film about a lonely toad who rides his bike through the desert in search of water. But his successful quest results in unexpected consequences.

Motion designer Tomin decided to play around with some digital animation techniques, taking CG models of conventional objects like water bottles, cars, and iPhones and placing them into unexpected situations. We want a pair of those car shoes now.

If Garfield the lasagna-loving cat starred in a survival horror on the Game Boy Advance, it might look something like this bit of insanity. This pixel art short film by animator Lumpy Touch is some serious nightmare fuel, so you might not want to watch it right before bedtime.

Animator and illustrator Josh Shaffner’s freaking amazing short film is a dark, yet vivid look at the world of a struggling waiter in Los Angeles, and the cold, harsh realities of trying to make it in the big city. Did we say “freaking amazing?”

Animator and illustrator vewn’s not-so-happy little film tells the story of an angst-filled teen and his guidance counselor, a man with his own challenges and issues with self-loathing, and who probably shouldn’t be doling out advice.

An astronaut wanders around breathtaking and vast landscapes. But these are not scenes from a science fiction film; these were all photographed at actual sites in America’s Southwest. Andrew Studer’s short film is a tribute to these public lands and the people who protect them.

Gervais Merryweather describes his animated short as a “love letter to the 1980s,” and we think he nailed it. From the kids in the video arcade, to the giant hairdos, and TV store window displays. What pushes it over the edge is the synthwave soundtrack by Mitch Murder.