A Rather Lovely Thing

The title of this animated short by Cesar Martinez could well be the name of a Stephen Fry novel (does he still write them?) – it has that ring to it. And for some reason I thought “I bet Stephen Fry would like this” as I was watching it.   An American might say ‘go figure’ to that and I might reply ‘go watch’.  It’s all about experiences and how – whether they are good or bad – they can lead to inspiration.  This animated short, all said, is a rather lovely thing.

The Giant Ichneumon Wasp – Stump Stabber Extraordinaire

What is the fastest, tallest, heaviest, lightest? We love to compare members of the animal kingdom in these terms.  One word you may hear too is longest but when it appears in a question it is normally asked in terms of total length.  In that case, the Giant Ichnuemon Wasp, found in the USA, is nothing much to write home about being just two inches long.  However, if the question was “which insect has the longest ovipositor known to science?” then the female of this species would be the answer. And holy egg laying organs, it’s some length.  Our sibling site, the Ark in Space, has the story.

Image Credit

Famine

It has to be said that you don’t get many science fiction dystopias like this one for your money. Instead of humans or robots (or both) this particular city is inhabited by bugs – and we get the feeling straight away that this is not going to be much like anything that Disney or Pixar might produce (parental guidance is probably advised). It tells the story of a time of dearth in the city – food is massively scarce and the city is on its last legs, proverbially speaking.  One small bug is, through circumstance, accused of cannibalism and he must clear his name, while at the same time revealing the real cannibal killer to the city’s population.

With lots of nods to cinematic genres, including the noir of the thirties (and I found this reminding me of M in some ways too) this is a roller coaster ride from start to finish.  Famine was created by Red Kite Animation and GMAC (Cineworks 2005) in association with Scottish Screen and BBC Scotland.

Behind Minnehaha’s Frozen Falls

Minnehaha Creek in Minnesota would be just another creek, really, if it was not for the beautiful fifty foot waterfall that just happened to form there when the last glacial period ended about 10,000 years ago. In the winter the falls can freeze up completely, creating a magical motionless image of once liquid water frustrated by the elements. Yet there is more to it than meets the eye...

Image Credit Flickr User akahadog

GCSE English Language Paper 2 Question 4 Scaffolded Exercises

 

GCSE English Paper 2, Question 4 presents several challenges for students. Firstly, it is the only instance where Assessment Objective 3 is explicitly taught (comparing writers’ ideas and perspectives, and how these are conveyed, across two or more texts). Additionally, the question can be overwhelming due to the large volume of instructions, not to mention its placement within the exam. There are more details about this resource here.

I have carefully considered how best to engage students with this question and how to structure their responses. These scaffolds are particularly useful for lower ability sets, though they can be effective for any level. They serve as an excellent starting point for tackling the question. When I initially created this resource, I essentially started from scratch, resetting my approach to the question. The results have been very positive, with noticeable improvements in the marks my students achieve on this particular question in the exams.

The Tufa Towers of Mono Lake

Mono Lake in California is a strange place to say the least. However, unlike many bizarre places in the world this strange environment is caused by us.

Image Credit Flickr User Clinton Steeds

In the early nineteen forties the city of Los Angeles was growing quickly. The Second World War was in full flow and when it came to the environment it was felt that some things could be neglected. The LA Department of Water and Power began diverting the lakes streams three hundred and fifty miles to the south. The damage to the environment would be untold. Paradoxically it would leave the area eerily beautiful – like some alien backdrop from an episode of Star Trek.  At some points in the year a soap-like layer forms on the top of the lake.

Superman Awakens

Superman: Awakens is a non-profit, fan-created film crafted with heartfelt dedication to the iconic character and made freely available for everyone to enjoy.  Yet it is also the film that we’ve been waiting for, for so long!  Never mind, we might have to do with this, but it’s five minutes of the Superman we all know and love.

Created with Unreal Engine 5 and powered by the advanced Lumen technology, this project demonstrates impressive speed and capabilities that will leave you gobsmacked. It's evident that the entire team had a fantastic time bringing this vision to life. The story and direction were masterfully handled by Antonis Fylladitis, while Stavros Fylladitis contributed exceptional design, assets, and coordination to the project.

SWIPE - a Five Minute Movie

When a group of delinquent teens are pulling straws, you know that the kid with the short one is in for a whole heap of trouble.  As such, SWIPE relies on a familiar trope – as one of our young friends has to go into a store and steal to impress his friends.  However, he is about to learn an unexpected lesson.  This short film was written, directed and edited by Anthony Sneed.  It stars Nick G Hunter, Lorenzo Rogriguez and Alina Phelan.

Nick G Hunter in SWIPE

Nick G. Hunter is an American actor recognized for his performances in various television shows and films. His notable credits include Danger Force (2022), Diary of a Future President (2020), This Is Us (2019), Invite Only (2019), How Does It Start? (2019), Top Chef Jr. (2018), and Disney's Be Your Best Snackdown (2017).

If the actor playing the mother is familiar, her name is Alina Phelan, an accomplished actress known for her appearances in popular television series such as Grey's Anatomy (2005), How to Get Away with Murder (2014), and Lucifer (2016).

The City with the Largest Population in the World: Welcome to Chongqing

Chongqing: if you are not from Asia or a geography enthusiast, the name may not mean a great deal to you.  However, this city in southwestern China now boasts the largest urban population in the world – and it has an infrastructure and architecture that clearly demonstrate that… an awful lot of people live there.  In fact, the figure currently stands at 32,054,159. (picture credit)

That is quite a number.

Watch the Big Bang but Don’t Know the Theory? Take a Look at This…

…because it may just clear up a few things for you about the original Big Bang Theory.  Where Sheldon might blind you with science, this animation, designed by Mike Luzzi and directed by Dan and Jason at Hornet Inc will make it simple. Well, simpler because even at its most basic it is quite a lot to take in – at least in one viewing.  However, as Einstein said: If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

Out of a Forest

At certain times of the year families get together, sit around a table and eat and talk. Such is the case with this extended family of rabbits but there is danger lurking in the background…

This is Tobias Gundorff Boesen’s Bachelor film from The Animation Workshop. It is set to the song "Slow Show" by The National, who were kind enough to allow him to use their music (well it makes for a very memorable promo after all!). It is a non-commercial short film, intended for festivals – and it has won many!.

It was shot in the forests surrounding Viborg, Denmark. Boesen’s main inspiration was Victorian literature, and "Boxer" by The National. It was painful to finish, as shooting stop motion in the forest at night for longer periods turned out to offer a lot of problems. I think (or hope!) that you will agree that is was worth all the effort.  Plus I love the surprise ending!

The Voice in the Hollow

The Voice in the Hollow is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant short film by Miguel Ortega and Tran Ma. Rendered in Unreal Engine 5, it is set in an African-inspired fantasy world, the story centres on two sisters navigating a complex relationship marked by little love but quite a deal of mutual envy. Their bond is tested to the breaking point when one of them encounters an ancient and malevolent force in the heart of a mysterious jungle which offers her everything she ever wanted...

The film showcases some incredibly atmospheric storytelling, combining rich visuals with haunting sound design to immerse us in its eerie and enchanting world. The themes of sisterhood and jealousy are explored with depth, making the characters' emotional journeys compelling and relatable. The animation and production design, reminiscent of handcrafted artwork, add a layer of authenticity and beauty to this dark fable.  I though that the makers had used a real African language but it turns out that it is (a very authentic sounding) conlang – akin to, say, Elvish in Lord of the Rings.

While brief, the film leaves a lasting impression with its blend of myth, emotion, and suspense. If you are a fan of folklore-inspired narratives and evocative short films then press the play button – you won’t  be disappointed…