1. Automated Customer Service
It has the classic yet boring fear perspective of the dystopia becoming technologically reliant on robots, but I think whenever it twists the slasher genre by using cleaning services as a manner of distraction, it can kind of be funny. I like the animation design of the characters though; it reminds me of Studio Ghibli’s drawings of elderly people but converted into admirable CGI reimaginings.
Verdict: 2.5/5
2. Ice
This surreal, off-putting, and marginally shape-warped style of sci-fi animation could make for one gnarly Gorillaz music video; that’s for sure. Sucks how it has to be accompanied by the most by-the-numbers coming of age story ever though.
Verdict: 2.5/5
3. Pop Squad
Jennifer Yuh Nelson found the solution to Children of Men, lol.
The future of ego: only our generation gets to experience life and nobody else; quite parallel to the state of how we’re treating the Earth for future successors don’t ya think? The short is a little preachy — kind of hard to say so much in such little time, so it’s gotta spew it out in chintzy phrases — but this dystopian concept is actually interesting enough to warrant an entire feature-length or video game.
Verdict: 3/5
4. Snow in the Desert
The Age of Adaline meets a Guardians of the Galaxy universe. In concept, it sounds cool, but in execution… eh. Someone definitely thought “Deadpool + A.I.” and then worked off of that.
Verdict: 2.5/5
5. The Tall Grass
At its core, this is a Signs (2003) fan film; let’s be real. The rugged texture in animation is neat though, making CGI look suspiciously like stop-motion.
Verdict: 2.5/5
6. All Through the House
To be fair though, this would in theory make for a great fear tactic to scare your children into being good for the rest of their lives. Gonna have to try this one day. Santa’s evolved bitches. Better pray I never become a father.
Verdict: 3/5
7. Life Hutch
Okay, now hear me out: what if we made something in the realm of Ridley Scott’s Alien, except the dangerous entity at hand will be as clueless as a pet dog. Charming, right?
Verdict: 2.5/5
8. The Drowned Giant
I think the lesson here folks is that the narrator in this short desperately needs to get laid. This voiceover-reliant piece, while occasionally creative, tries way too hard to be poignant and meaningful with its excessively described stance on wonders never dying through memories and societal unity. Anyways, haha, nothing like making a giant, naked corpse a playground/tourist attraction. Umm…
Verdict: 2.5/5
“Love, Death & Robots” season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.
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