One of the coolest cinema trends to take permanent hold in recent memory has been the re-embracing of the pre-show animated short. I personally get about as excited to see each new Pixar short as I do to see each new Pixar feature — actually, at this point I’m probably more excited about the shorts (2010’s Day & Night is one of the best things Pixar has ever produced, in my opinion). So consider me on board for Disney’s newest, Paperman, which will play before Wreck-It Ralph in November.
Quoth the press release:
Introducing a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques, first-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with “Paperman.” Using a minimalist black-and-white style, the short follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him. Created by a small, innovative team working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Paperman” pushes the animation medium in an exciting new direction.
