Animation is a diverse medium that is significant to the film world today. It can be a powerful way to communicate important stories and showcase a different kind of cinematic creativity. I have often thought of animation as the more difficult filmic medium when it comes to creating impact since there are no actors to express nuance, but there are some animated films that have really proved me wrong. Two such Irish animations made their mark on the world and have thus been shortlisted for best animated short film at this year’s Academy Awards.
First is Éiru, written and directed by Giovanna Ferrari and produced by the internationally recognized animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The short had already received recognition at multiple film festivals including the Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin Animation Film Festival, and the Edinburgh International Film festival. Set in Kilkenny, Éiru tells a story of bravery and unity, and the importance of showing up for your community. The titular character is the child of an Iron Age clan, who is tasked with solving the issue of a dried up well. This is her chance to show her clan what she is capable of. Paired with stunning and complex designs, vibrant in bold colors of red and orange, this story asks questions that are even pertinent to what is happening outside the film: why and how did the village’s well dry up? When we are children, we are taught the concepts of togetherness by adults. Whether it’s school or a religious institution, we learn about harmony. But, often, when things are discussed in communities, we tend to blame the “other”, sometimes without even knowing why. Éiru’s character shows that we adults have a lot to learn and unlearn from children, a societal group that often gets unwillingly involved in and reaps the consequences of adult matters rooted in greed for power and money. In many ways, Éiru challenges us to shift our perspectives.
The other Academy-shortlisted short film, Retirement Plan, is on the other end of the spectrum of life. Where Éiru is about childhood, Retirement Plan is about old age. Directed by John Kelly and narrated by Domhnall Gleeson (as Ray), it is a clever and funny story which has so far been spotlighted at South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, Irish Film Festa, and the Dublin International Film Festival. People older than me tend to emphasize the importance of enjoying my youth because these are supposedly the best years of my life. Although this sentiment is greatly appreciated, it implies that once these so-called best years have passed, there might not be many exciting and fun things left in life. Watching Retirement Plan is important for anyone and everyone as it shows that there are countless things to fill your to-do lists with, no matter what age you are. The narration starts with a to-do list, accompanied by a visual representation of Ray doing the things on said list, little things that bring joy and deeper meaning to existence. These are the things that we might procrastinate as we get occupied with well … life.
At the same time, the film makes you question whether you actually want to leave things such as telling people how you actually feel and “drinking eight glasses of water” until retirement age. Life, afterall, doesn’t always work out exactly the way you plan, some things are just out of your control. With its simple yet effective animation style, Retirement Plan left me thinking about the many things we put off because we think we do not have enough time, because eventually we will reach a stage where life does not have enough time.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22nd 2026.
