After Isaac’s long-term girlfriend is killed, he struggles to continue with his regular life. Visited by Ava in a dream, they both go on a journey reliving their relationship in Michael Winter’s animated short, Life Eternal.
Over the years it has been Disney/Pixar and Studio Ghibli who have ruled the world of animation and family films, with other animation studios like Dreamworks and Illumination also finding success. Both Disney and Ghibli have consistently been at the forefront, and it is their imaginative storytelling and visually stunning worlds that are the first things that come to mind. While both these giants share similarities in their commitment to quality animation and family-friendly themes, they have distinct styles and approaches, as Ghibli’s films often feature fantastical elements focusing on nature and human connections, with a more traditional hand-drawn animation style, while Disney/Pixar are more known for their computer-generated animation, character development, and humour.
It is often said that Ghibli’s films have more in common with classic Disney as they share the same nostalgic and contemplative tone, and it is here where Michael Winter’s Life Eternal fits. A poignant seven-minute animated short that delves into the profound effects of grief and the enduring power of love; Life Eternal follows Isaac, (voiced by a suitably melancholic Griffin Puatu) a young man devastated by the loss of his beloved partner Ava, beautifully voiced by Ashley Bell. Through a series of dream-like sequences, Ava appears to Isaac and they both revisit cherished moments of their relationship, hoping to find comfort in the memories that linger now that Ava is no longer here.
A solid depiction of loss and the timeless nature of love, Life Eternal’s narrative unfolds delicately and is able to balance moments of reflective sadness with bittersweet nostalgia. As a director, Winter skilfully employs a blend of truth and imagination to delve into Isaac’s emotional journey, allowing viewers to empathize with his pain while also celebrating the joy he had with Ava. The animation style is very reminiscent of another classic cartoon – The Snowman, and it does contain a “Walking in The Air” type homage with Winter using his computer animation skills to give us the sense that these drawings have been created using pencils and watercolours. The story itself is quite simple as it is basically the ghost from Christmas Past sequence from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, but it is visually striking at times with vivid colours and expressive characters helping to bring the story to life. The mock hand-drawn art complements the film’s intimate tone, managing to create a sense of warmth and authenticity that draws the viewer in. A melancholic piano score adds some depth and manages to capture the bittersweet nature of Isaac’s memories.
What Life Eternal does lack, however, is a genuine emotional punch. The short remains pleasant when it should be powerful, happy when it should be sad, and becomes a story that is both lovely and relatable, yet not particularly memorable. Winter’s script and direction on Life Eternal emphasizes the importance of treasuring memories with our loved ones and is a touching story, it’s just that it doesn’t fully succeed in evoking this reviewer’s tears.
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