There aren’t nearly enough animated independent films out there. And when there are, there aren’t nearly enough willing to experiment with the medium. “Red” is a fantastic short and sweet ditty that takes the Red Riding Hood fairy tale and adds another twist on the lore. Sure, we’ve seen the mythos of Red Riding Hood twisted and turned on its head providing allegories and symbolism for everything under the sun, but “Red” does something different.
For one thing it doesn’t provide us with any dialogue or clunky exposition. Its primary center of storytelling relies on sound and sight and that sound and sight is depicted through a vibrant color palette that’s used to identify with the emotional core of the scenes and the characters as a whole. “Red” is composed of images that tell the tale of young Red Riding Hood skipping through the forest one day until stalked and confronted by the big bad wolf. “Red” then plays with our expectations diving in to full on panic mode devising a premise that feels like the prelude to a long journey of revenge and mourning for young Red that would logically lead us in to a feature length film about the character.
With dashes of bold reds and quick action shots, “Red” has its foot firmly planted in the revenge genre with Red fulfilling her journey in the end and becoming a warrior of the woods and with an amazing score by Manuel Borda and bold pastels, “Red” spins another new and exciting direction for the Red Riding Hood yarn in a tale that’s open to limitless interpretations. With bold animation and a sharp score, “Red” is yet another take on the red riding hood story that’s short, sweet, to the point and action packed. While it does feel more like a prelude to a larger story, it fulfills its purpose one hundred percent and satisfies completely.