The team of Akira Maynard, Sammy Liu, and Justine Fong really do create something so unbelievable and special with “Bunny to the Moon.” It’s a classic tale about friendship, companionship, and the idea of sacrifice and learning to care for oneself before caring for others. Although the “Bunny to the Moon” does suffer from a run time that could have used at least ten more minutes, the short is beautifully animated and feels so much like a callback to films like “E.T.” or “My Neighbor Totoro.”
When an extraterrestrial bunny falls from the sky, Aurora, a lonely gardener is quick to befriend him. Upon realizing the bunny is from the moon, she decides to help him get back home.
Although the short is brief, it is a wonderful testament to the old adage about some friends being here for a reason and some just for a season. The young girl Aurora realizes that she’s not only not alone, but that there are other beings out there that feel just as she does. In a marvelous galaxy filled with endless possibilities, Aurora finds solace love from a rabbit that warps down from the moon to befriend her.
The animation really does tie the narrative together as the vivid and crisp visuals give “Bunny to the Moon” a whimsy and fantastic aesthetic that feels almost dream like at times. Everything in the narrative is so well designed and composed with bold line work and some absolutely stunning use of traditional animation. Although deep down “Bunny to the Moon” is a sad story, it’s also one about resilience and taking comfort in feeling a kinship with someone else, even if they’re living on the moon. I loved what this short had to offer up in terms of fantasy and human themes and I hope we can see more from this team.
Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival occurs in San Jose March 7th – March 17th.