Level13.net: Weird and Mysterious

This collection of 21 film school and independent animation shorts from around the world is indeed “weird and mysterious,” with entries that are sometimes short on plot but long on imagination and visual pyrotechnics that range from subdued to explosive. Hand picked by Film Roman Productions (The Simpsons, King of the Hill), many of these shorts--computer-generated 3-D and 2-D (“digital” ink and paint), as well as cell-animation--have garnered film festival awards. Standouts include “Sweet,” an ultra-violent cartoon that is quite literally about heartbreak; “God in the Machine," a story about what happens when the world stops turning (and why); “Eden,” depicting a Pixar-style pony-tailed woman dressed in a blue leotard deflecting balls of energy that keep getting bigger and brighter; “Mindless Bob,” featuring a character inspired by Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh (who co-produced and provides one of the voices); and “Headdress,” a beautiful color collage depicting an eagle flying across American landscapes, with grainy black and white footage of Native Americans dancing in full regalia. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)