The struggle for our future has never been so animated...

The final short film in a trilogy of ecological adventures, writer/director Catya Plate's delightful and very pointed stop-motion Las Nogas is an animated work of wonder that delights, informs, challenges, and even manages to entertain amidst it all. 

The film is set 500 years in the future. The earth is a dry wasteland having been destroyed by humans. Doctor Alma (Misty Lee) is a fluffy, brilliant Vulkeet (think a cross between vulture and parakeet) who drives a Vespa and holds the challenging task of curing the only creatures left who can save the world by bringing back the rain - the absolutely bizarre yet wondrous Homeys. 

Las Nogas has already picked up awards at Rhode Island International Film Festival (Best Animation Script), San Francisco Green Film Festival (Best Short), Fano International Film Festival (Best Animated Film), and Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (Grand Prize - Green Planet Award). The film seems destined to win quite a few more, though winning awards is noting new for Plate as the trilogy's two previous films also picked up a slew of awards. 

Vocal work is delightfully weird and inspired across the board including Misty Lee's dazzling work as Doctor Alma, Phil Miler's turn as Gormal MacGuffin, and Clarissa Jacobson as Queen Bee among others. It's a small but mighty vocal ensemble that also includes Alessandra Levy and John McBride. There's not a weak link here. 

Plate lenses the film herself to sublime perfection. Original music by Antoni Mairata helps complete an almost whimsical yet serious atmosphere that entertains while never letting you forget the ecological message underneath it all. 

I'm in the midst of awards season as we close down 2023 and I've been reflecting upon the year in animation from Pixar to Miyazaki to others. Here's hoping in the future the name Catya Plate will be mentioned among them all. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic