“Who’s Hungry” Short Film

Horror animations can sometimes be even creepier than their live-action counterparts. One such film that sends shivers down my spine is “Who’s Hungry”, a black and white 2D animation from animator David Ochs.

Ochs made this five minute animation while at his freshman year of college at California Institute for the Arts. It received the “Peer’s Pick Award” in 2009, meaning that the CalArts Student body selected it as the best student film of that year.  Ochs would go on to work with Pixar and Cartoon Network Studios after graduation – far less horrific pieces to be sure.

“Who’s Hungry” is a modern spin on the Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel”. Lured by the promise of sweets, two siblings find themselves captured by a horrific being and must escape before they become the monster’s next meal.

Even without dialogue, the film does a wonderful job of conveying the tension and stakes for the characters, and “Turkey in the Straw” has never sounded more macabre as the anthem of the evil ice cream truck man. The distinctive drawing style depicts a nightmarish setting. Can the two children find a way out in time?

Enjoy!