Parrots - CalArts 2023 Animated Short Film

Parrots is about two girls growing up in San Gabriel Valley. They chatter about the clouds that float in the sky, the screeching green parrots, and their pregnant principal. As they observe and repeat things they don’t yet understand, they live and grow in a world far more connected than they realize.
In short, I just wanted to make a short that encapsulates and untangles the feelings I feel when I hear the SoCal feral parrots that come out during sunset!
Music is scored by the brilliant Ryan Yoshikami!
www.ryanyoshikami.com/
I was so lucky and grateful to have had animation help by Adam Musa, Andy Bella, Kim Nguyen and Kenet Garcia Rojas! The biggest thanks to them for helping me finish this film.
Also really big hug and thanks to Christina Giordano, Anya Martin, Rachel Wang and Aya Rapaport who helped tremendously with coloring shots!!
Thank you to my friends and family who helped me with this film!! xoxo
You can find my other work in these places too:
www.jennifernie.com/
/ atjennie
/ atjennifernie

Пікірлер: 89

  • @hacky_sackin
    @hacky_sackin Жыл бұрын

    The kids talking to each other is one of the best parts 😂

  • @yllanew
    @yllanew Жыл бұрын

    WOW!!! oh my god... i don't even know how to explain the emotions this film made me feel. the colors and dialogue especially made me soo nostalgic even tho my childhood was different...makes me miss times i didn't have. the small detail of the mom and daughter clinking the coins the same way was sooo good. and just the way everything begins to overlap.. the clouds, the "mama" and the pregnant teacher, the parrots (obvi). idk exactly what it means but we're all connected, share experiences and can find new meaning through other ppl... just gorgeous i loved it so much

  • @Flip_pilF
    @Flip_pilF Жыл бұрын

    This film is so cute and confortable to watch. The dialogue is so natural that is doesn't even look like a scripted thing, almost like if someone filmed the day of this 2 girls and they are just literally having normal conversations. Its pretty hard to get dialogue to feel natural and is especially harder for kids dialogue. But u nailed it so, so well, better then most high budget movies you see out there. Amazing job!!!!!!!!

  • @norresnotlost
    @norresnotlost Жыл бұрын

    the dialogue feels so natural, like i remember talking about bras and being kinda rude like that when i was younger.

  • @user-ju6mi1xd9t
    @user-ju6mi1xd9t7 ай бұрын

    the way the parrots kite and kids kite fly together at the end is so beautiful. the kids are not native to LA and are loud but still a part of the community, just like the parrots.

  • @flumazee
    @flumazee Жыл бұрын

    The kids are characterised so well and the dialogue are so realistic ahha. As an Australian born Chinese every single scene in this animation brings back so much memories from preschool and middle school!! :,) Thank you for this masterpiece

  • @cookiesandtea6442
    @cookiesandtea644216 күн бұрын

    The ending scene was so pretty!! All of the parrots surrounding the dancing kites... damn...

  • @luisafliess
    @luisafliess Жыл бұрын

    I love this. Everything feels so natural, real. The daily lives of all these people, their connections, being a kid. I can see all the love that was poured into making this film. It really shines through

  • @mya10121
    @mya10121 Жыл бұрын

    I feel like you captured my young school years very well. Plus, the dialogue and mannerisms between the characters felt very real. Great job!

  • @thishandleisalreadytaken449
    @thishandleisalreadytaken449 Жыл бұрын

    These characters talk like actual children I love it

  • @sonomahai
    @sonomahai Жыл бұрын

    I’ve been struggling emotionally a lot and somehow this film reminded me of being alive. The colors and character interactions feel so real it puts you back in your own younger memories

  • @patchouli_prince
    @patchouli_prince Жыл бұрын

    So cool to see the backdrops of childhood rendered so beautifully into a film... So charming, so heartfelt..!! As someone who grew up there too, you really did the place justice. LOVE IT!!!

  • @Slim_Vervenet
    @Slim_Vervenet Жыл бұрын

    Cute little movie. The conversations between these two young girls were so random, it was funny. 😂

  • @moksha.m
    @moksha.m11 ай бұрын

    omg the nostalgia Im getting from the read aloud and those colorred carpets that we sad on and the silly looking glasses and the cursive letters on the wall and the girl doing that thing with the coins and then at 4:41 that specific like.. beat or whatever I dont know what the other language is being spoken in this video but still its incredibly relatable

  • @Felix_the_forestcat
    @Felix_the_forestcat Жыл бұрын

    This is such a good portrayal of kids, especially the conversations

  • @belengaaaaa
    @belengaaaaa Жыл бұрын

    this is the best short film i've seen so far this year T-T the memories and nostalgia ambience of it all, I cried, I'm still crying, thank you for sharing I can't, I can't right now, I love this film so much.

  • @hiinternet4542
    @hiinternet45428 күн бұрын

    Hey, Jenny Nie! I really love your short! It's a nice and perfect blend of slice of life, coming of age, and more! I have but some questions to ask you: This film tells the story of 2 girls getting along well and learning more about themselves. Did you conceive this film from your childhood? The genre of your short has slice of life, coming of age, etc. Can you make a television series (or maybe a feature film) based on your short? The animation style is almost reminiscent of French animator Alain Gagnol (best known for his film A Cat in Paris). Do you think that you can collaborate with him?

  • @dinosaurclub
    @dinosaurclub Жыл бұрын

    This is my favourite CalArts short for the year amongst all years. Jennifer this was so damn good. The character designs were cute, the backgrounds were beautiful, the dialogue perfectly captured, was truly amazing. You did something very few animators in your school do and that's capture and show heart. Truly amazing. No doubt, I'll be seeing your name in the bright lights. Please acknowledge me senpai so I can tell my kids I interacted with you.

  • @wazzupgecko
    @wazzupgecko Жыл бұрын

    This is one of the most beautiful stories of childhood I have ever seen. I am absolutely delighted to see these two kids growing into lively little people :'^)

  • @zigzaq
    @zigzaq Жыл бұрын

    This was so sweet :’) haven’t seen this feeling captured so well in a while

  • @cinnabar555
    @cinnabar55512 күн бұрын

    lol this is literally how me and my cousin used to talk 😭 and we still do

  • @kiff_pippi
    @kiff_pippi Жыл бұрын

    Oh man, this was just so lovely! what a heartwarming piece :')

  • @Bopsterjazz
    @Bopsterjazz4 ай бұрын

    I hope you got some kind of award for this because it’s seriously SO GOOD. The style is so great, the storytelling is fantastic and the coin thing! GAH. I love it so so much.

  • @carmonobre802
    @carmonobre8022 ай бұрын

    Soo amazing Love it!

  • @maripaixao3795
    @maripaixao37959 ай бұрын

    Achei incrível a naturalidade dos diálogos sobre o universo feminino, e que afetam meninas e mulheres de maneiras diferentes. Na minha infância, eu lembro com muita clareza de ter pensamentos muito parecidos com esses, rs Obrigada também por compartilhar um pouco da sua cultura conosco :) Abraços do Brasil.

  • @yalejosie
    @yalejosie4 ай бұрын

    oh my god as someone who grew up in the area, this short hit me in the heart. thank you

  • @nunchijeu
    @nunchijeu5 ай бұрын

    I can’t really explain why but I burst into tears at the end. I love this. Thanks for making it.

  • @kella5082
    @kella5082 Жыл бұрын

    this film was so well made!! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video. The conversations between the girls were natural and the mix of english and cantonese brought a smile to my face with how accurate and perfect it was. The artstyle and composition of many of the scenes were also incredibly well done. Great work :)

  • @thursday_concerns
    @thursday_concerns Жыл бұрын

    This was poetic

  • @janimatics
    @janimatics Жыл бұрын

    This was incredible! The style and story was so beautiful! It felt nostalgic and new all at once! Im gonna watch this so many more times I can feel it.

  • @luzzyluz67457
    @luzzyluz67457 Жыл бұрын

    All the times the parrots showed up so I can show them to by bird obsessed brother: 0:01 4:50 6:05

  • @mardefondo1774
    @mardefondo1774 Жыл бұрын

    This was soooo beautiful... I'm crying....

  • @dnpanimationstudio382
    @dnpanimationstudio382 Жыл бұрын

    Love seeing them talk. Feels very real and sweet💖💖

  • @JonniPeppers
    @JonniPeppers Жыл бұрын

    Parrots time

  • @biblicallyaccurateangel707
    @biblicallyaccurateangel707 Жыл бұрын

    breathtaking

  • @mochafrappe243
    @mochafrappe243 Жыл бұрын

    No me thinking when they were going past the train tracks a train was gonna hit them 💀

  • @varvarasavvon
    @varvarasavvon Жыл бұрын

    почему я плачу…. я из россии но это показалось мне таким родным и приятным…. я в восторге от анимации…. вы очень талантливы, у меня нет слов

  • @LoadBondBond
    @LoadBondBond Жыл бұрын

    I loved this so much and it’s funny cause kids do talk like that

  • @epicminecraft4143
    @epicminecraft4143 Жыл бұрын

    没想到会包括广东话在里面。身为马来西亚人,这让我感觉幸运能听懂整个对话哈哈因为通常这些影片都是包括听不懂的外语,而这影片是华语和广东。然后那个拼音mamamama的部分那些回忆直接冲上来了,还有那个汽车读音的例子,非常有同感

  • @OBecs
    @OBecs Жыл бұрын

    This is so beautiful and heartfelt and just...art. well done!

  • @JoyTaylor-101
    @JoyTaylor-1018 ай бұрын

    They both act so sassy although their in kindergarten

  • @JMPT
    @JMPT9 ай бұрын

    Greatly Nice 🖍️

  • @totallynotyourreality2208
    @totallynotyourreality2208 Жыл бұрын

    I absolutely loved this fillm! The art style, the dialogue, everything. It was really beautifully made

  • @anushwah
    @anushwah Жыл бұрын

    What the hell why did this make me cry 😭 you captured the magic of childhood...

  • @Arty_Apple_Bee
    @Arty_Apple_Bee Жыл бұрын

    So relatable and wholesome, and I love the art !

  • @2roorin
    @2roorin Жыл бұрын

    i loved this so much it was so fun to watch and it brought back a lot of happy memories!!

  • @nathaliedrinkstea
    @nathaliedrinkstea Жыл бұрын

    This was so good. Perfect!

  • @fascher_
    @fascher_ Жыл бұрын

    This was gorgeous, I love the atmosphere you created ❤

  • @nonishanegi
    @nonishanegi Жыл бұрын

    so lovely!

  • @corradovacca3477
    @corradovacca34779 ай бұрын

    this is beautiful, i love it thank you so much for your work, the narration fits so good with colors shapes and sounds, it has been nostalgia chills from the first frame, i'll watch everything from this channel (i found you in the related channels list from jonni philips)

  • @pickles9209
    @pickles9209 Жыл бұрын

    this was WONDERFUL!!!! from toe to tip!! the dialogue, colors, and environments were amazing. and the lovely cute/funny style. with the pencily lines

  • @ameyasunil2045
    @ameyasunil2045 Жыл бұрын

    i am so glad i stumbled upon this ❤

  • @unclekonrad
    @unclekonrad Жыл бұрын

    i really liked this a LOT!!

  • @cjs4279
    @cjs4279 Жыл бұрын

    This makes me want to sob

  • @PeaceAcademy29
    @PeaceAcademy29 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful!!!

  • @sparklepiss9141
    @sparklepiss9141 Жыл бұрын

    extremely excellent

  • @ijlayugan4149
    @ijlayugan4149 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful film. Just a simple day in life

  • @aliensphinx8643
    @aliensphinx86438 ай бұрын

    beautiful

  • @riverkoenig9673
    @riverkoenig9673 Жыл бұрын

    This is wonderful.

  • @twashcat360
    @twashcat360 Жыл бұрын

    ahhhh this was so cute!!!!

  • @jingqizhang7779
    @jingqizhang7779 Жыл бұрын

    Jennnie!!! the childhood is very relatable

  • @TCAoldarchive

    @TCAoldarchive

    Жыл бұрын

    glad to see you here lol

  • @cirecrux
    @cirecrux Жыл бұрын

    This made my brain tickle in a nice way

  • @blubberfish
    @blubberfish Жыл бұрын

    When she had to default to saying "cloud" because she didn't know what it's equivalent was in Cantonese...I felt that in my soul...

  • @Aseriesoffaces
    @Aseriesoffaces11 ай бұрын

    this is beautiful...the kids are so funny

  • @treeghost45
    @treeghost4511 ай бұрын

    this is so amazing

  • @mrarrogant3915
    @mrarrogant3915 Жыл бұрын

    This is masterpiece I really like it

  • @butt0nzdrawzz
    @butt0nzdrawzz Жыл бұрын

    THIS US SO UNDERRATED!!!!!

  • @earth2cody
    @earth2cody Жыл бұрын

    I'm sobbing sm

  • @qeqeuna1440
    @qeqeuna1440 Жыл бұрын

    so pretty everything

  • @0000syuable
    @0000syuable Жыл бұрын

    「児童画」のような絵のタッチが素晴らしいです!! 「青色」の輪郭線もなかなか効果的ですね!

  • @nathanhollow0
    @nathanhollow0 Жыл бұрын

    how charming

  • @danieschenkekraft7199
    @danieschenkekraft7199 Жыл бұрын

    Just. Nice. :)

  • @gcidaria
    @gcidaria Жыл бұрын

    NICE SHORT VIDEO ID'LIKE IT SO MUCH, CONGRATULATION

  • @angelixcaa
    @angelixcaa Жыл бұрын

    love the way you used actual chinese!

  • @xyeB
    @xyeB Жыл бұрын

    Cute oarrors

  • @ptolemaicfoxxo3032
    @ptolemaicfoxxo3032 Жыл бұрын

    I thought drawing birds with two mouths was just my own problem i had XD

  • @user-nq6ov1lp5d
    @user-nq6ov1lp5d Жыл бұрын

    好喜欢这种风格,很舒服ye

  • @JGM.86
    @JGM.86 Жыл бұрын

    3:22 im literally learning from a short film 😂

  • @Mabelliot
    @Mabelliot Жыл бұрын

    yasss cuminonimbus and pineapplebuns

  • @BloatedPizzaRolls
    @BloatedPizzaRolls28 күн бұрын

    When was Jennifer Nie born?

  • @vinagorr
    @vinagorr Жыл бұрын

    I dead just cried. what is going on

  • @siewlybie
    @siewlybie Жыл бұрын

    This was lovely.. 😄

  • @kingpoliceofc.daddydickdjw5965
    @kingpoliceofc.daddydickdjw5965 Жыл бұрын

    ⭐⭐⭐ : 🌟

  • @kingpoliceofc.daddydickdjw5965
    @kingpoliceofc.daddydickdjw5965 Жыл бұрын

    DANBOORU ™

  • @leraginasian
    @leraginasian11 ай бұрын

    Beautiful!