Rejected (2000)

[StevePulaski]

Rejected (2000)
Directed by: Don Hertzfeldt

Rating: ★★★

Don Hertzfeldt has managed to make some of the most innovative and hilarious animated shorts by using the most primitive style of doodling and stick-figures, which, in my opinion, only helps accentuate the charm of his work. Hertzfeldt is a commendable artist with a plethora of ideas, frequently finding a way to make his random ideas flourish through the limitless realm of animation, and Rejected shows the kind of activity that I'm sure floods his head on a daily basis. The connective tissue of the short, as its a collection of miniature shorts within nine minutes, is that Hertzfeldt was hired to create some animated spots and advertisements for The Family Channel but, in the mix of himself going absolutely crazy with sketching and writing, almost losing control, all his proposed segments were rejected. Rejected shows all the spots/advertisements, with the last couple minutes of the short showing Hertzfeldt's complete spiral into insanity as all the animated figures are thrown into chaos by crumpling paper and the entire destruction of their world.

Rejected is a zealous little gem, colorful and vibrant despite being so minimalist, and its traditionally-animated style proves that one can still captivate even when they resort to the bare basics. Hertzfeldt's craft is the kind that, even when stripped back many layers and nowhere near as expensive and detailed as larger, more mainstream projects.

Directed by: Don Hertzfeldt.