The Cat Piano Plays A Bittersweet Tune

Every so often you just happen to stumble upon something that completely and utterly blows you away. Say hello to The Cat Piano…an eight minute animated short from The People’s Republic of Animation. Directed by Ari Gibson and Eddie White, The Cat Piano is based off of a poem written by White himself (it serving as the film’s story which is narrated by none other than Nick Cave.) and captures a moody little slice of animation in a city who’s feline inhabitants live for the swinging nightlife…until a shadowy figure begins kidnapping the town’s singers for his own twisted designs.

Piano has a distinct film noir tone to it…the jazzy music, the seedy big city, the allure of the night, the danger and the beauty of it all.  This eight minute short has more heart, soul, and emotion in it then anything Hollywood’s put out within the last decade, all without sacrificing any of its distinct style. Everything meshes together so wonderfully…the  animation, White’s poetry, and Cave’s intense delivery….it all comes together for one haunting, fantastic experience. This is the first PRoA short I’ve seen so far…but if this is any indication of the quality of work that goes into their projects, consider me a fan.