Review: Anacronte

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Humanity faces the Sorcerers of Evil’s indefeasible designs in a struggle that defines the two species as winners and losers.

Our Take:

I’ve seen a lot of strange animated short films throughout my life, but this right here may have a chance at taking the top spot. Most of the cartoon shorts I watched were primarily from Disney, Pixar, and other kid-friendly brands. This one, however, doesn’t belong in any of them. Three years after its debut, the award-winning and crowd-pleasing animated short has made its debut on HBO Max, and based on what I experienced, it’s something that you shouldn’t ignore.

Anacronte was directed by Raul Koler and Emiliano Sette. It envisions a colorful yet bleak world where people walk towards nowhere. The gooey monsters called the Sorcerers of Evil shoot arrows at people, causing them to have painful experiences. For example, a flight attendant caught her husband cheating with another woman, and a man was caught in the middle of warfare. Fortunately, one person wasn’t going to let these Sorcerers win without a fight.

The animated short was about 14 minutes long, which, in my eyes, is perfect enough to feel engrossed in its metaphorical narrative and the majestic beauty of its animation. From what I can gather, the short is simply a figurative depiction of life. Life is full of happiness and despair, with the Sorcerers being symbols of the latter. How you choose to live depends on which one you prefer. If you let depression consume you, you’ll sink into the abyss with no way out and become a Sorcerer of Evil yourself. However, if you can get through the pain, then you’ll have nothing to fear. It’s a never-ending struggle between these two emotions that guide us through our way of life.  

The representation of its theme managed to be extraordinarily poetic and magnetically engrossing without the use of dialogue. The animation and music were the main highlights of this short. The animation was vibrantly surreal and symbolic, especially the opening sequence, and the musical score enhanced the experience of this scenario without overpowering it. I would also give the filmmakers some credit for including Mozart’s “Lacrimosa” near the end. It just fits so well with the sequence.

Overall, Anacronte was undoubtedly a captivating experience from start to finish. Not only was it highly thought-provoking and beautifully animated, but it also signifies a brighter future for Koler and Sette. I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy something like this based on what I read, but I am glad that it managed to prove me wrong. It might not impress everybody regarding its mature concept, but it does prove to be useful for film classes. If you happen to have HBO Max, take the time to put this animated short on your watchlist. You won’t regret it.