Bad Seeds (French: Mauvaises herbes) is a Canadian animated short film, written, directed and animated by Claude Cloutier for the National Film Board of Canada.[1] The short had its international premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival,[2] and won multiple awards for Best Animated Short Film in Calgary International Film Festival and the 2021 New York City Short Film Festival[3] and the Sommets du cinéma d'animation.[4][5] The film was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for the 94th Academy Awards.[6]
| Bad Seeds | |
|---|---|
| French | Mauvaises herbes |
| Directed by | Claude Cloutier |
| Written by | Claude Cloutier |
| Produced by | Galilé Marion-Gauvin Julie Roy |
| Edited by | Guillaume Fortin |
| Music by | Robert Marcel Lepage |
Production companies | Productions l'Unite Centrale The National Film Board of Canada |
| Distributed by | National Film Board of Canada |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
Plot
Bad Seeds depicts a surreal modern-day fable where two carnivorous plants, who can change shape like chameleons change colours, would rather fight over flies than work together to survive.[7] Growth is intertwined with rivalry; evolution with competition, resulting in a startling conflict littered with references to historical figures, popular culture, board games, and more.[1]
Accolades
| Year | Presenter/Festival | Award/Category | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Sommets du cinéma d'animation | Public Prize in the international competition | Won | [5] |
| New York City Short Film Festival | Best Animated Short Film | Won | [3] | |
| Los Angeles Animation Festival | Comedy Short Award & Best of the Fest | Won | [8] | |
| 94th Academy Awards | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film | Shortlisted | [6] | |
| 2022 | 24th Quebec Cinema Awards | Prix Iris for Best Animated Short Film | Nominated |
