REBOOTED | Short Film

It’s not easy for a movie-star to age - especially when you’re a stop motion animated skeleton monster.
Phil, once a terrifying villain of the silver-screen, struggles to find work in modern Hollywood due to being an out-of-date special effect.

Written and Directed by Michael Shanks
Produced by Chris Hocking, Nicholas Colla, LateNite Films

Supported by Screen Australia and YouTube through the Skip Ahead Initiative

[snbsixteenstars]

stop motion skeleton, animatronics, the creature costume, old 90's cgi, 2D animation on cells this makes me so upset to see these guys treated in such a way, Amazing short film

[Liamrll]

No dialogue but you still understand perfectly the story, a masterpiece.

[Endymion]

I live in Hollywood and I've seen this guy walking around my area. Glad he finally got another role.

[MikeTheGamer]

the part where he holds the picture of his creator while watching the film. That really hit me.

[sofimeoni]

can we appreciate the fact that they told us a beautiful story without having to say a single word?

[gavdownes]

The irony of being the scariest when he was trying to be friendly

[benl.]

I've never wanted to hug a skeleton more in my life.

[Jfreek]

That ending tho

Skeleton: "Das right. These old bones still got it."

[pacoreguenga]

I’m an old CGI animator who is currently doing VFX and DP’ing besides Directing. Sometimes I feel just like Phil in this short, which to me is the most amazing tribute to our Master Ray Harryhausen, whose work inspired me to get into animation since I was a child. Thanks for sharing this awesome film. It makes me cry every time.

[wrkiwi]

The thing I get out of this is the fact a skeleton has a skeleton

[yokpok]

I don't think people understand the concept that it's not about the skeleton but about the stop motion animators not being able to land a job, as with other dying industries

[markj]

I'm certain Ray Harryhausen would be both impressed, and delighted as to how his legacy has progressed in this world

[QuanticDreamer]

Plot twist: the skeleton was finally employed for this short film.

[morningsmile]

ain't any one gonna talk about how good the lightening was, his skull reflect all the colors perfectly.

[airarinuzu]

The Fact That No none cares about Skeleton Walking Around is Hilarious. Only the Girl in The Train Who Scared with it LoL

[animateangus]

As a stop motion animator who idolises the work of Ray Harryhausen, this short spoke to me on so many levels! Absolutely floored by this! Recognise some of Nick Hilligoss' work there too! Well done!

[MegaDara]

This is just an amazing homage to all the old film techniques. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how much effort and work goes into these media.
To this day the modern Alien franchise can never really beat the suits and animatronics they used in the originals. It's just not as scary, not as much heart. Same goes for Jurassic park. The original puppet they had to dry out every few minutes in the rain scene near the beginning has never been matched in quality in my opinion. Then there's all the old films such as Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal that are such gems. Even the new star wars series 'The Mandalorian' has recognised this and the child they use is a puppet. It's just so much more real.

This is beautiful, and I honestly thought it was gonna have a bad ending, but the hope he has at the end just made me smile. Even if the critics don't find him scary for the movie, he's a terrifying monster anyway. Scare on little bone dude. <3

[evetko]

Although being an old 'special effect' set the precedence, they do need the recognition for what they contributed in their time and how they added to future ideas in advancements. Thank you, not old, but original labour intensive 'special effects' which I think are still amazing.

[amberlinmchugh]

The guy that made the skeleton was Ray Harryhausen, special effects pioneer that made 1980s clash of the titans. Showed Calibos too. Super cool concept, very well done

[AI-mghy]

I love how his action figure looks like a generic version of him, just like action figures of real people.