REEL Rascals

This delightful assortment of animated and live action films from around the world celebrates the wonder of childhood. The themes of friendship, sharing, perseverance and growing, as well as the magic of storytelling, are explored in carefully crafted stories about human and animal characters. Ages 5-8

This program screens three times throughout the festival.
A Sea Turtle Story

A Sea Turtle Story

Directed by Kathy Shultz
Canada  |  2012  |  10 min

This stunning animated film explores the life cycle of the sea turtle by looking at its food chain, predatory animals and the nature of marine life.

Bear and Bird

Bear and Bird

Directed by Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson
USA  |   |  4 min

Bear & Bird is about two best friends, a laid back brown bear who just wants to take it easy and an overly excited cardinal who’s one cup of coffee away from a nervous breakdown. When a long-awaited video game finally arrives in the mail, the duo settles in for a marathon gaming session. They trade wins and losses until Bird is quickly overcome by a foul odor emanating from his pal. When Bird can’t take it anymore he demands that Bear take a much-needed bath. Never one for baths, Bear makes a run for it with Bird in hot pursuit. When the situation gets out of control, Bear is forced to decide between saving his friend or saving himself.

Bear’s Got a Short Tail

Bear’s Got a Short Tail

Directed by Heid Erdrich
Canada  |   |  10 min

“Gaa-ondinang dakawaanowed Makwa” or “How the Bear Got A Short Tail,” narrated by elder Anna Gibbs entirely in Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Ojibwe people, tells a story about gifts of the Creator and gives a lesson in humility.

In this fully animated Anishinaabemowin tale, we meet Makwa, the bear, who brags up his gorgeous tail and enrages bushy-tailed Fox. Many woodland creatures appear as they were before the Creator gave them their gifts, such as Skunk whose stripes are yet to appear. Seasons, the heavens, and the creatures of the lake and woods figure prominently in this story for those learning the Anishinaabe language.

My Home

My Home

Directed by
UK  |   |  19 min

My Home follows Eli, a young Oneida boy on his first fishing trip, as he listens to Grandfather recall a story from the rich oral tradition of the Oneida Indian people, passed down from generation to generation. It’s a tale about a gentle turtle and what happens when her peaceful world gets turned upside down.

Play Lunch

Play Lunch

Directed by Cassandra Nguyen
Australia  |  2011  |  10 min
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Molly would rather play football than eat her lunch as she promised her mother. She soon realizes that, by sharing, she can make friends.

Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee

Directed by Zoe Leigh Hopkins
Canada  |  2010  |  3 min

Daydreams of a Native-language spelling bee inspire a young girl.

Taking Flight

Taking Flight

Directed by Brandon Oldenburg
USA  |  2015  |  6 min
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The Casebook of Nips and Porkington

The Casebook of Nips and Porkington

Directed by Melody Wang
 |   |  3 min

Two members of the constabulary are on a mission to return a kidnapped egg to its distraught parents.

The Child Who Hammered Nails

The Child Who Hammered Nails

Directed by Isabelle Kanapé
Canada  |  2014  |  3 min
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A fable about the consequences of our actions depicted in Chinese shadows.

The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo

Directed by Jakob Schuh, Max Lang
UK  |  2009  |  27 min

A magical tale of a mouse who takes a stroll through the woods. Encountering three predators – a fox, an owl and a snake – the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive.

Awards:Nominated for Best Animated Short Film, Oscars 2011
Best of the Festival, Chicago International Film Festival 2010

The Last Leaf

The Last Leaf

Directed by Gwyneth Christoffel
 |   |  2 min

A cute little caterpillar runs into big trouble trying to get to the last delicious leaf on a tall tree.