Nov 16, 2006, 01:06 PM | by Michael Slezak
Categories: Film
It's sad. It's beautiful. It's complex. And it's sumptuously sketched. It's the animated short, Kiwi!, by Dony Permedi, about a flightless bird determined to spread his wings and soar, no matter the cost. (You can also watch it here.) Take a couple minutes and watch; I know I'm glad I did. (Thanks to MetaFilter for the heads up.)
jimmy Sun, Jun 8, 2008 at 11:15 AM EST
who ever thinks that this is drivel obviously has no dreams of their own. Get your head read and stop putting down people who do have them and like this little film
denise Fri, May 18, 2007 at 11:53 AM EST
this is a genuinely beautiful animation.. it's just that people have different ideas of what the video's message really is. for us, the idea of jumping off a cliff to gain the illusion of flying is really insane. but let us think about the kiwi. the kiwi is obviously a bird. the word bird is always associated with flying. birds are born to fly. but not all of them. and the kiwi, being one of the flightless ones, wanted to feel like all the other birds... it wanted to fly. and even if nailing trees at the side of a cliff and jumping is only an illusion, it meant so much to the kiwi, that it devoted its life and death(if it really did die) to feel what its like to fly..
Matt Wed, Mar 28, 2007 at 07:48 PM EST
This little flick is fantastic. Liz and Dan, it's really not drivel. This isn't for the "mitch albom set" it's for anyone. As for people thinking that kiwi shouldn't have died for an illusion:
Why is it an illusion? Just because you may empirically believe that it's gravity and not flight, doesn't mean that it IS. I know the follow-your-dreams thing is a cliche but I don't think this was that.
Laura Sun, Mar 25, 2007 at 09:20 PM EST
Liz, your comment is ignorant and entirely pathetic! Stop being such a sour puss!
brandonk Fri, Nov 17, 2006 at 11:37 AM EST
There was a definite thump after the kiwi disappeared into the fog.
I agree that dreams are difficult to acheive and take a lot of hard work, but I don't think this little film makes that point very well. The kiwi isn't actually flying, he's just constructed an elaborate illusion for himself. So basically he's spent a lot of time and hard work deluding himself in a very final way. Whatever floats his boat, though, I guess.
Aurelian Fri, Nov 17, 2006 at 09:51 AM EST
A great little clip.
My thought was not that kiwi was on a suicide run...As some of the youtube comments pointed out, maybe there was a lake at the bottom?
I appreciate the broad message that it is hard to achieve your dreams; that they take hard work and a long time to accomplish, but don't give up, keep at it and the reward will be worth all the effort. Damn, now I'm really depressed as I sit here in my office, an official member of the rat race who surrendered his life dreams long ago. Moral of story: if you're young, don't give up and take the "easy" path, stick with what you want out of life. If you want to be a baker, bake the best damn bread in town. If you want to own a bar, open a hole in the wall with no money, starve for a few years, and go from there. If you want to travel, take the crap job overseas that barely allows you to eat but allows you to be overseas. If you wanna fly, do what kiwi did, only make sure you land in water. If you work hard and the stars align, everything will work out. If not, at least you tried.
dan cullinane Fri, Nov 17, 2006 at 01:36 AM EST
eew...arthouse animation for the mitch albom set...no liz, you aren't the only one who thinks its drivel...
brandonk Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 10:25 PM EST
So this kiwi dragged countless trees up the side of an apprently mile-high cliff and nailed them to the side of the cliff, and then jumped off to certain death so he could experience the illusion of something he deeply desired? I'm not sure I like the broader implications of this short film...
Liz Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 04:07 PM EST
This is sentimental drivel, so transparent it's terrible. I saw this a week ago, am I the only one who thinks it's crap?
Opus-Bloom County Fan Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 03:43 PM EST
With Christmas coming up, everyone should try to check out "A Wish for Wings that Work," same premsie with a penguin and Bill the Cat.
Ellipsian Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 03:37 PM EST
I totally teared up. Best three minutes I've spent today. Thanks, Slezak.
Steven Knapp Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 03:33 PM EST
Have you heard of The Candy Eye Factory? They make short films as well, though not animated. But they reminded me of this. Their projects are bittersweet but hopeful and plucky. Their website and DVD are both great - candyeyefactory.com
nathan Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 03:16 PM EST
That's pretty cute, nice emotion for such a simple piece of animation.
Christopher Hurlburt Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 03:03 PM EST
Absolutely stunning. I wish it were a little longer, but I will take what I can get. I hope this student posts more soon. He has a good future ahead of him.
Eric Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 02:55 PM EST
Beautiful and haunting, but a little too dark to be uplifting. That sort of bittersweet last wish suicide thing is very cliched art house cinema.
ceej Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 02:25 PM EST
wow! that was wayyyy better than Cars. or Monster House. or Flushed Away. Or...
TsuKata Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 02:20 PM EST
I found Kiwi last night. It almost made me cry...the best thesis I've ever seen. :)
Jamie Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 01:20 PM EST
I am so glad EW caught on to this. I found this clip about a week ago and have already watched it about 15 times (and can I admit that I printed some screen caps and posted them in my office?). So simple, sweet and touching. I want to see a future clip with Kiwi flying in heaven.
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