Too much animation on the internet aimed just at kids? Try these online animations – not ones that you would want to share with the little ones, perhaps.
The Little Ninja
If you thought this article was about pornograpjy, then shame on you! The sites featured are ones that could be classified as adult because of their content and subject matter, but not because they feature bums and boobs and other scary wobbly bits. As the name of the first suggests, it is a combination of the affecting (he is little, he is cute, he is bewildered) and the bloodthirsty (well, he is a Ninja, after all!). Some stunning flash animation gives this series of shorts a beautiful almost ethereal look and feel and the Little Ninja’s voice over is obviously done by a child rather than an adult pretending to be one (what I call Bartandlisa syndrome). There are twelve chapters altogether – and no annoying ads surrounding the film. You will want to watch them all, back to back. However, watch them yourself first before you point your kids towards them – there is much violence and a character in Chapter Two with something approaching Tourette Syndrome.
One Last Fix
A great deal of fantastic flash animation is coming out of Russia and this startling piece is no exception. A young female addict wakes up in her flat and prepares herself for another day – and another fix. Her last moments are spent in a vivid nightmare from which there is only one form of escape. With a fairly jaunty piece of music accompanying it (though my Russian is non existent, the lyrics are probably very depressing!) this is a powerful animation that doesn’t make any judgments (as films from elsewhere might).
En Tus Brazos (In Your Arms)
This is so European, both stylistically and the unapologetically unschmaltzy was that it deals with the issue of the aftermath of sudden disability. A pair of Argentinian dancers, beautifully drawn and realized, face the fact together that the male of the pair will never dance again. Drawn in to the past through their imagination they revisit their heyday. The color tones of the animation are wonderfully done and the sensuous spirit of the dance imbues this short with an unambiguous sexuality. Adult animation as it should be – subtle, sensual and serious and proof that flash animation can have a profound and human message.
Solar
Two beings inhabit a strange world and are a little too reliant on solar energy than is perhaps good for them. A darkly humorous piece, this won many awards last year and is the work of two young film makers who are destined for greater things. Your kids would probably find this boring – they would say that nothing happens in it. However, from a mature perspective it could almost be said that everything that needs to happen does. Watch till the end for the revelation. Awesome.
Hanged Man’s Elegy
A poet struggles to come to terms with his fiancee’s death. Tortured by her memory he visits her grave and is confronted by his demons. Together with a heavy rock soundtrack, some mild nudity (hey, it’s from Europe!) and a masterful use of dark colors, this is very much adult viewing. Scary – like watching a train wreck in slow motion, compulsive and definitely an animation that lingers in the mind longer than you necessarily would like.
The Devil’s Tramping Ground
Not for the faint hearted. With a sinister sound track this interactive movie allows you to navigate through the devil’s tramping ground where he goes to think of all the awful plans he will put in to action in the future. This site is best watched in the dark and late at night, possibly with some brandy next to you! Genuinely spooky, you will also, once it finished you will also get the chance to see ten other spooky happenings!
Ed and His Inner Demons
Ed is a troubled not so young man. Drfting from one dead end job to another with as many inappropriate T-shirts as could be imagined he finally gets work in a video store. Unfortunately he has some inner demons that simply will not shut up and this very quickly gets Ed in to trouble when he, well, you will see. Strictly for the grown ups, this one, and there are many laugh out loud moments. You might be happy to know there is also a part two.
Emmeline
A fairy story of sorts – but perhaps not one for the little ones. Emmeline is a little girl who is given everything that she wants. Except love. And you know what happens when little girls don’t get any loving. As the only child in the house it is only natural for her to create an imaginary friend. Then, of course, all hell breaks loose. Really, mums and dads, think twice before showing this to your children – unless of course you really do want them to have nightmares!
Would you like to have more adults only flash fun? Then click HERE to see ten more cool examples.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Wonderful, loved it!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Thanks for sharing these. I’enjoyed watching the first one and I’ll come back to view the rest. SU’d
February 13th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Enjoyed reading this areticle. I too watched the first one and I will watch the others later. SU’d !!
February 13th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Another interesting one RJ, I enjoyed the dancing one!
February 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Absolutely brilliant animations.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
All them excellent,amusen and entertaining animation.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
The The Devil’s Tramping Ground was way to bizarre and really twisted.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
oh-bookmarked!! Have to check this again when I have the time! Yikes RJ, -where DO you get these ideas from!? :-O Excellent!!
February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Cool and interesting
http://stumblephemera.blogspot.com/
February 13th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
They’re enjoyable.
February 14th, 2009 at 5:27 am
A very enjoyable and entertaining article. Good work.
Christine
February 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
As always, very educational, entertaining and informative. Great work. What else is new!? LOL!!
February 14th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
mmm, I don’t think I would show these to the kiddies.Wouldn’t want them to have nightmares.Good selection for adults.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
interesting article, im goin to try some of them!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
cool stuff:)
February 15th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Don’t have time to watch them, but I surely will! They seem interesting!
February 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
The ninja animation is awesome, but then again, I like watching films like this. Some were disturbing, such as Emmeline. Think I’ve seen that one before. Eee cripes that one gives me the heebie jeebies..lol. ;P
February 16th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Wow that Ninjai one intense – it looks like they are doing a live action one that’s going to be just as bad-ass i found the some clips on ign.com http://karmakula.ign.com
February 16th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
These are very creative. It’s amazing the quality of creative work on the Web these days. Although I agree that they’re not for kids.
February 16th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I like The Devil’s Tramping Ground! A very interesting collection!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:27 am
I too like The Devil’s Tramping Ground. Very cool.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:32 am
SPANISH dancers????
My God, you MUST be american.
Tango is from Argentina (happens to be closer to US than to Spain, by the way)
Maybe the argentinian flag could give you a hint.
Advice: IF YOU DONT KNOW, DONT SAY. If you have said “dancers” it would be ok.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Same goes for the animations. One last fix: everything in the story points to heroin, except for the snorting. Anyone?
February 17th, 2009 at 3:42 am
To Shame on You – that will be amended – my apologies. To Dutch – cocaine I think!
February 17th, 2009 at 7:02 am
No thanks, lol.
February 17th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Great article, will definitely be checking these out!
February 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Nice animations to watch. Each one is very interesting. Another creative work of yours.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Excellent finds!! Thoroughly enjoyed them.
February 17th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Great article!
February 17th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Nice article
February 18th, 2009 at 12:59 am
I love graphic novels… and this is the “animated variant”! Thanks for sharing!
February 18th, 2009 at 3:17 am
nice article
February 18th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Awesome stuff. Thanks for sharing. I will look into some of them.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Wonderful article , very creative RJ
February 18th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
my observation the four letter words and sex attract human beings like bees to honey. i am 19 where do i fit in mentally?lh
February 19th, 2009 at 3:01 am
wow awesome…i njoyed..gr8
February 19th, 2009 at 3:03 am
wow awesome…i njoyed..gr8
February 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Amazing stuff!
February 19th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
this is a great article. i love it!!!! i am gonna find a way to share this one with as many as i can!!!!
thank you! i cant wait to check these out more!
February 19th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Nice.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Hi R.J. Evans,
This is a really great article that is humorous and engraved in irony.
I really enjoyed it; very…unique.
See you around!
-Fresh Writing
February 21st, 2009 at 3:40 am
Filipinos are also good in animation. They have original animated movies. And, In Disney, some Filipino animators work there. Btw. nice, article.
February 21st, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Soo going to my favorates! Keep writing!
Here’s a good article!
http://www.quazen.com/Recreation/Crafts/Fun-and-Inexpensive-Craft-Ideas.525465
April 6th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
@ Dutch
In ‘One Last Fix’ the drug is shown being inhaled, this can be done with heroin. However in the dream sequence there are references to oral drugs – pills, and iv based drugs – possibly where the heroin label comes from.
Oh and great post! I have seen several of these before and watched the ‘Ninjai, the little ninja’ as it was being released.