ICE MERCHANTS is a visually stunning and incredibly moving 14-minute animated film, and it’s one of the most compelling stories and world-building I’ve seen on screen – short or not. The animation is beautiful; every frame of this film could be its own art piece. One of my favorite parts of the medium is the ability to create worlds that don’t, shouldn’t, or couldn’t exist – but can be expressed through animation, and ICE MERCHANTS exemplifies the art form.
On top of that, ICE MERCHANTS has a hauntingly (and surprisingly, high-octane) low-temperature story. There isn’t any dialogue in the movie, adding an air of open interpretation. The film almost plays out like a fable, but the story is unique, with no singular guiding moral. All in all, I was left in awe and instantly fell in love with this film.
ICE MERCHANTS is now showing in theaters as part of ShortsTV’s collection of Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts and is also available on The New Yorker Screening Room on YouTube here.
ICE MERCHANTS 🤩
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