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Fear and insecurities are big emotions for a child, even though adults might often discount them as ‘childish’ behavior. The animated short film “Forget Me Not,” crafted by film students, masterfully brings to life the emotions of Ophelia, a little girl who feels neglected by her father because he is often busy attending to her younger sibling.
Created by Denver Colorado and Xime Garcia, this animation boasts hand-drawn artistry, featuring gorgeous backdrops that beautifully contrast with the simple character designs. In fact, it’s this simplicity that makes “Forget Me Not” charming, especially since the primary theme is about a child grappling with her inner demons. There’s a scene in the film which instantly reminded me of the classic novel “The Secret Garden” and Little Ophelia has quite the unexpected adventure in a hidden little garden full of surprises. The creators also include a captivating shot of scorpion grasses in full bloom. These blue-hued plants are commonly referred to as ‘forget-me-not,’ cleverly serving as a symbolic representation of the movie’s title.
With a seven minute runtime, the short film is a crisp emotional tale complemented by a nostalgic background score. While the actors’ voices occasionally come across as muffled, the judicious use of ambient nature sounds throughout the film’s duration remains crystal clear. This technique effectively imbues the garden with a sense of vitality and realism, transcending its animated nature. Overall, “Forget Me Not” is a poignant short film about the complex emotions of a child and how they can get swept away in their emotions if adults don’t keep an eye out for warning signs.
You can watch “Forget Me Not” on YouTube. It’s also embedded below.