Bottle George


Bottle George is a 2024 Japanese stop motion animated short film about alcohol addiction. The 14-minute film explores the relationship between a young resilient girl and her alcoholic father, and was directed by Oscar-nominated director Daisuke Tsutsumi and co-written by Japanese comedian Akihiro Nishino and Japanese producer Noriko Matsumoto. After its premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April 2024, the film has received several nominations and awards, including the Special Animation Award at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival and the Jury Award for Best Animated Short at the Newport Beach Film Festival. On December 17, 2024, The 21 was shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards in the category of Best Animated Short Film.

Plot

A strange creature stuck in a bottle of alcohol is captured by a little girl, who is the daughter to an alcoholic father. The creature tries to escape, but the girl and her cat seem to always get in the way of his freedom. Meanwhile, the little girl's drunken father greatly affects her. As he witnesses her pain, the creature starts to understands who he is, and why he is stuck in the bottle.

Reception

YearAwardAward/CategoryStatusRef
2024Best Original ScoreWon
2024Special Award Won
2024Newport Beach Film FestivalJury Award for Best Animated ShortWon
2024Best Short 2024Won
2024San Francisco International Film FestivalOfficial CompetitionNomitated
2024New York Asian Film FestivalOfficial CompetitionNomitated
2024Austin Film FestivalBest Animated ShortNomitated