Rob Munday
If you’re a fan of pixel art and have marvelled at beloved animated TV shows like The Simpsons, Adventure Time and Rick & Morty transformed into retro-styled masterpieces, then you’re probably already familiar with the work of Paul Robertson. A prominent figure in his field, with a string of video game and television credits, 2024 marks Robertson’s triumphant return to the realm of short film with his most ambitious work yet – Jimmy and Baby.
A 20-minute film that follows two young frogs as their quests for riches takes them to hell and back, Jimmy and Baby is an unrelenting barrage on the senses, bombarding viewers with a torrent of visual humour and jaw-dropping action sequences. While a glance at the YouTube thumbnail might suggest a charming, family-friendly adventure, such expectations are promptly shattered in the film’s opening scene, where our protagonists find themselves in a strip club (aptly named FroggedAboutIt), flaunting cash at scantily clad, winged dancers.
Jimmy and Baby admiring the entertainers at FroggedAboutIt, before they’re kicked out.
After being thrown out of the establishment, the pair are offered a chance at wealth – through the theft of a huge diamond – by some kind of frog Mafia boss. As expected, the heist doesn’t go to plan and in just over three-minute of the film’s run-time, the duo suddenly find themselves relocated to Hell, where they have an hour to reclaim the aforementioned jewel and save their souls.
It’s some exposition and upon first watching Jimmy and Baby I had doubts whether Robertson, along with co-writers Michelle Larney and Dave Supplee, could maintain this pace (and my engagement) for the rest of the short’s duration. However, from the moment we’re introduced to the hellish landscapes of the underworld, the film ramps it another level, with the introduction of an ensemble of wild characters and non-stop fight scenes.
The attention to detail in the close-up shots is particularly impressive in Jimmy and Baby
For Jimmy and Baby to be a success though its audience needed to be floored by the art on show, and Robertson does not disappoint. The craft here, as echoed by many of the YouTube commenters, is insane! From the meticulous attention to detail in the close-up shots (at times reminiscent of the intricate “gross-ups” seen in Ren & Stimpy) to the sheer inventiveness of character design (the target practice man being a personal favourite), every detail is executed with precision and is an absolute delight to behold. As one YouTube comment aptly notes, it’s “the only 20-minute video I’ve gone through frame by frame” – it’s certainly worth it.
As Jimmy and Baby reaches its frantic conclusion and it central duo finally return to a more peaceful life, we’re left wondering (or should it be hoping) if we’ll see more of this pair in the future. It certainly feels as if there’s scope for development here and I’m sure the short will continue to build an ever-increasing fanbase over the coming weeks.
Editor’s Note: Shout out to Marc at Catsuka for first bringing this short to our attention