There are a million animation schools out there, but we always take special time out to watch those that come out of the French school Gobelins. Last week we looked at the first batch of 2017 graduation films, and this week we’re back to look at the remaining 4.

QUAND J’AI REMPLACÉ CAMILLE

Dir: Nathan OTAÑO, Rémy CLARKE, Leïla COURTILLON

Laure must replace a deceased swimmer in the relay swim team. The qualifiers are near and the team worries about their chances at winning; the grief and stress pushes Laure to obsess over the one she replaces, Camille. It’s rare we see heavy drama in these shorts, and this one largely pulls it off with a little psychological horror for its edge. The art is fantastic too—a real standout.

HORS SAISON

Dir: Nicolas CAPITAINE, Léni MAROTTE, Lucas DURKHEIM, Céline DESOUTTER

The horror is a bit more explicit in this one. Jude is an American park ranger. She finds tracks off the road leading into the forest, and her investigation leads her to the hiding place of a poacher, whom she decides to arrest alone. But in her quest for acknowledgement, Jude’s decisions won’t be without consequences. Strong backgrounds make up for character design I found a bit lackluster, while the narrative is straightforward but ultimately satisfying.

MEMO

Dir: Julien BECQUER, Elena DUPRESSOIR, Jules DURAND, Viviane GUIMARAES, Ines SCHEIBER

A change of pace, Louis, a retired man, resists the overprotection of his daughter Nina to keep his independence. A familiar premise, the film leverages the strength of animation to make internal struggles visible in a clever way. A very enjoyable piece.

OUTREMER

Dir: Hadrien BONNET, Adrien CALLE

It’s a story about a young boy who is afraid of the sea. He finds shelter, in the house of an old woman who paints the sea. The style, while a bit cartoony, is unusual in places and elevates what is a rather simple story.