The Present

February 15, 2016 1:23 PM

The Present is a short animation by Jacob Frey, about a boy who would rather spend his time playing video games instead of discovering what's outside. One day his mom brings him a little surprise which makes it hard for him to concentrate on his games.
posted by monospace (21 comments total)

Surprisingly good for such a clichéd seeming premise.
posted by debagel at 1:29 PM on February 15, 2016

The character animation on "the present" really sells this.
posted by Nelson at 1:30 PM on February 15, 2016

It's really good, but I sadly can't help but think of how bullies would make creative use of this.
posted by Captain Fetid at 1:39 PM on February 15, 2016

The animation is great and the...present is hella cute but the premise is maybe the most on-the-nose thing that has ever been on a nose
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:49 PM on February 15, 2016 [8 favorites]

wow, that was some unexpected feels. Going back through it I noticed that in some shots you do see the kid as he is if you looked really carefully.

I couldn't get the Vimeo video to play for me for some reason, but this youtube version works
edit: didn't realize I hadn't enabled flash for Vimeo for Firefox for this PC, heh
posted by numaner at 1:49 PM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

This is the best argument for developing better video games I have seen in a long time.
posted by markkraft at 1:59 PM on February 15, 2016 [3 favorites]

Clearly, this short film just proves that you're probably better off staying in, and looking at your monitor all day.
posted by markkraft at 2:04 PM on February 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

Fark would say that it's awfully dusty in here while I'm chopping onions.

Fark would be correct.
posted by parliboy at 2:05 PM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

Woo, found the bag of Let's potato chips!
posted by phunniemee at 2:08 PM on February 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'd like this a lot more without the initial throwing and kicking.
posted by The otter lady at 2:19 PM on February 15, 2016 [8 favorites]

Is that cardboard box a Metal Gear Solid reference? Some shots (like the one where the dog's got the red ball in its mouth, which takes a fraction of a second too long) make me think there is more than one videogame reference in this video.
posted by Captain Fetid at 2:29 PM on February 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

It's really good, but I sadly can't help but think of how bullies would make creative use of this.

Creative use of what?
posted by zutalors! at 2:31 PM on February 15, 2016

I'm curious as to how MeFites with disabilities feel about this video, or the comic that inspired it.
posted by splitpeasoup at 6:02 PM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

It was better in Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe.
posted by domo at 6:56 PM on February 15, 2016

I'm lucky I saw it home and not at work. Definitely NSFW for me.
posted by hat_eater at 11:50 PM on February 15, 2016

zutalors!: Creative use of what?

I didn't want to spoil the movie -- what I pictured was both of them walking the street and bullies noticing the similarities between them.
posted by Captain Fetid at 3:55 AM on February 16, 2016

That was nice. The kicking was a little over egged but that's creative story telling for you.
posted by trif at 4:58 AM on February 16, 2016

Oh jeez, it's this one. Totally burned out on films that use disability as a pathos-punchline, but audiences just eat them up. At least they don't kill off the kid in this one.
posted by thetortoise at 5:30 AM on February 16, 2016

(I don't think the full film is online, unfortunately, but Nieta is probably my favorite of that type.)
posted by thetortoise at 5:49 AM on February 16, 2016

There's a homeless guy in my neighborhood who is in a wheel chair. He has one leg, and he has a three-legged dog. I'm always curious about their story and how they found each other.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:39 AM on February 16, 2016

That was nice. The kicking was a little over egged but that's creative story telling for you.

hey what's a little animal abuse when it comes to learning your kid a lesson about going out and getting some fresh air

eventually the puppy began to amuse him, so he probably won't be violent with it again. probably

k yeah I have issues with this short
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:01 PM on February 16, 2016