PSYOP Signs Melbourne Animation House Studio Showoff for U.S. Representation
December 16, 2025
Whether as a way to bolster the reel or as relief from briefs and budgets, personal short films provide a welcome outlet for self-expression and experimentation with 2025 delivering a wonderfully diverse lineup of new work.
We were honored to publish all of these projects in The Stash Permanent Collection during 2025. They are listed here in reverse chronological order by their issue of publication.
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Issue: Stash 173
Also featured in the Stash Annual 2025
Dani Macovei, director/founder at Posthuman in London: “This was a self-initiated project driven by our curiosity to explore the capabilities of the latest AI models and push the boundaries of creative expression.
“We’re always eager to experiment with emerging technologies, not only for the joy of discovery, but also to understand how they might integrate into our pipeline and enhance future commercial work. When we stumble upon a new technique or aesthetic we try to define and refine it, pushing its boundaries to see where it can lead.”
Issue: STASH 173
In their latest short film, Oscar-nominated animation studio Job, Joris & Marieke reveal both their passion for tackling the climate crisis and their talent for delivering an important message with style and wit.
Job, Joris & Marieke: “All three of us try to do what’s best for the climate, we don’t own a car, we don’t eat meat, and we don’t fly. For a while now, we’ve been looking for a way to incorporate our views on the climate into a film. However, we feared it would only lead to something preachy, and we really dislike that.”
Issue: STASH 172
Director/animator Chu-Chieh Lee in London: “With containers serving as a motif and a metaphor for a safe space, ‘Minus Plus Multiply’ revolves around the protagonist’s self-exploration and healing journey, examining the connection between emotion and environment.
“With the constraints of a graduation film (limited budget, small crew, and tight schedule), I needed an approach that was both manageable and enjoyable. So, instead of using a traditional, linear narrative structure, I chose to work with visual transitions — a familiar method I often use in motion graphics and commercial projects.”
Issue: STASH 171
Director/animator Conor Whelan at Giant Ant in Vancouver: “The Northern White Rhino is a subspecies native to Central and East Africa. Their extremely valuable horns have made them targets for poaching, and as a result, their dwindling population is guarded 24/7 by armed guards.
“Only two Northern White Rhinos remain, a mother and daughter named Najin and Fatu. Our story takes place in a fictional near-future where the world’s sociopolitical structures have fallen apart, including the group tasked with protecting the White Rhinos.”
Issue: STASH 171
Luciano A. Muñoz Sessarego, director at Tumblehead in Vancouver: “This short was made out of the sheer love for making films, telling stories, and having a laugh. It has screened in over 70 festivals and has gathered six awards.
“This film took over six years from conception to final frames. Four years was the time from the first clear idea to the final animatic, and then when we started our collaboration with Tumblehead, it was about a year.”
Issue: STASH 170
Also featured in the Stash Annual 2025
Jack Featherstone, co-founder/CD at Tomorrow Bureau in London: “‘Self Drive’ is a part of our long-running series of studio projects called TB-LAB a platform for exploring abstract narratives and unexpected visual territories, a multi-format research initiative aimed at uncovering emerging thematics.
“In our latest project, we look at the age of autonomous vehicles, aiming to respond to this near-future reality by investigating the aesthetics of the rapidly evolving technology.”
Issue: STASH 170
Also featured in the Stash Annual 2025
Robert Glassford, director/animator at Mr Kaplin in London: “This was a self-initiated project with the purpose of having an open and honest conversation with my daughter about the challenges of ADHD. I wanted to let her know it’s OK to talk openly about things and to help build her confidence.
“The creative challenge was animating in such a way that my aesthetic (colorful with a little dark humor) came across while staying true to the message and being sensitive enough with the subject matter to keep it fun for people to watch.”
Watch all the Best of Stash 2025 Collections.
