A potted plant with glossy green leaves topped by a pink balloon cluster, resembling a flower, sits on a pedestal against an ornate white and green wall—a whimsical scene reminiscent of The Sweet Performance of Bubblegum Plant short film by Sebastian Marek. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Sebastian Marek Floats “The Sweet Performance of Bubblegum Plant” Short Film

3D artist/animator Sebastian Marek, whose last gravity-defying short we featured in Stash 177, is back with a lighthearted take on identity and transformation in this bubblegum-related tragicomedy. [Watch]

Four vivid panels: a hooded figure with red eyes and horns, musicians performing Death Metal with eyes glowing, a snarling dog with chains, and the word DEATHMETAL in fiery letters. The palette is red, black, and beige. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Giant Ant & Playdate Embrace the Darkness in “Death Metal”

Straddling the fine line between parody and homage, the motion design crew at Giant Ant team with Vancouver audio house Playdate and composer Adam Potts for a manic trip into the chaos and catharsis of death metal. [Watch]

A cartoon child stands on a tall ramp with a skateboard, while another child with open arms stands below, appearing to encourage or support them in a suburban neighborhood—reminiscent of the playful spirit found in The Close animated short film by Ant Blades & Birdbox Studio for BBC. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Ant Blades & Birdbox Studio Venture into “The Close”

Very few animated short films actually make you laugh out loud, but this new film from UK character comedy master Ant Blades and Birdbox Studio in London, does it so often the 10-minute running time just seems to fly by. [Watch]

A large robot in fiery debris with lightning and sparks surrounds the word OUTLAW in bold, glowing text across the center of the image, capturing the intense energy of OUTLAW CG Short Film by JIT & Calars. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Cyber-Girl vs Robot: JIT & Calars Drop OUTLAW Short Film

Inspired by their shared love of cyberpunk, Seoul CG artists JIT and Calars team up for an ambitious, render-heavy (and AI-free) blast of atmospheric sci-fi action with audio courtesy of Echoic. [Watch]

A man in a suit stands in a room with classical decor, with bright, animated lightning bolts—evoking Alessandro Bavari’s surreal style—crackling around him. A wooden chair sits empty in the background as solid light from space illuminates the striking, black and white scene. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Alessandro Bavari Electrifies With “Solid Light From Space”

While many in the creative world hedge or hide their use of generative AI, Italian director/composer Alessandro Bavari runs full-speed in the other direction, embracing the media’s warts as well as it’s wonders. [Watch]

Collage of 12 colorful, surreal, and abstract artworks—featured in the Stash issue 178 preview trailer—including a soccer player, a beetle, digital figures, a smiling cartoon face, hands, a yacht, a person on a roof, and other imaginative scenes. Frame from Stash Magazine article.