THE SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL 2026 REVIEW! Writer-director Chloe Zheng’s Demon Friend begins deep in a forest, where a young boy lives with his hulking, giant of a father (think buff Santa). The boy is left alone during the day, as the older man is out hunting demons. This makes the boy very lonely. One day, while out playing with a toy bow and arrow, the boy runs into a young demon. Soon, the two are frolicking and having fun together. But the human child is being raised to hunt beings like his new friend, so can their bond last?
The father, the boy, and the young demon in a dusky forest in Chloe Zheng’s animated short Demon Friend.
“…while out playing with a toy bow and arrow, the boy runs into a young demon. Soon, the two are frolicking and having fun together.”
The animated short only runs 2 and a half minutes or so. But it has a lot to say within the brevity. The filmmaker explores how finding something to share an experience with, even if it is as simple as climbing a tree, means a lot to friends. The boy and the demon’s friendship works on a number of levels, and the impressive animation captures the fun and joy on their faces well.
Zheng then brings reality down in a big way. The finale of Demon Friend says a lot about what people will do to impress their parents and the boundaries they won’t cross to do so. It is amazing that such a short film has more to say than 98% of big studio films.
Demon Friend screened at The Seattle Film Festival 2026.
"…amazing..."
