At only four minutes long, GNT throws viewers right into the action. This is both a good and bad thing, as there is nary time to figure what is happening before writers-directors-animators Sara Hirner and Rosemary Vasquez-Brown move on to the next scene. But the jokes come fast and furious, so if you missed something, there’s another non-sequitur on its way. So, is the confusingly swift nature of the animated short’s story offset by the amusing lines it offers?
Glenn (Isabelle Coury), Nikki (Regine Clarke), and Tammy (Niamh Shipley) are best friends at a coffee shop. While talking, Nikki is discussing why her social media followers love her so much, and Tammy believes what she’s describing is thrush. Glenn is not sure what that is but is whisked away on a tiny adventure that sees her make a doctor vomit on a livestream.
The first thing one will notice about GNT is its rather crass, ugly character designs. They are garish, ungainly, and the constantly moving waves in their hair (perhaps a failed nod to squiggle vision) is distracting. If this was done on purpose, the point gets lost in translation. Animation does not need to be cute talking animals all the time. However, it should still be somewhat pleasant to view as animation, and movies, generally speaking, are a visual medium. The character designs will turn off potential viewers.
“…whisked away on a tiny adventure that sees her make a doctor vomit…”
Oddly, Hirner and Vasquez-Brown’s backgrounds and scene transitions are a thing of beauty. They are smooth and match the intense energy of the rapid dialogue and do things only possible in animation to highlight the characters’ emotional state (such as when, after falling down, Glenn remains a puddle of embarrassment beside her beverage). Utilizing pink, black, and white, for the most part, the ever-changing backgrounds are a work of art.
The screenplay for GNT revels in its raunchiness, which works more often than not. Some of the jokes, both visual and verbal, do not land, as the characters are mere avatars for various women who exist in real life, not so much fleshed-out people of their own accord. But when it does work, audiences will laugh mightily, which is a good sign.
GNT is not flawless, but the filmmakers show true talent and excellent comedic timing. If they design their characters a bit better and realize that fart jokes are not inherently always funny, Hirner and Vasquez-Brown could have a bright future ahead. As for this short, it is worth watching at least once, though there’s not a need to ever rewatch it.
"…the filmmakers show true talent and excellent comedic timing."
