In Masha Ellsworth’s animated short, Little t, a young woman is confronted by her inner critic just before an important job interview.
Alexis is a recent college graduate anxious about her post-grad job prospects as an architect. While trying to grab a bite at a local coffee shop, she is confronted by ghostly images of her “Inner Critic” and “Inner Child.” The “Inner Critic” harshly judges her choice of meal—particularly the chocolate cupcake—while the “Inner Child” busily colors incomplete pages of art in the diner.
The pressure builds just as Alexis walks through the doors of her job interview. Unfortunately, the pressure proves too much for her.
“She is confronted by ghostly images of her ‘Inner Critic’ and ‘Inner Child.'”
At just over six minutes, filmmaker Masha Ellsworth dives straight into the heart of a familiar inner conflict: the fear that we’re not good enough to achieve our dreams versus the struggle to trust our creative, playful side fully. This inner child ultimately allows Alexis to stand out from the crowd.
Also, Ellsworth’s computer animation style is a standout feature of Little t. Ellsworth plays around with combining 2D and 3D animation in the storytelling. Alexis and her companions are three-dimensional, while other supporting characters are stylized as 2D paper cutouts. It’s an intriguing way to build the world Alexis lives in.
Little t is a charming and thoughtful animated short that explores the battle between self-doubt and creativity. It is a quick yet powerful reminder to trust in the parts of ourselves that make us unique.
"…battle between self-doubt and creativity."
