The future, through a Dirty Projector

Magical, warm, and hopeful, this delightfully animated piece for the Dirty Projectors tugs on all your heartstrings.

In Earth Crisis, an old woman and her dog cavort through a landscape that is heavily texturized, looking like cut-paper, watercolor, and stop-motion claymation. The story quickly turns sad, as the dog dies after accidentally eating a poisonous plant. The plant appears throughout the rest of the film, the reminder of death surrounding this woman as she struggles through winter, depression, and hopelessness before finally replanting a tree and finding joy again. 

Created by Encyclopedia Pictura, the animation is really stellar. It feels stop-motion and handmade, crafted with cameras and sets. The expansive feel is well-paced throughout the story as director Isaiah Saxon handles the emotional beats with sincerity and a delicate touch.