Negative Space | Oscar Nominated Stop-Motion Animation | Short of the Week

“look at all that wasted space" really impacted me

Look at all that wasted space. All the time we could have spent. All the memories we could have shared. All the dreams we could have built.

Dunno who will read this, but to share, this film was made by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, a power animating couple. He was a professor of mine in college and he shared the process of it in class. The clothes were modelled off his own, and his wife Ru made each of the tiny replicas. The furniture in his tiny childhood home, is a replica of his own home, down to the fabric of the sofas. This was really about his dad. They spent a year in residency in Paris making this film. It was nominated for an Oscar the year after I graduated. I feel incredibly lucky to have seen it's process and to learn about his story. Thanks Max for everything!

"Look at all the wasted space" proves how imperfect the relationship was between him, his father and his mother. They were folded up tightly just like the clothes inside the suitcase alligned right in their space without even overflowing an inch of it. Everything was measured in teaspoons in that house. Perfection itself was measured out. Their life was PERFECT but lifeless.

His dad also taught me how to pack.

I just learned how to pack fro trip today..thanks ..

wait did you guys notice the part where his dad put him in the suitcase (2:06), his wristwatch left him and was swallowed by the waves of clothes. I think what could be interpreted here was how all this packing and all, stole precious time his dad could have spent with him instead. Woah this really is one brilliant creation. I am also having fun reading through the comments of various intreptations!

When his father was leaving for temporary days he fulfilled all the spaces in his suitcase but when he left permanently he left all empty...which symbolizes our life..rather than filling our life with materilistic things ..fill with love and memories that lives forever 🧡.. This is what I learned from this short amazing clip... Do you agree with me?

Trust me, stop motion takes a lot of time and effort. A lot.

This level of creativity is something amazing Hats off

the single word his dad texted back expressed how much pain this boy felt, despite him not knowing it. the wasted space similarly expresses the pain & emptiness inside his heart, for hardly he knew his father at all.

While most people are trying to interpret the meaning, I’m just glad I came across this because I hate packing and this was very helpful. Not to mention the animation was beautiful beyond words

Such a beautiful synthesis of visual and verbal poetry. The coffin was the last suitcase for the final trip.

"Look at all that wasted space." When you only teach your child one thing in life....what do you expect for him to think when you are gone? Amazing story.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC

I pray that those kids who grow in negative spaces grow to be better parents even if they say you cannot give what you haven’t been given. Somewhere in our souls.. would guide us to give what we lacked.

Perhaps ‘look at all that wasted space’ is referring to periods of time in the past where time was not spent together. Opportunities wasted.

I need more serious animations in my life! Really amazing storytelling and I loved the stop motion! Who’s with me?

In won’t go into details, but I relate so much that this story literally spoke to me. Me and my dad always ‘bonded’ on some specific thing.. he wasn’t a particular affectionate person… at least he didn’t show it.. but behind those words he said there was always ‘something else’. My interpretation of “look at all that wasted space” is that after all these years of bonding ONLY about packing, it naturally all he can say to begin with.. thats what associate his dad with … so he naturally thinks that first… he’s probably trying to bond again (kind of when you talk with someone dead at. The cemetery over their grave )Also… he talks about ‘wasted space’ cause there’s definitely some sort of regret/disappointment… of not having lived a full relationship with the dad.. not having explored other feeling, experiences etc… but limited instead their most intimate father/son moments to talk about packing… instead of living it fully… so it’s kind of ‘wasted’. Also I’m glad Tiny Invention is doing great!!! I remember being a big fan of them whilst I was at uni.. I also interviewed the woman (can’t remember her name) for my dissertation… I remember the guys name tho! max .. easier to remember.. but I definitely won’t forget their lovely happy faces and great work! Well done Tiny Invention!!!

this is why I love short films because they can tell such a big story in a few minutes