Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection is a collection of animated short films that recently premiered on the streaming platform HBO Max. The series features a diverse mix of 10 animated shorts that span a wide range of genres, styles, and themes. The episodes vary in length from just a few minutes to around 12 minutes long, making each one easy to watch and enjoy in a single sitting. Each of the episodes was created by a different team of animators and tells a unique and engrossing story that aims to captivate and entertain its audience.
One of the episodes titled "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" is based on the classic children's book by Judith Kerr. The story follows a young girl named Sophie and her mother who are visited by a friendly and unusual tiger during their afternoon tea. The episode beautifully captures the magical and imaginative nature of the original tale through its rich colours and playful animations.
Another episode, titled "To Gerard," tells the story of a mail carrier named Gerard who dreams of befriending a famous magician. The animation mirrors the whimsical and fantastic nature of the magician's illusions and is filled with bright colors and masterful visual illusions.
Other episodes of the collection explore different themes, including loss, love, identity, and personal growth. The title episode, "Only You," is a romantic comedy animated short that sees two former partners reunited after a mundane and ordinary day. The episode is sweet, charming and is relatable for anybody who has experienced a relationship's ups and downs.
The animation styles of each episode are as diverse and varied as the stories they tell. Some of the shorts employ traditional animation techniques, while others use computer-generated imagery (CGI) or stop-motion animation. Some of the shorts have a more modern feel, using clean, digital drawings with vivid colors, while others embrace the more nostalgic aspects of animation and take on a retro, vintage look.
The series doesn't shy away from tackling more mature themes in its animated shorts. For instance, another episode is about a woman who has lost her purpose in life due to her husband's death. Filled with poignant and confronting themes about grief and moving on, the episode titled "Keep Looking" strikes a powerful emotional chord.
Overall, Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection is an entertaining and diverse collection of animated shorts that's worth checking out. Whether someone is a casual viewer or looking for animation that leans into deeper and more mature content, there is an animated short in Only You to satisfy their viewing preferences. The different tones, styles, and themes of the episodes make the series suitable for both adults and children, depending on their age group's maturity. The collection showcases the power of animation to tell engaging and inspiring stories that resonate with viewers of all ages.
Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between March 23, 2023 and on HBO Max