AN OSTRICH TOLD ME THE WORLD IS FAKE AND I THINK I BELIEVE IT - LACHLAN PENDRAGON (2022)

Written and directed by precocious Australian animator Lachlan Pendragron, An Ostrich Told Me The World Is Fake And I Think I Believe It was nominated for the Best Short Animation Oscar in 2023. Following in the fourth wall-breaking tradition of Disney's classic 1953 Duck Amuck, this animation not so much breaks as frames the whole film within the wall in a mind-bending Kaufmanesque melange of metaness (it strangely reminds me of Synecdoche, New York). We are told we are watching a fake world from the beginning, but that does not stop us wanting an animated character to break free from his imprisonment à la Neo in The Matrix. It gets Rick and Morty weird towards the end as the purpose of the world is revealed. If you like this Oscar-nominated short animation by Lachlan Pendragron be sure to rate it and share it.