Mantis by Jordi Moragues [ 7:44 | Germany | 2002 ]
Directed by Jordi Moragues, Sound by Echo Ho Yinsin

In every frame, every camera angle, and every scene of Mantis, there's a sense of purpose, and that purpose is story. The piece displays first-rate character animation, intriguing camera angles, and an evocative look that fuses naturalism and design, but it never uses those techniques carelessly, or as an end in themselves. The result is a poignant, unaffected story that's a pleasure to watch.

Selected and commented by Motion Theory