Shorts Collection:
Animation
Saturday october 24, 2026
4:45 pM - 6:30 PM
Celebrate the artistry of animated film and its unique ability to tell meaningful stories in unexpected ways.
The View
Progress is a matter of perspective. Progress for some can mean poverty for others. How’s the view from where you stand?
Mabel is a young Chinese American girl living in Chicago’s Chinatown. Unsure of what to write in her “What the American West Means to Me” paper, she sets off on a train with a bowl of sentient ramen to find answers. She traverses through the Rocky Mountains, abandoned ghost towns, until finally arriving in California, only to discover that her ancestors never left. On a journey beyond their wildest dreams, Mabel and her ramen sidekick reimagine what the American West means to them.
Ramen Western
Hugs & Kisses
A daughter in the womb hears her mother sing to her. She starts to wonder what their life would be like and creates scenarios like buying a toy at the store, making food together and her mother doing her hair. But as the memories replay, we find that those memories were not all hugs and kisses.
Guardian’s Lament is a 3D animated short film about a dilapidated Robot who resides within a magical forest. Content in his solitude, the ancient guardian undergoes a meticulous routine tending to the Forest Heart: the embodiment of the forest’s wellbeing and the Robot’s life source. When his peaceful sanctuary is breached by a restless Creature, chaos and destruction follow suit. Will the two manage to set aside their differences and work together to save the forest they call home?
GuarDian’s Lament
A thief makes his getaway from a chicken sandwich shop, only to find his stolen goods may not be as tasty as they appear.
Grand Theft Chicken Sandwich
The Facade
A superhero overcomes a past mistake in order to save the day once again.
Hello Maggie is based on a true story by Shigeru Yabu. A great story about the love and friendship between a little boy, Shig, and a bird he named Maggie. The family’s survival under difficult circumstances in a Second World War Japanese Internment Camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming.
Hello Maggie
When two lonely children from vastly different worlds clash over a magical Chinese wooden dragon, their shared imagination takes them on a surreal journey that reshapes their beliefs.
Main Cast: Reagan To, Dylan Covey
Website: https://littlefierceloongfilm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fierceloongfilm/
little Fierce Loong
Q&A Panel
Moderator: Mike Inouye
South Bay native Mike Inouye is NBC Bay Area's weekday morning traffic anchor. Reporting on traffic for Bay Area commuters, he says he finally has a job that encompasses his passion for technology, communication, and live performance. Mike has appeared at clubs ranging from the Comedy Store© in Hollywood to ComedySportz© San Jose, where he sometimes still performs as a professional improvisational comedian, as well as on-stage in roles with assorted Bay Area theater companies.
Guardian’s Lament
Creative Director: Phoebe Chou
Phoebe Chou is a Taiwanese American director and illustrator based in San Jose, California. She is an alumni of San Jose State University's Animation/Illustration Program and proud ShrunkenHeadman member. Phoebe finds joy in careful attention to detail and nuanced storytelling; in addition to learning about all facets of filmmaking from the technical to the creative.
Little Fierce Loong
Writer/Director: Ann Anlan Tao
Ann Anlan Tao, a Chinese immigrant, is a storyteller based in Los Angeles with a passion for magical realism, which she channels through her cinematic language. She earned her B.F.A. in Theatre Directing from the Central Academy of Drama and completed her M.F.A. in Film and Television Production at USC. As a writer, director, and editor, her work spans short films, music videos, and commercials. Her credits include Little Fierce Loong, Top Voices, Kingdom of Songs, Steel Forest, and Ten Thousand Poems, which have entered international festivals such as the Chinese American Film Festival, Vancouver Chinese Film Festival, and Children’s Film Festival Seattle.
Tony Tarantini is an accomplished artist-filmmaker, educator, and researcher whose career spans professional animation production, academic inquiry, and interdisciplinary creative practice. Born in Abruzzo Italy and holding dual citizenship, he is a self-described renaissance man driven by insatiable curiosity. Tarantini has seamlessly blended his passion for creation with teaching and scholarship, using research to deepen his understanding of the attitudes, skills, and behaviors that fuel creative and intellectual pursuits.
Hello Maggie
Director: Tony Tarantini
Aspiring animation/illustration student at San Jose State University.
Grand Theft Chicken Sandwich
Writer/Director: Marcus Thai
Ramen Western
Producer: Hayden Chau
Hayden Chau is a filmmaker based in the Bay Area. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she strives to uplift the underrepresented communities around her. She currently works in news journalism, where she gets to meet and document the stories of all sorts of people. Her personal work spans a wide range of mediums, and often centers around grief, overcoming, and human connection. All in the hopes of inspiring a kinder world.
Hugs & Kisses
Director: Alexandra “Lexie” Orr
Alexandra “Lexie” Orr is a filmmaker who explores her identity and cultural upbringing through her work. She is a digital arts instructor at the non-profit organization, Exceptional Children’s Foundation, and works with talented artists with disabilities.
*Times, films, and guests are subject to change without notice.*