Annotation

"Unless" is a short animated film tackling one of the biggest headaches of our time: consumerism and its delightful habit of wrecking the environment.

The title, inspired by Dr. Seuss’s quote, drives home the film’s main point: change isn’t just going to show up on its own. Nope, it’s on us to actually care about the planet and do something before it’s too late.

Through a postmodern aesthetic, the film gives viewers a fresh (and slightly unsettling) perspective on what happens when humanity takes "use and throw away" to its logical conclusion. With nods to classic works of art, iconic films, and, of course, today’s never-ending stream of alarming headlines, creators Anna Kazantseva and Antonina Gotfrid craft a visual masterpiece that’s both striking and painfully relatable.

The core message? The planet can (and will) thrive without us, but we, the oh-so-brilliant species, can’t survive without it.

This animation isn’t just a film; it’s a cheeky little wake-up call to start caring about the future. Because let’s face it, the next generation might not be thrilled with what we’re leaving them.

"Unless" has been selected to be part of the International Uranium Film Festival Rio de Janeiro 2025, the Planeta Ecos Shorts Festival 2025, and the Frome International Climate Film Festival.

Still photos