''Canvas'' is an American animated

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

written and directed by Frank E. Abney III. It was released on December 11, 2020 on

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

Plot

A grandfather wakes up alone on the left of the bed with empty space on the right side of bed after losing his wife. He wheelchairs himself outside to greet his granddaughter who is dropped off by his daughter. The granddaughter gives him a drawing and he gives her a hug. His granddaughter spends the day drawing and trying to get her grandfather to paint again. However, the grandfather is still grieving and doesn't feel like painting. At night, his daughter picks up his granddaughter. The next day, his daughter drops his granddaughter off at his house again. The granddaughter is curious about what is behind the closet. She opens the door behind the closet and finds her grandfather's art studio. Inside the studio, she finds a painting of her grandmother. The grandfather wheelchair himself in the studio and is angry to find his granddaughter holding the painting. He snatches the painting out of her hands. As he touches the painting, a memory of his wife appears and they are dancing. He suddenly finds the inspirations to paint again.

Production

''Canvas'' was written and directed by Frank E. Abney III. It took six years for Abney III to make his passion project happened which centered the theme of grief. ''Canvas'' was inspired by his own life experiences such as losing his father at five years old and "how his family was affected by it". Paige Johnstone produced the short film. It was released on December 11, 2020 on Netflix. Jermaine Stegall is the composer of the short film.

Reception

On October 14, 2020, IndieWire revealed that

had been considering ''Canvas'' as one of its three contenders for the

Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film The Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film is an award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as part of the annual Academy Awards, or Oscars, since the 5th Academy Awards (with different names), covering the year ...

, along with ''

If Anything Happens I Love You ''If Anything Happens I Love You'' is an American 2D animated short film written and directed by Will McCormack and Michael Govier (in their directorial debut). Its story follows two grieving parents as they struggle to confront the death o ...

'' and ''Cops and Robbers'', to compete at the

93rd Academy Awards The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, at Union Station in Los Angeles. The ceremony was held on April 25, 2021 ...

Accolades

''Canvas'' won the Outstanding Short Form (Animated) category at

52nd NAACP Image Awards The 52nd NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honored outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2020 calendar year. The ceremony aired on March 27, 202 ...

. At the 21st Annual Black Reel Awards, the film won the Outstanding Independent Short Film category.

References

External links

Official website
* {{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Independent Short Film 2020 animated short films 2020 films 2020 computer-animated films American animated short films Animated films without speech Films about grief Netflix original films Netflix Animation films 2020s English-language films 2020s American films English-language short films