Beware of Bunny
"On the way home, a little boy finds the pet of his nightmares."
Plot
After an ill-advised detour through a spooky animal graveyard, a young boy named Enrique finds himself being followed home by a persistent and unsettling creature. This 'pet of his nightmares,' a zombie-like rabbit named Mr. Fluffers, begins to terrorize the boy's domestic life with its grotesque appearance and supernatural resilience. As the boy attempts to rid himself of the unwanted guest, the bunny's presence escalates from a mere nuisance to a full-blown comedic horror ordeal. The film concludes with a darkly humorous twist on the classic 'boy and his dog' trope, subverting the expectations of a typical childhood pet story.
Director
Rebecca Gill
About the Production
The film was created as a senior thesis project at the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design. Director Rebecca Gill spent over a year developing the character designs and storyboards to balance the fine line between horror and comedy. The production utilized industry-standard software including Autodesk Maya for 3D modeling and animation, and Adobe After Effects for compositing. A significant challenge was the character design of Mr. Fluffers, which needed to look both repulsive and strangely endearing to fit the film's dark-comedy tone.
Historical Background
Released in 2015, 'Beware of Bunny' arrived during a period where independent and student animation was flourishing due to the accessibility of high-end CGI tools. It reflects a mid-2010s trend of 'horror-comedy' shorts that gained viral popularity on platforms like Vimeo and YouTube. Historically, it represents the high caliber of work coming out of Florida's animation hubs during the mid-2010s, contributing to the state's reputation as a 'second Hollywood' for digital arts.
Why This Film Matters
The film is a notable example of the 'student-to-professional' pipeline in the animation industry, as its creators and voice cast have gone on to significant careers in Hollywood. It remains a popular reference point for animation students studying character performance and the integration of horror elements into 3D animation. Its success on the festival circuit helped validate the 'dark comedy' niche for student thesis projects, which were traditionally more focused on purely emotional or slapstick narratives.
Making Of
The creation of 'Beware of Bunny' involved a rigorous pipeline typical of professional animation studios. Rebecca Gill acted as director, producer, and lead animator, overseeing every frame of the five-minute short. The production team focused heavily on 'squash and stretch' principles to give the zombie bunny a unique, rubbery movement that contrasted with the more grounded movements of the boy. Sound designer Michael Cullen collaborated closely with Gill to create the specific squelching and thumping sounds associated with the undead rabbit, which were essential for the film's 'gross-out' humor. The project served as a calling card for the creators, showcasing their ability to handle complex 3D lighting and texture work in a narrative format.
Visual Style
The film utilizes a 'virtual cinematography' approach, with dynamic camera angles that emphasize the height difference between the small boy and the lurking rabbit. The lighting design is particularly notable, using high-contrast shadows to create a 'spooky' atmosphere in the graveyard scenes, which transitions into a brighter, more saturated palette for the domestic interior scenes to heighten the absurdity of the bunny's presence.
Innovations
The film is recognized for its sophisticated 3D character rigging, allowing for the extreme facial expressions required for the boy's terror and the rabbit's grotesque antics. The hair and fur simulation on Mr. Fluffers was a significant technical hurdle for a student project at the time, requiring careful rendering to achieve a 'mangy' look without sacrificing performance speed.
Music
The soundtrack and sound design were composed and managed by Michael Lee Cullen. The score utilizes whimsical yet slightly discordant orchestral elements to mirror the film's horror-comedy tone. The sound design is highly detailed, featuring specific foley for the rabbit's undead movements, which adds a layer of 'tactile' grossness to the animation.
Famous Quotes
The film relies primarily on visual storytelling and creature vocalizations, though Enrique's panicked reactions are a highlight of the vocal performance.
Memorable Scenes
- The initial encounter in the animal graveyard where the boy first notices the glowing eyes of Mr. Fluffers.
- The bathroom scene where the boy tries to clean or hide the rabbit, only for its undead nature to become hilariously apparent.
- The final reveal where the boy realizes that getting rid of the bunny might be impossible.
Did You Know?
- The voice of Mr. Fluffers is provided by Dee Bradley Baker, a legendary voice actor known for 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' and 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.
- The film was a senior thesis project at Ringling College of Art and Design, a school famous for producing top-tier Pixar and Disney animators.
- The character 'Enrique' was voiced by Jackie! Zhou, who later became a prominent sound designer and multidisciplinary artist.
- The film's aesthetic was heavily influenced by the 'creepy-cute' art movement and the works of Tim Burton.
- It was featured in the 'Animated Shorts Block' at the 2016 Horrible Imaginings Film Festival.
- The sound design was handled by Michael Lee Cullen, who has since worked on numerous high-profile video games and films.
- The film premiered at the Ringling College Senior Thesis exhibitions before hitting the international festival circuit.
- Despite being a horror-comedy, the film is often cited for its high-quality character rigging and fluid animation.
What Critics Said
Critics at film festivals praised the short for its professional-grade technical execution and its tight, effective pacing. Cinema Crazed noted the 'well-done' end credits and the interesting use of storyboards within the final presentation. It is generally regarded as a standout student film from the 2015-2016 festival season, particularly for its ability to elicit both laughs and 'ew's from the audience.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences have responded positively to the film's dark humor and the 'creepy-cute' design of Mr. Fluffers. It has maintained a presence in online animation communities, where viewers often comment on the high quality of the voice acting, especially Dee Bradley Baker's creature sounds. The relatable (if exaggerated) theme of an unwanted pet following someone home resonates with viewers of all ages.
Awards & Recognition
- WRPN.tv Direct Online Federation of International Film Festivals (DOFIFF) - Best Animated Student Short (2015)
- WRPN.tv Direct Online Federation of International Film Festivals (DOFIFF) - Original Concept Award (2015)
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Tim Burton
- Invader Zim
- Courage the Cowardly Dog
- The Evil Dead
This Film Influenced
- Various student horror-comedy shorts (2016-present)
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Film Restoration
The film is well-preserved digitally and is frequently showcased in the Ringling College of Art and Design archives and on the director's professional portfolio.