Brush - Animated Short Film (2020)

Brush follows a boy growing up through the lens of his bathroom mirror. I finished this film back in 2020, and to be honest I’m a little reluctant to post it because it’s older work and it’s hard for me to not focus on all its flaws. That being said, the work in Brush was kind of foundational to my animation ‘style’, and taught me how hard it is to finish animated projects in general. I have a deep respect for creators who put their work out there!
Music by Marc Akiyama and Landon Akiyama
‪@akiyamamusic‬
www.akiyamamus...
Visual Development by Isabelle Gedigk
www.isabellege...
/ isasketchbook
If you want to support my animation side projects, consider buying me a coffee :)
ko-fi.com/garr...
I appreciate youuuuu!

[@PleaseWakeUpNow]

It's so interesting how he's never shown brushing his teeth until the end When his life is finally calm enough for him to just take the time needed

[@oliveryt7168]

"just take the time needed".. he had decades... he could have done it at night when everybody is asleep..

[@Zagreus.]

I mean, I get the sentiment. Still gross.

[@viewing845]

@@oliveryt7168 it's a message the writer is showing us

[@michelleb7399]

He probably was brushing his teeth… otherwise his wife maybe wouldn’t have kept kissing him, he wouldn’t have taught his daughter good oral hygiene, and he would have been soaking dentures at the end. 😊

[@dracodominus2800]

​@@oliveryt7168he obviously was finding time, because he still has teeth at the end of the film.

[@aliengem7352]

It took 80 years but he finally did it. His mom would be proud, maybe.

[@mizukiakiyama_fan5929]

His mom would be dead💀(probably but 98% dead)

[@boomenbuttfuckens288]

and after all that his teeth never when yellow bro has god teir genetics

[@3HorsemenOfMovingPictures]

Nah that's his sis

[@maeva6474]

I didn't think dental hygiene could be so emotional but here we are

[@GhoulGiggle]

It’s not even emotional

[@Peachy_kitten]

@@GhoulGiggle bro...💀 Your right

[@yumbo.]

@@GhoulGiggle that's the joke

[@elijahwilson5530]

@@seanrobison8558 that’s sarcasm right?

[@brianmcg321]

4 out of 5 dentists agree

[@thespanishinquisition4045]

Props to him for never running out of toothpaste

[@RalphStreetLaundry]

Yea

[@KevvyHeikkinen]

He never brushes his teeth til he got old tho 🤣

[@LanceTheManipulor]

@@KevvyHeikkinen *that's the joke*

[@spidermonk3uVvwy8-2]

that shit was probably expired already ☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@samcats123]

I’m so happy your voicemail video blew up. Now more people like me will see this

[@TomerGamerTV]

I think it was intentional

[@octeval3890]

people like you?

[@samcats123]

@@octeval3890 yeah

[@MunroMcLaren]

His voicemail?

[@pc6461]

Why I’m here ❤

[@Semicolon42]

Great animation! It took him 70+ years to finally brush his teeth!?

[@momentomori1747]

Lol, was thinking the exact same thing.

[@truffleshtf1916]

British people

[@CsMsLady80]

Lol yes

[@sarahfaith6531]

😂

[@KitsunaireDoesGacha]

@@lmtrainshorses4650magic

[@placeholderdoe]

Great sort film! It really does another take on the,”growing older” story. Instead of showing big things you shower just a simple action we do at the start of every day, brush our teeth

[@chihuahua27d17]

Showing the mundanities of life from the view of the bathroom mirror makes you really consider all of those little moments and how special they are. Just as mirrors are used to reflect light, this short film allows us to reflect on our past. The style of animation perfectly fits the tone of the overall film, while the setting of each mirror gives us a clear idea of what stage of life we are seeing, even when the characters are not on screen. This was fantastic and wonderfully done, I can see the amount of care and detail that went into this. It must have taken quite a bit of time. That time was definitely worth it!

[@jhandle900]

My daughter and I stumbled upon this after her own struggles with the nightly teeth brushing lol. I think this was really sweet and heart warming. It reminds me of Pixar where they do a good job of conveying a great story without dialogue.

[@JennifuhhGilardi]

Does she do it in the morning just fine?

[@glitchydood1558]

Nah i got troubles with brushing my teeth period 💀💀💀

[@GarrettTheCarrot]

dude this animation is so good

[@danigetahunyapuow5041]

Potato

[@Mrlemoa]

Omg it’s you

[@Hatmonk111]

Yeah it is and yours is to

[@DreamOfFlying]

The concept of this is amazing! Brushing our teeth is something that all of our days have in common! Something we do all our life! Really nice way to showcase the passing of time, and the changes that one goes through!

[@ktgame2640]

Please learn how to use commas.

[@DreamOfFlying]

@@ktgame2640 yeah… I always place to many of them. Sometimes I place them at unnecessary places and sometimes I forget them. Idk why. I’m not an native English speaker aswell… might explain it.

[@kombus10]

@@ktgame2640 i don’t think it affected the comment in any way without the use of commas. i read it just fine. maybe you should learn how to use commas.

[@Purplemen101]

@@kombus10 The comment says it was edited...

[@kombus10]

@@Purplemen101 before it was edited, the comment was slightly different.

[@NightShadow4467]

Burst out in tears my first time seeing this. The daughter leaving home really hit me when I thought about the day when I will eventually move out of my parent's house.

[@MyCre8tiveUserName]

I thought he was going to lose his teeth in the end because he never actually brushed them. I was sure this was gonna be a dental hygiene PSA. But nope...just wholesome goodness! It was really good thank you.

[@Kai_daddy]

I cant imagine how bad his teeth were during those years and his wife didn’t care and still stayed Thats true love fr❤️

[@akiyamamusic]

We're still so proud to have worked with you on this Garrett! Hope you've been well!

[@garrettanimates]

You guys did an AMAZING job 👏👏 I hope you’re both doing well too!!

[@akiyamamusic]

@@garrettanimates Thanks man!

[@unclephil3902]

@@akiyamamusic Np

[@gdottothegamer1001]

To me, growing up is the weirdest thing that everyone will experience. It's just, seeing how different your life is from year one to year two, from year five to year ten, it's wild. Remembering your past life and comparing it to your life is like opening a bag of trail mix. It's very messy. This short film captured that feeling. So good job to you

[@mariecarie1]

Wow, that’s really well put!

[@BritneyT.]

I feel like this was a pretty unique take on storytelling, it was cool to see!

[@sonablom]

That was fantastic. I wasn't expecting the story to follow him that far but it was nice to watch the character grow and you could literally see him maturing as a person. Lovely.

[@kittyneko7]

Nothing is ever truly finished to the artist, but it’s impactful to us the viewers regardless. I know it’s hard to put it out for all to see, so thanks for sharing.

[@peytondenney5927]

As soon as I saw the first voicemail video I knew I was in for a treat. Keep up the absolute masterpieces man.

[@willlYT]

same im here from the voice mail

[@Zacoota]

Same, dad's voicemail bought me here

[@hurricanejaney]

i was half-expecting this to end with him brushing his mom’s teeth in her old age, but i’m kind of glad it didn’t. i like this a lot. it’s the simplest moments together that we take for granted

[@Gogo.....]

Never knew I was going to be emotionally invested in a toothbrush, yet here I am

[@LanceTheManipulor]

This deserves WAY more recognition.

[@jakesteampson7043]

And it only took the man 60 years

[@babyruth238]

Omg the anxiety I felt when they were old was immense I thought one of them was gonna fade away

[@VxV631]

Notice how easy it was to love such mundane people? God loves every moment of you, no matter the ups and downs. What beautiful animation and what a wonderful reminder of the preciousness of life :)

[@tessiepinkman]

This is such a beautiful film that I come back watching every time I happen to think about it _(which is more often than you'd probably think)._ You are so incredibly good at what you do. Just the thought behind this film is stunning. *Thank you* for posting it, even if you were reluctant to share it with the world :)

[@bugisbonkers]

Bro hasn’t brushed his teeth in 60 years and is still going. That’s gotta be a world record.

[@SpriteCranberryReal]

The mom looks like she’s from Wild Kratts and I absolutely adore that

[@austinhancock8204]

I was just looking for another bird voicemail and now I'm crying, bravo Garrett.

[@og.K7]

I found you cuz of the bird videos and honestly couldn't be happier I love your content

[@caitlinschrock52]

Same

[@The-Cat]

@ 1:27 If I wasted toothpaste like that my dad would come at me with a belt! But it's okay I'm alright it's okay i'm fine i'm okay really it's alright I'm not crying, i'm just moisturing my eyes and cheeks

[@ImogenLaciMai]

I've watched this so much, and it still makes me cry whenever I do come back to watch it.

[@evaj9377]

i feel like the mirror played an important role as well cuz we be lookin thru it throughout the whole film

[@kweenkitten6207]

I felt satisfied when finally brushed his teeth at the end 😊

[@Foot_Fungus]

How long were they standing there? 2:24

[@丫o]

Big props to the camera person for giving up their whole life staying in that bathroom for all those years just for a 3.3 minute video about a guy brushing his teeth

[@Jazzin96]

The mouth wash thing is so relatable. I always think that taking a quick rinse is a good substitute when you are low on time. In truth, it’s a bad habit to think that this is all you need. There is so much bacteria that mouthwash can’t reach. Mouthwash is only meant for getting small amounts of plaque that your brush missed.

[@davidmoll7250]

Man they stood in front of that mirror got a long time in the end

[@charliez6243]

Can totally relate to the mom at the beginning. I’ve done countless brushes holding the kid sideways n whatnot. Brush yo teeth, brush yo teeth, brush you g*dam teeth! R E A D A B O OKAY!

[@Miko_Hanamori]

Why do animations where it goes through the life of a person doing a specific task throughout their life always hit so hard

[@air6797]

i was expecting him to not even be able to brush his teeth later on because he'd have lost them all not brushing all those years

[@oflatt]

I can't unsee how many times they didn't put water on the toothbrush before and after putting toothpaste on jk, great work

[@cagemancollectorsjourney8591]

I sincerely want to say thank you that this short movie was more sweet than sad, most short movies nowadays just are depressing tbh

[@cagemancollectorsjourney8591]

So good job!

[@monica-ib8rb]

These animated shorts always find a way to make me cry

[@seatherny_y]

what an interesting way to acknowledge how life goes. Very creative and quirky. Loved the animation really got me almost tearing up.

[@IanPyle]

It's giving up but from a very niche perspective of the bathroom. I love this sort of small moments take on life. Very sweet.

[@rugbynimbus]

Music is everything.

[@flutteringflora]

When an animation about brushing your teeth brings tears to you eyes

[@SuperBottleghost]

You just made my day AND gave me the most compelling reason to brush my teeth.

[@nf_prod7522]

bro made me cry over ppl (not) brushing their teeth

[@sunsetvibe1063]

When they were brushing their teeth together, I had a gut reaction that the wife was gonna fade away leaving just him to brush his teeth & I would’ve still not have been prepared for that. Glad it ended with the two just being contempt with each other.

[@DrYeetum]

This is much more emotional than I thought it would be

[@RADIANT42069]

Never thought "brushing" would be so emotional

[@noneknowstheswagger]

didn’t think I’d be crying over a toothbrush but yknow. it happens.

[@SSJRyaku]

This is so heartwarming and very nice. Thank you for making it, my dude.

[@Mal2103]

The emotion in the scenes you were able to show with just action and music was amazing. You are very talented and I hope you reach your goals in animation and in other aspects of your life!

[@X-ite]

i love how they had the same shower for over 50 years lol in all seriousness tho this is like disney level good

[@garrythenoodle9184]

damn i really love spying on innocent people for 80 years behind a one-way mirror

[@axel01010]

props to them for standing in the bathroom for several years

[@cookiesmothie6585]

I'm typing this comment while this video has around 100 views. I can't wait till this beautiful animation will have like milions of views!

[@cedarmora]

I cried when the daughter left, thank you.

[@KishySou1597]

Damn, this is really nice, It has a real Up (Pixar) into vibe; following a set of protagonists through a montage of their lives, the monorythmic piano in the later years, the story being told. Very amazing pice of work. I know you say in the description 'it's hard for me to not focus on all the flaws' but 1. it's still an excellent animation but 2. your storytelling through the use of sound, tension and release, visual cues ect. is what's most impressive and focal. I was happily surprised and you earned ur self a sub; can't wait to see what you make next.

[@The.dudeinator]

God fucking damn didn’t think a story centered around a toothbrush would be so impactful

[@1classikai]

This is so cute!!! And I’m honestly so glad they got to live a long happy life🥺

[@natasha675]

I was expecting someone to die ngl 😂 I still cried though

[@PupperTiggle]

i give this animation the cool award of 2023 for being cool

[@WiresDawson]

this genuinely helped me in a way i can't explain, thank you for making this film

[@a.t.1241]

This is one of the most endearing animations I have ever seen. It's interesting how a habit learnt/imposed in childhood can go a long way. Events from their life, big and small, are all brought together by this simple habit of brushing their teeth. And also, the boy's mom taught him to brush his teeth by force, whereas he and his wife try to teach the daughter with love

[@newjoyyork]

Despite your inner critic focusing on errors, I’m glad you posted this and shared with the world. It’s one of the hardest things to do, besides the art in itself. Your storytelling is absolutely wonderful, you get lost and captivated in it. Isn’t that what it’s about? 3 minutes went by so fast, and the emotions it drew out of me were of many. Stay brave sir, thanks for sharing with the world. I’m really happy I got to see this.

[@kerz5383]

Alternative title: What you reflection sees. Your reflection just wanted to have healthy teeth, but you wouldn't let it. Also kinda me, mouthwashing cuz I don't have time to brush.

[@ItzKa1]

Bro just described the life of a human in 3 and a half minutes

[@llamaswithattitude]

Thank you... always take care of yourself

[@Lazy_.Lavender]

You made a whole film yet you animating a 9 second video is more popular! This is so underrated, what a great film

[@cc_das_me]

Can’t wait for the sequel, “Floss”

[@chloecarignan]

someone suggested 'wipe' 💀💀🙅

[@GamezIdiot]

He went his whole life without brushing his teeth and they look better than mine

[@wassup37]

Welp

[@hongandy]

Unintentionally watching this while brushing my teeth

[@derpycat02]

The way I was fully prepared for one of them to just straight up die at the end. I could not imagine any other reason for us to skip forward in time that far. 😅

[@BiggestPhangirl]

Ah, if only his mom was still alive to see he finally did the thing.

[@JuicyLoux]

This was very beautifully executed and the same, played out message of life and time passing by us, taking notice in the little things in life we interact with each day. That was executed with a morning routine and it was unique and minty refreshing 😉 anyway, I didn’t see him brush once and totally thought his teeth were gonna fall out or rot as time went on and he was gonna have dentures before his child was born. Expected dark humor and instead I got a tear jerker. Stellar work

[@SliceOfDog]

I came here thinking "Ooh, animation by the funny bird video man!" and then sat through what was essentially "The start of Up but it ends happily this time". Really nicely done! Only now I'm writing this comment do I see that this is an older work of yours, but I wouldn't have picked up on that myself, so please don't worry about the flaws you see in this one. I'm glad you shared it with us.

[@Rogeroger]

Me: sees time left once the couple is old “oh no” :cuts to credits instead of implying one of them died “oh, thank god”

[@alexiswilliamsinc]

Haha mom didn’t take that nonsense when he was a kid so he’s still got teeth to brush as an old man. 😂

[@potentiallyunfunnyguy9716]

I'm crying and feeling existential over brushing teeth.

[@ItzEngi]

OOOOHHHH I KNOW IM LATE BUT I LOVE THESE TYPES OF ANIMATED SHORT FILMS edit: fucking emotional over toothpaste, amazing storytelling with no words

[@museluvr]

I knew I shouldn't have watched... a bit misty eyed now. :)

[@annaloye5219]

I expected him to pop out a pair of falsies at the end lol! A very touching animation.

[@lesplaygames]

For a second didn't think they'd make it, but they got there 😊

[@Soupychild09]

man took a lifetime to finally brush his teeth

[@sarahfaith6531]

I thought this was going to help my toddler brush his teeth without a fight but I’m crying instead!!!

[@cygmoid]

All in 3 minutes 20 seconds. AMAZING

[@Spookserz]

Thank you for not pulling an Up at the end there I don’t think my heart could have taken it 😭😭😭

[@roadtombg]

this man has only brushed his teeth once in his entire lifetime 🙏🏻

[@DivaDelgado128]

Found ny way here via Chirp mail. So glad I did. Animation is fantastic...but the storytelling really hit me in the feels. Especially without dialogue. Well done sir...well done.

[@6darren6]

It’s wild that they put their toothbrushes in the same cup like that

[@Charlotte66666]

Love it! I smiled all the way through ❤❤

[@CameronInEgyptsLand]

I'm not crying, you are! 😭

[@jonquilgemstone]

Can we appreciate the fact they put their daughter's graduation photo in the bathroom?

[@kreffia5395]

The man was never shown brushing his teeth until the end, yet he always had perfectly white teeth.

[@hutieubunrieu]

You really know how to use music to tell stories, very emotional 👏👏👏

[@dontcare4322]

My god took his 70+ years to brush and when he does he doesn’t wet his brush before applying the paste? What a savage, barely even human