Heart of Gold | Animated Short Film (ACCD Thesis)

THIS VIDEO IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE REUPLOADED WITHOUT CREDIT. If you are making a fan edit for Tiktok or KZbin Shorts, you MUST link back to this original upload, or I will have your video removed. Please link any uncredited reupload you see in the comments.
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A young woman cruelly rejected by her church seeks the assistance of an exiled necromancer to help her create the perfect offering to win her priest over.
Official Selection - 3rd LA Student Film Festival (2021)
Winner, 2D Student Film Silver Award - 14th Los Angeles Animation Festival (2021)
---
This was the film I storyboarded and directed for my final year at Art Center College of Design. I am so immensely grateful for the help and support of my classmates and friends during the production of this film, I definitely couldn't have done it without them.
Credits with social media links:
Amber Avara - Director/Storyboard Artist/Character Animator/Compositor
amberavara.com
/ ambattii
Vicky Xie - Lead Designer/BG Painter
/ vickyandbunny
/ vickyandbunny
Tony Hsueh - Soundtrack Composer
tonyhsueh.com/
Jose 'Chipi' Estrada - Sound Designer
www.chipistickman.com
Additional Animators
Gaoge Ren
Saira Vargas - / arealtrashact
Tiffany Chen - / tiqeress
Layout
Alice Yang - / aliceyangster
William Meany - / w.meany

[@peter.maximoff841]

Who came from Instagram

[@Liyana_133]

ME! I saw it on Instagram i went through the comments and found the name of this animation.

[@djugendjugen1955]

+

[@dahlia2418]

Opps can't know I came from Instagram

[@greensterhp]

​@@Liyana_133same

[@mathewkoitimbi4787]

Me

[@marilunaadams]

How does this 6 minute animation have deeper characters and more emotional impact than half the big budget movies out there??

[@shayminsan9397]

Because this had heart behind it. To me the best art is one that you can feel the emotion that was put into it, the love and care.

[@m_r_ANIMATIK_]

Year Netflix!? 😅

[@Karim.Villarreal]

Easy because most big budget movies don’t care about making a good Movie they only care about money

[@ragnarok9092]

there is nothing deeper. You are just thinking too much 😂

[@abymohanan9403]

Yes correct 👍🏻

[@niccalee]

5:10, there's three lil bois, showing that the necromancer was able to bring his little friend back. So like, hopefully she can figure out how to do it. :)

[@strix501]

So there's still a hope😢

[@derpyVfoxoX6]

Idk she's chilling with just his skull and the skull he wore it might not be possible

[@colleenrementer]

Everyone saying the message is “don’t be greedy” missed so many signs. I’m not sure what the artist intended but I see the corruption of church/religion. 1.) as the woman walks out the church the cross is very clearly broken 2.) the man had just sacrificed himself and the pastor just wanted the gold 3.) the lengths people will go to please the church (the woman was willing to sacrifice another life)

[@camila2916]

Yeah I interpreted as a metaphor to colonization

[@christianboi7690]

this exact action was condemned in the Bible. like the exact thing that happened in the beginning happened to a girl in the Bible and Jesus condemned them. I'm sure there are some greedy churches out there, but I haven't seen any yet. I've heard plenty of condemnation to large/extravagant churches or the churches that buy a bunch of huge speakers and recording equipment, when they could be spending that money on mission trips and helping their communities and I completely agree with that sentiment, though most churches do spend their money with more care. the broken cross is just an example that this church isn't concerned about the Bible or the gospel. you can't really say this is a flat out condemnation of all churches when this is a fairly rare occurrence, though I do think it's fairly common for people to neglect the Gospel and it's teachings. She did seem to give up her faith because of the deacons actions though and I don't think its portrayed as anything but good, so I would agree that this is probably a blanket condemnation of the church as greedy or some such, despite christians being more liberal with their time and money for causes than any other group in America. so, yay, this animation does seem to spearhead that Idea. I don't think its like the driving force or anything, though. A story doesn't always have to have a main message or specific goal beyond telling a story. At least to me this doesn't feel like its trying to tell me one specific moral. It feels more like it's trying to tell a story with personal opinions playing a part, but not composing the whole of the project. At least for me this doesn't feel like one of those, "But what did it mean?" type animations. it's just a short and simple story

[@keep_it_cute]

also could mean dont culture appropriate

[@naturallyalex2]

@@keep_it_cutehow??

[@oncreativemode5486]

my first thoughts when i watched this were the lengths people would take to appease their loved ones is huge, even if they have a toxic relationship or if someone else also gets hurt but this works too as another side of the coin

[@lookingforanewchannelname2119]

LMAO THE PRIEST THOUGH “give me that dead mans golden heart 😡🤑”

[@KyProRen]

I KNOW RIGHT!? It's disgusting to call yourself a priest when all you care about is money, let alone at the expense of someone's life.

[@chancehendrix7139]

I think he was a bishop.

[@KyProRen]

@@chancehendrix7139 Whatever. To tell you the truth it doesn't make much of a difference to me. He's a figure of religion and anyone using that to mask their greed is disgusting.

[@mel.c8795]

y al final no hubo traducción al español xd

[@butterqueen767]

“Oh a man just died? Nah give me his organ 😌🤡🤩”

[@bnny2606]

Hello there! I am a student of your former teacher. He just showed us this film you did in class! He said that you sent him an email asking for feedback. I don't think the feedback I've given him was too good so I just wanted to type out this comment saying that your short film is really good like... the you did all the art, the animation even the background music and the actual plot of the film was so enticing as well! You're truly so talented!

[@bnny2606]

You GUYS* are truly really talented.

[@vickyandbunny]

Hello! The background painter here. I am curious about which teacher you are talking about, but thank you so much I am glad you love our work🧡

[@orbitaldummy8524]

that's fucken amazing.. love the props fucken leaving legacies

[@kayray4858]

@Sebastian Daileg wouldn’t it be lovely if just one film these days had an ending? Rather than the writer just flipping stopping mid sentence!!!

[@mohtasimmow9466]

@@kayray4858 agree😭😭

[@avidhossanmansur9830]

The moral of the story is," Don't mess with stuff you don't understand".

[@shokingu6963]

Aaaand don't be greedy

[@LadySummer-]

Don't mess with Christians

[@MrTweetyhack]

Religion wants you for your money

[@LadySummer-]

Exactly. And for control us.

[@aleisterlavey9716]

But how do I know I don't understand it, when I don't mess around with it?

[@ash.sa01]

Mann we need a part 2 and this is so good 😭✨🖤 i loved this with full of my heart

[@katsukibakugou5630]

Yes!!

[@Alessiaexe]

Yessss, pls

[@kristina-ew7nc]

Yeahhh,i want part 2!!happy ending !

[@wolfsvillernx2238]

Yess

[@danagiselcaceresgarcia3195]

Yes

[@dragonbat9634]

So in the end she is not able to bring him back yet? this was really good and emotion sparking.

[@SillySamWho]

I WAS LIKE "PLEASE BRING HIM BACK, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO"-

[@sweepsweep5572]

just like reality should be. Simps dont deserve to come back

[@ukaszflis828]

@@sweepsweep5572 I know, that I can be harsh right now, but what if your beloved person was about to turn into a skeleton by magic, which that person cast? Would you let that person die, or safe him/her?

[@user-he5qe1rs4k]

@@ukaszflis828 beloved? Haha! love is for simps *cries in loneliness*

[@venumadhav123]

And also she trying to suicide him self with that power, last that green light will grown and she rest in peace with his crush !

[@LKPrime]

THIS IS SO GOOD! I love the character designs and all the little details in the background, like then cross on the front of the church being broken. This is so awesome, you guys killed it!

[@thehappyknight]

I noticed the broken cross too!! Very nice touch 😆

[@ambattii_art]

Thank you!! TT_TT

[@travissmith2848]

Loved that little detail myself.

[@ngocduong1100]

@@ambattii_art but can you make them happy please

[@alexarandall6755]

The fact that you made my heart absolutely ache in less than 6 minutes means you've done a stupendous job

[@lookingforanewchannelname2119]

priest be like: “ god need that gold drip 😤🤚”

[@jasminkrieger8464]

Its sad i hope one day she brings the one she loves back

[@nougat6636]

DONT DO ME LIKE THAT WITH THE "THE END ..... ?'" 😭

[@Throughmylens1980]

IKRR 😭😭🥺

[@toanmitran1491]

Do you see that there are still three mouse? One must have died but still alive, so he will come back again.

[@curlyfries1213]

I honestly feel like she gives off that old woman from the Bible. She donates a penny which is all she has to the church and everyone laughs at her. However Jesus told them that as long as it was from the heart its good. If it'd not he doesn't want it.

[@falima6026]

God doesn’t need money. If you really believe him you believe that he is the all mighty and has no need for money. Like the title of the animation, all you need is a good heart or “heart of gold”

[@user-nz1si5cr4l]

Yes 👍

[@fer_nanda4509]

True. God is about justice, love and family. Not about materialistic things.

[@ShadwSonic]

That so-called "pastor"... He may wear priestly robes, but he clearly acted the least Christ-like out of everyone in that tale! Had he forgotten the Parable of the Poor Widow? How could he so simply accept what would appear to be witchcraft as if it was just fine (it might be fine, don't get me wrong, but there was no spiritual scrutiny applied before he made that decision)? And how dare he value a heart-sized lump of gold more than a human life?! If that's what that girl thought God was like, no wonder she rejected the cross! Her heart was aligned with righteousness, was presented an image of God that outright contradicted that righteousness, and cast out what she had identified as evil! Never once realizing that it was only the presented image, and not God Himself, that was unrighteous!

[@ambattii_art]

This was a great interpretation!! Thank you for writing it!

[@dkzin1151]

i totally agree

[@sssunnyd7874]

Imagine being angry because you said something Christian, then trying to make you look like an idiot for believing in GOD

[@danimations7539]

I actually noticed that outside of the church, the cross sign was broken

[@BananaReidy]

Sadly there so called preachers/priests that only use the gospal for only money. Even twisting the words of God to match their false doctrines. The 1st chapter of the book of Titus gives great example of preachers/priest should be and warns of such perverse false teachers. Be weary and don't be deceived.

[@commander8622]

3:05 shoves her outta the way when he thinks she was just money hungry this man aint no simp

[@SillySamWho]

Respect the man. Have a man like him.

[@spcrri4796]

But she wasn't money hungry. She wanted gold for the church. The way she went about it may have not been the right choice but it wasn't for herself. She wanted to give back just as good as anyone else. The Priest may her feel as if what she had to offer wasn't good enough. The Priest was an arsehole and the Sharman was a bit naive and careless.

[@commander8622]

@@spcrri4796 yeah we as the audiance know that Im just saying he didnt know and yes she is a genuinley nice peep

[@sweepsweep5572]

he is simp, thats why he threw his own life for her at the end. She wanted to kill the poor cow for her selfish gold show

[@xxstar-bluesxx]

@@sweepsweep5572 Well, he knows that the woman is redeemable expect for the priest.

[@DinoTamer-22]

Love the broken cross detail at 0:46

[@blazebauer9691]

I know it takes months even years to do a sequel but I would absolutely love a second one to this

[@dragonickittens9797]

I found snippets of this animation on tiktok (not credited to you, of course), but I'm glad I found a comment that stated the name of the short plus your name. Beautiful animation and story telling! Edit: Ok, so after this comment kinda blew up, it drives me nuts that this user on tiktok is getting all of the views and is getting asked for another part. It also makes me mad that them saying that their link in their bio would bring people to this video when that's a lie as well. I do want to thank the person that did comment the name of this video, but sadly that was a reply to a comment, so its not as visible. Tiktok is honestly a mistake, and people stealing animations like this isn't going to help the original artist the views they deserve. I did report the account, but I don't think Tiktok is going to do anything about it, which is an issue.

[@makaylahurt6682]

That's also how I found it

[@solsiren]

same here!

[@introverted.unicorn6438]

Same for me.

[@erin5498]

Thats exactly how I found it too!

[@theRedneckqueenofTacticoolness]

Same

[@AgentWolnyTyl3k]

You know, I wanted to point out some moments that could get some more work, stiff pieces of animation etc... But then I remembered that I'm not watching an official animation, but a film student project. Like... wow, the amount of details put into every frame... It's on pair, if not even better than most of the animations that came out in cinema last year. Just bravo

[@ambattii_art]

Thank you!! Yes, actually a lot of our teammates weren't even animators, but illustrators, so a lot of them were learning to animate as we made the film haha! I definitely would have loved to have more time to improve the animation but we opted to let the animation stay choppy in favor of spending time on the compositing/FX/lighting because in the end we wanted to tell a story with a lot of mood. Thanks for the feedback!

[@ambattii_art]

@@rebeccabraunsdorf1613 Hi! Thank you for watching our film. The ending is intended to be an open ending--it's for you to decide whether she was able to revive him or not!

[@KenetBear]

SO GOOD!!! Congratulations Amber and the whole Heart of Gold team!

[@ambattii_art]

Thank you Kenet!! I'm excited for you guys to post your film as well!!

[@dapperghost3409]

He then proceeded to use magic to bring a chinchilla to life, greatest s*** I ever saw

[@Ash_Wynn]

jerboa i think, but i agree

[@spcrri4796]

That was not a chinchilla, that was a jerboa. Do you seriously not know what a chinchilla and a jerboa look like? They don't look anything alike.

[@alita8900]

@coolpanda7191 annoying

[@silverfirefly8168]

Moral of the Story: Rabbit-mice-chinchilla things are always great friends. On a serious note-great story! I love the art, and the story, and everything is just wonderful! The details and heartbreak and just - yeah, okay, I’m going to cry in a corner now. Bye! 😞 😊 ♥

[@MissSable]

The rabbit-mice-chinchilla things are actually real creatures called jerboas!

[@allkindsofgroove]

That priest sure was greedy...

[@ashihayashi5363]

i can't even describe how losing him must have hurt so much :(

[@renjun-shi5737]

“Be careful what you ask for as it can take someone who you love into something you want” I think that's the moral of the story for me! Love the animations with alot of meaning!

[@jesikajuzed9334]

Please let them be happy! Make a part 2 or something, please! I loved the art style and story so much, that I can't bear to have a sad ending!

[@Gabbycapo]

This is incredible! I bet this is gonna get reallllly popular soon

[@Dillon0_o]

I feel sad that I wouldn't have known this existed without someone posting a clip of it on tiktok. KZbins front page promotes utter garbage the site is a hollow shell of its former life, real talent, and stories like these should be on the front page.

[@petal_swans5438]

What a great film! I'm really proud of the team. You guys are really awesome.

[@dirctap4711]

Such an underrated film, so much effort was clearly put into this and it paid off

[@kawaiibebsy2768]

I don't know if someone already commented this but since the title of the film is Heart of Gold... I'm guessing that the necromancer and chinchilla are the only good beings in that town; thus, earning a golden heart.

[@gladisedwards4724]

A single video, so short, could give so many messages, is the clear representation that words are not needed to give a message. The music and the images give everything the viewer needs to interpret the video based on their own criteria and experiences. Magnificent, simply Magnificent

[@metasprite5648]

WE WANT MORE! great job, the designs on the girl, priest and necromancer are great. very appealing.

[@thehowlinggamer9957]

Hay I just watched this as a recommendation and I really loved it every emotion and the movement and even the light, I don’t really know a lot about this stuff but I think that’s it’s truly amazing you told a hole life story in 6minutes I see some comments saying there might be a part two if there is it would be interesting but if there isn’t it would still be great to let our imaginations think of what might of happened if there was a part two I think this was really well done and I loved every second of it I hope you all are doing well to

[@a.g.1419]

I can't believe i found you through Twitter despite the fact i have seen this animation on TikTok more than twice. I had no idea it was you, and i am truly amazed. Your work is great.

[@Varaydein]

Very compelling from the beginning until the end. I thought this was GREAT, and showed just how much we can value the wrong things and how that can take away one of the greatest things from us.

[@user-xy2zr8bw4k]

This is amazing!!!! Thanks to the creator! We need part 2 👏👏👏👏👏

[@JohnnySinSilla]

This was so lovely made me cry. 💕

[@toontoosh]

Excellent work! great character design and really cool colour work!

[@ambattii_art]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-fd1ne7vs3u]

SO GOOD!!! Congratulations Amber and the whole Heart of Gold team!. This is incredible! I bet this is gonna get reallllly popular soon.

[@Margx.x]

Found this video recently and honestly love the story hope there can be a part 2 you guys did amazing in this short animation 😁👏🏽

[@roxyntrovert]

This literaly had me in tears at the end, if it is one bcs of the qeustion mark after it. This mini movie is so well done and i love it. And I kinda wanna see what happens if it's not an end to the story. But nevermind that i think that this is great and that you should keep on working on amazing stuff like this!

[@sunflowers5990]

Can you tell me what does the story mean?

[@domsanimationstudios]

Nooo I need part 2 it’s so good 😊.

[@RingOffRosie]

Your art is so incredibly wonderful and perfect and it brings so much happiness to everyone, especially in the form of animation! :D I loved all of these character designs and the art in general, you're so talented and amazing and we can all unanimously agree! ❤️

[@STARFOXiswatchingYOU]

Wooow, the story and animation are so cool! I really love character’s design and backgrounds)

[@DMCMaster550]

Okay, animation is good, like the themes, but I just gotta say, this reminds me tons of how Genndy Taratakovsky paces his scenes. I see some fantastic potential here. Great work!

[@bethanyhaffey975]

What a beautiful love story! Love is worth more then gold!

[@Pokemon32961]

This was incredibly amazing. You did such a beautiful job. Thank you for this work of art. All these people with their speculations and stuff about your work aren’t truly appreciating the effort you put into this. Hugs 🤗 I hope you create more of these! 👏👏👏

[@childwithacroyon5388]

This is such an beautiful story!!! I wish this was a movie! It has so much beautiful story and art!

[@xenathornburg2416]

Y'know is it me, or most people who sing about loving each other and being grateful for what others give are the most ungrateful and hateful people on the planet, and the people they deem "redeemable," are some of the most selfless and kindest people you will ever get to o met. Just based on my experience and how this video reminded me of that.

[@xenathornburg2416]

*Unreemable.

[@sweepsweep5572]

truest stuff.

[@icecakepop3855]

Facts🙌

[@alexiatv1707]

Beautiful!

[@bernbuddy]

OUT STANDING WOWIE i love the animation

[@gzxphoyt2800]

I love an animation that can tell a story without words

[@bigchinboisanimations9673]

This deserves more likes, here are some thumbs up 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@B3TH.102]

I would love to see the rest of the story. It's really good.

[@geloello8635]

I wish this had a part 2 but aye you have an amazing talent

[@StoryTeller796]

:). After seeing a few couple interpretations I can kinda safely say that this wonderful animation has so many words and tales to tell in just it's wonderful visuals, small-scale world building and character design.

[@yourstrulymandaleigh]

This was really good. 💜

[@ambattii_art]

Thank you!

[@foxpro3002]

Moral of the story: don't fall in love with necromancers and don't mess with death magic.

[@tanny-tu1lg]

Moral of story believe in god not on the person who asks something in exchange for helping you seek god

[@ayancik8928]

You have created a miracle, please let part 2 come

[@Sadzawka_Wiedzminiawka]

We need pt 2 😭😭 (also great work

[@eninemire17]

I hope to see more of the story.

[@FieryFoxGirl]

IM SO SAD??? beautiful. i loved it

[@ambattii_art]

Thank you!! I'm glad it made an impact!

[@Indiia]

You are awesome to portray native beauty with this beautiful animation, so sad he died! Congratulations !

[@bxos_cd]

THAT'S SO GOOD also I'm really glad that it ended how it ended!!

[@legendsofnarnia1912]

This is amazing I need part 2

[@emmyromano5075]

Please make a part two ! Their so cute together I LOVE it 😍

[@weekend_598]

How could u not give this video a 201k likes??? Great stuff i really love this

[@jaydenhenderson3246]

I need a part two!! I need to see him live!!

[@eyelessjack2825]

"Huh? Suddenly it wreaks of hypocrisy in here. Well if it isn't the catholic church! And what's this? No little Timmy glued to your crotch! Progress." - Alucard

[@BobFordman]

Litterally underrated animation 10/10 even the plots are good

[@Aphroditeee_1]

This is really amazing!!!

[@demonchannel1093]

This is encredible! U are so talented!

[@nighttime4512]

Who is cutting onions 'cause I'm close to them somehow.

[@travissmith2848]

Wonderful short film you have there. And it seems that the man who should most know better has forgotten the widow's mite. Frankly a payed clergy strikes me as perilously close to priestcraft to begin with. Whatever this "priest's" intentions in the beginning, gold has become his god while the "heathen" was pure in his desires seeking only to do good. Sadly, it is not only in works of fiction where such happens.

[@keihrahalcomb7573]

I would definitely love a part two!!

[@nishh._]

Just wow!! I've many Animation but that's hits different...

[@onerosegrowing936]

They need to get a real preacher in that town, and run that cult leader out of town.

[@CaptainG2280]

You don’t know much about history do you?

[@onerosegrowing936]

@@CaptainG2280 what does this have to do with history? I'm commenting on a fictional story.

[@nyctophobia4573]

I don't think that would fix anything. The whole town prioritizes money over everything else, that's how the priest's pockets got so bloated in the first place. Imagine they put a different, genuinely selfless guy in charge, but the second he gets there his pockets get lined with gold. Will he keep that selfless attitude, or slowly turn greedy? That's probably how the priest started, a decent guy slowly corrupted over time.

[@onerosegrowing936]

@@nyctophobia4573 idk, they only glorified gold because the priest guy told them to or encouraged them. Like how the catholic church told people they could pay there way to heaven for a bit there. If someone actually values morals and faith they wouldn't tell people that.

[@nyctophobia4573]

@@onerosegrowing936 You have a point, the town got this way because of the priest guy, but they also encouraged his behavior and willingly gave him offerings. What I'm saying is, even if they were manipulated, they're not entirely innocent. They enabled him. Don't get me wrong, I think the priest guy is awful, but you'd have to fix the corrupt society before any real change is made. Simply putting a new guy in charge won't eliminate the greed.

[@KiTA-]

I don't have sympathy for her, she was just as greedy as the pastor and used that man then took what was his, left him and ultimately sacrificed him just because she wanted to be accepted by all the rest. The only kind soul in this story was the guy..d

[@iicecolagonewrong6558]

This is amazing!

[@anika6455]

you managed to break my heart in 6 minutes thank you

[@kagare-kun]

PLEASE! LET THERE BE A PART 2 PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

[@jane.s2133]

Ojala saquen una segunda parte me gusto muchísimo 🥰🥰

[@yasmeensalih6705]

The world needs a sequel of this

[@LadyMedusia]

Ahhh I need more of this!! So good

[@rathighosh]

Pls make 2nd part

[@daliamateo8484]

Necesito la continuación pronto!!!! 🥺 Sinf, snif, sniff (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

[@melikedogan1130]

This is so deep and meaningful also i cant help but notice respectfully the man is so handsome

[@bruceblinco8422]

This is one of the best and saddest animation shorts I have ever seen

[@Cristforaaaaa73647]

I need a continuation 😭😭😭😭

[@thehappyknight]

2:49 AAAAAAAAAAA😍🤩

[@opooopoo9641]

WHYYY I NEED ANOTHER EPISODE OF THIS LET HIM BE ALIVE 😭

[@leahcarrick4515]

This is amazing, im litteraly crying

[@kishorkumarpoddar3757]

In my opinion, The heart of gold contains no greed the only thing it contains information is love, the broken cross shows the real world who only cares about profits and other people try to be in their foots , their emotions are eaten up they forget the real self and end up losing or sacrificing the ones they love . Nowadays the one who not fall for greed they end up like the man with just a golden heart left in his lifeless body. I'm scared because when I ask people myself they tell me that I am too naive for this world and if I don't change I will end up miserably.

[@lilpretzel5629]

Kindness should not be confused with naivity , i think your more soneone who is strongly empathetic and wears there heart on there sleeve . As long as there is still good hearted people out there there is hope

[@kishorkumarpoddar3757]

@@lilpretzel5629 Only on mobile comments I can show my feelings because in this cruel world we shouldn't show our emotions. Kindness nowadays only applicable for the one who are really in need not to others otherwise they take advantage of it

[@stephanieduverne2692]

Who come from tiktok 😊😊😊😊

[@MH-ir3lm]

Me

[@michellerose2672]

I'm totally not crying.......... This is tooooo emotional😭😭😭😭

[@wesleycrawford2374]

Brilliant Video!