Jack London 'To Build a Fire' | Nexus Studios

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Jack London’s death, director Fx Goby has adapted the author’s classic novel ‘To Build a Fire’ into a beautiful animated short film, which collected the Grand Prize at The Rhode Island Film Festival.
Jack London's 'To Build a Fire', Animated short film directed by Fx Goby, presented by Nexus Studios.
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#JackLondon #ToBuildAFire #FXGoby #Animation #ShortFilm

[@andrewcarr2023]

I like that the animation shows his body falling totally into the water even though only his legs get wet, because even though its only his legs, he was as good as dead as if he was totally submerged. And other than that small, symbolic gesture, the animation is a beautiful and amazingly faithful retelling of the original short story.

[@mobucks555]

I've read a lot of scary novels but nothing comes close to this one for me than this short by Jack London.

[@Shinnyuu2]

everyone figured that out already

[@theodoreroosevelt2154]

This is probably over analyzing it, but him dropping into the water so dramatically could represent the feeling you experience when falling into freezing water. It isn’t just uncomfortable, it is sharp, severe pain as the cold shock hits you. No matter if it was his feet, legs or whole body, the pain would resonate through the human body like nothing else.

[@gabrielletreiber2618]

89​@@1robusk

[@ianpaul4460]

"50 degrees below zero meant 80 degrees of frost. Such temperatures told him it was cold, and uncomfortable, and that was all."

[@anurag4813]

people don't appreciate how good the original story, and this short film is. both are great examples in their own medium, beautifully scary and traumatizing. it makes you feel like you're there, freezing to death.

[@nevreiha]

assuming everyone has watched the video already, if you can I reccomend reading the book, it's pretty short (maybe 50 pages?)

[@ryandozier8053]

I have a vague memory of this story being assigned pretty young, also stuck instantly

[@swannyson8609]

Jacob Geller is where I recognise this story from, he explains the story and reads key parts in a very great and detailed way adding deeper explanations art and background noise to go along with it highly recommend, I think it's titled "fear of the cold" there's another story from the 1800s to go along with it that complements the story well

[@TheRandomizerYT]

@@nevreiha The story is about 18 short (approx A5 sized) pages

[@nevreiha]

@@TheRandomizerYT my copy had a largeish font size

[@Confirmed105]

As one that has a permanent scar on my hand from frostbite i felt a chill down my spine seeing this animation. It's not often you come across an animation that actually manages to show how fragile we humans actually are in below zero temperatures. The scar on my hand is my personal reminder to not underestimate nature and how unforgiving winter can be.

[@LocatingGoku]

The original story tells us that this man had been warned by the locals not to go alone, he laughed at them. I hope the people you tell of your experience will pay attention.

[@marcinwasilewski3278]

Frost is nothing, capitalism is genocide

[@bear1050]

@@FinnishCrystal You obviously never read the story. It's too old to have a "newscast" and the man was continually told by the old man that "no man should travel alone after -50 below zero." He even thought of the old man in his final thoughts.

[@Mrs.NicholsPorVida]

As one that has read your comment, I too have a permanent scar.

[@edtheangler4930]

I don't have a frostbite scar, but army winter survival training made me dread the cold. -42°c, handling a gun with fingers that felt like they weren't there anymore. My squadmates hands became a bloody mess next to me

[@Rubatose]

The part of this story that I always loved is the relationship between the man and the dog. In most stories, you have this relationship where the dog would literally die for their master, and often times they do, or they get sacrificed. In this story, they are simply travelling together, and neither has any amount of fondness for the other. You can see that the man makes no attempt of warmth or affection towards the dog, so the dog doesn't return any. It's made clear in the story, and in the animation, the dog only follows the man because the man provides fire. If the man had shown any kindness towards the dog or developed any kind of bond with it, the dog might have even saved him by laying with him and keeping his core warm. But the dog was just a tool to the man, to alert to danger and to test spots for thin ice, and so the man was just a tool to the dog, to provide him warmth from his fire. Once that was gone, the dog went on his way and continued on to the camp by himself. Not only did it provide an aspect of "you get what you give," but contributed to the narrative of "man vs. nature." The dog never even really needed the man from the start. The dog is already a *part* of nature and understands how to survive in it, and you could say that by leaving the man to die he played a part in that role.

[@vespeneprotoss4346]

Does he feed the dog? I notice when he ate, he didn't give the dog anything.

[@jetiscute1]

@@vespeneprotoss4346Omg why didn’t the fictional man feed the fictional dog in this fictional video?? 😢

[@itoibo4208]

the man is nature, too. The man did help the dog after it fell into the water, by getting the ice off of it, even if only to keep it alive as a tool. Either one or both could have died alone or together by any twist of fate.

[@Rubatose]

@@itoibo4208 The only reason the dog ever falls into water is because the man forces it out onto thin ice in order to tell where it's safe to cross. This happens in the book as well. The dog would not willingly cross over thin ice. The dog is presented, not necessarily as a *part* of the nature that the man is fighting, but as one who understands and respects nature on a level far deeper than the man. He knows how to stay warm in the snow, how to travel safely. The man does not.

[@ayayayayayayanon4999]

we studied about this back in 10th grade and the detailed imageries captured my attention causing this story to get imprinted into my brain for as long as i can remember. our class didn't focus enough to this story so i read it all alone and seems like i'm the only one who appreciated it back then.

[@garbagebin8282]

bro it was such an anxiety inducing read, a bit traumatizing lol.

[@mijishi7438]

Me too….

[@Epck]

This happened to me with hatchet

[@ratking_]

Yeah youre very special. A special little boy.

[@ayayayayayayanon4999]

@@ratking_ nah, i don't mean to sound like the "I aM a SpeCiaL kiD" type or what. it's just that i really really liked it. i'm sorry if my comment sounded childish and bragging. have a great day, ratking.

[@Algrenion]

watching him wrestle the dog - his only companion - while knowing what his intentions were from the original story just... oof... the way they animated that whole sequence, the way they framed it from high above and just showed us the squirming commotion... that was a gut-wrenching watch beautiful work. Haunting.

[@hurricanelouie]

I’ve never read the book, what were his original intentions with the dog?

[@lazuliartz1296]

@@hurricanelouie In the book, he attempted to kill the dog so he could use it's body to warm his hands so he could make another fire, but he was too physically weak to do so.

[@hurricanelouie]

@@lazuliartz1296 oh geez. Thanks for explaining

[@_productofboredom_]

@@hurricanelouie It's not a book, it's a short story. Only like 15 pages. I recommend checking it out, it's fantastic, and also a quick read.

[@hurricanelouie]

@@_productofboredom_ I’ll have to check it out

[@theproplady]

I'd say this is the bleakest version of this story I've seen. It's a Nature's Eye view, bereft of most human narration or inner dialogue. It's not a disaster on a human scale, but a mere speck on the horizon slowing down....then stopping. It really captures that aspect of the original story.

[@sandybell4913]

I disagree, i think it's well animited, but its pacing is all off and it completely loses the fear and desparation that the book had.

[@quintonconoly]

@@sandybell4913same

[@livingwill1]

I remember this story from high school. I always liked it and agreed with the message "Only an idiot goes out alone on a long hiking trip when it is 50 below".. I am from Wisconsin (we know about cold weather!) and there is no way in hell you would get me out in 50 below weather except in extreme need.

[@hellenicboi14]

The guy was a lumberjack/logger in the Yukon. He gets paid for it.

[@BrassMaple]

I know locals could handle it fairly well. Some wear sweaters even into as cold as -30c.

[@zapazap]

@@BrassMaple I suspect the difference between -30 and -40 is _enormous_ though.

[@rustyshackleford3939]

@@zapazap It's not really a big difference, it all feels the same after -25C. Wind and wetness are what make you lose your heat. -40C with still dry air is much better than even -20C with heavy winds and humidity from storms moving in.

[@yama123numbercauseytdemand4]

@@rustyshackleford3939 Agreed, cycling against wind and cold rain at 0°C feels shittier then -15°C but dry and windstill. Edit: Though my example is a few bit of degrees higher then you point, I understand, it is similar to yours?

[@GoregeousLey]

I work at a mountain resort and almost every year we have one or two hikers die during the winter. We currently have a hiker who has gone missing for a week and two days. We all know the man is dead. Another death was added recently when a volunteer rescuer died. I revisit this short story yearly just to remind myself how cruel and unpredictable nature can be. What makes this so sad is that it's almost always avoidable. In the short novel, the unnamed gentleman was strongly advised by a native to not go on the trail. He went only because he wanted to meet with the boys at camp earlier so he can get gold. The hiker who we have missing went with a group. They sense that it was getting too dangerous, but he insisted to reach to the top and told them he'll return back. Because we never found his body, we suspect he is buried under an avalanche. It's the absolutely saddest part of my job. More sad when you have last seen them alive before you're told the next day that they are dead.

[@uu-kq6mn]

Man I'm sorry. I salute for doing your job but I'm sorry.

[@gustavosoussumi8712]

Nature is not cruel at all. Man is just too arrogant to believe we can tame everything, but we're never in control. That's an illusion. In the scale of the planet and the universe, we simply don't matter, at all.

[@MrTartuVaim]

This is beautiful death, bettet than most

[@Isaac-iv2kl]

@@gustavosoussumi8712 pretty overly nihilistic outlook on life

[@GloomGaiGar]

@@Isaac-iv2kl But true. Nature is nature. It doesn't have intent. We just project things onto it to give ourselves motivation be it in the form of hope for salvation or rage against an "enemy".

[@basicben115]

This is so underrated I can’t believe this didn’t blow up

[@AngelHxze]

Right lol

[@ThugWarlock]

I know I sound like nerd but I think this didn't do the it justice

[@kayagorzan]

Can’t believe it either

[@lipirajkumar2966]

Maybe because the thumbnail is actually a bit intimidating...?

[@hetrickracing1249]

Gosh, even with no words; the quick inhalation at 8:03 alone speaks greatly. You can truly tell that he has realized that with that final mistake he has condemned himself to death.

[@bradholderman8462]

Perhaps my favorite short story of all time, brutally simple. I see one drawback in the animation. In viewing the dog head on, the line art of the dog's snout makes it appear as if it's smiling. That said, it's an excellent adaptation.

[@corpax2319]

I saw that, and it made me chuckle. But if you think about it, it kinda makes sense. The man is fighting against nature and that smile of the dog is nature just saying that " I always wins."

[@bradholderman8462]

@@corpax2319 nice insight

[@spaghettisploitation1029]

I thought they may have put the smile after he had just tried to kill the dog for warmth and failed... Maybe it's just me..

[@seal8092]

It's all so sad, but so realistic. Not that if this ever happens to you this will absolutely happen, but more this could happen. The fear of crossing the ice, the fire going out, the dog not listening to you or understanding, cause it's just a dog, snow falling on you. The desperation shown was so beautiful, and so sad and heart wrenching, and to end in a miserable conclusion. *Winter f*cking sucks-*

[@giyuu7675]

POV: your in class and your teacher said “If you don’t understand the story watch this 13 min video”

[@ponchopi]

Yup

[@lllightskindude]

Facts

[@isuckatgames381]

Relatable

[@themightydrive6694]

found it myself doe

[@user-bt6dy6qc4n]

THATS Y IM HERE

[@landonkeighin4411]

Animation and art style remind me of samurai jack

[@hawkcybergear]

Yeah

[@HWYADOIN]

This is just really sad. As someone who just watched an analogy of the cold in media and in real stories, and then found this, this is chilling, and sad… it’s wrenching to watch a man have everything go right, and then one small slip-up leads him to his death, over and over again.

[@roland4623]

that Jacob Geller video is good lol

[@HWYADOIN]

@@roland4623 ik, I saw it. Hella Intresting topic.

[@WowUsernameAvailable]

I watched the end credits to see if the soundtrack was a classical piece or not. Bravo Monsieur Alvado! This brought tears to my eyes.

[@milaborich4037]

THIS WAS SO USEFUL THANK YOUUUUUUU

[@frankpearson4553]

You're a babe 😍

[@sarakuijten9830]

@@frankpearson4553 what the hell

[@thetragedyofcommons]

@@sarakuijten9830 let him speak

[@Jessie_Helms]

One of the best stories I’ve ever read. First time I’d _read_ a story in months, if not years.

[@factsbyarun7289]

This video will help students for their study

[@meesaan4197]

It's really helpful for me today!

[@makisekurisu8594]

they have so inaccurate stuff and missing some major stuff

[@averythesuperhero]

@@makisekurisu8594 Well, it's a short film adaptation of a story, so yeah.

[@sarakuijten9830]

​@@makisekurisu8594 110%

[@nehamallick3662]

@@makisekurisu8594 yeah like where is the old man who warned him not to go

[@andrem.zucker5070]

Using this with my 11th Graders. Not all of them speak English and a lot have special needs. This animation will let them experience Jack London's great work and build their own analysis. Thanks

[@munkhtuvshinmt]

as an animator and literature lover this was such a gift... bravo!

[@kam8754]

This one is interesting when compared with the book. It takes less time than the book to get through, but it feels like everything happens... slower. The book has a quality to it, of feeling like it all goes so fast. It really gets in your head, makes you fear it. The animation is beautiful though, I give a solid 7/10

[@BlueCircle0]

Every detail is well captured in this animation. Kudos to the animators.

[@WilliamKKidd]

Did you read the same story I did? Because several details were abhorrently incorrect. I literally said out loud "Oh, so this is literally a different story" as I was watching.

[@BlueCircle0]

@@WilliamKKidd ummm... I disagree. I Felt like this captured the essence of the story very well.

[@WilliamKKidd]

@@BlueCircle0 it was about as accurate as a film adaptation as the Hobbits was

[@ricedbroccoli]

@@WilliamKKidd Its not a different story. Did you say that because it showed him falling into deep to visualize what it felt like? Or because his mouth wasn't frozen shut? Or his meal was a sausage instead of a sandwich? God forbid people take creative liberties and alter something slightly while making their adaptations.

[@catherinebucad7885]

Because of this I understand the story clearer thanks :)

[@SomitPal]

You guys had to study it, so absorbing, how many days it took in your class

[@rodolphemodeste7707]

The dog seems be attached at the man but, after her death, he forget him quickly and he reaches immediately on an other fire. So beautiful story.

[@Jonnyboy6667]

without this video, i probably wouldn't have passed 11th grade english. thank youuu!

[@polarskystudio]

Jack London's stories have always had a warm place in my heart, thanks for the wonderful film

[@ashleybrown8493]

This must be one of the best animations that I have ever seen. Love the work, appreciate it to the core.

[@TheOrganizedSoprano]

Gorgeous adaptation 💕

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

I read this once. The thing was the fur trees offered a ready made tent-like shelter below them but it was a newcomers mistake to light your fire under them as the heat rising would unsettle the snow on the above branches and it could fall on your fire.

[@KaaptnIglo]

Thank you! Beautiful (and very faithful) interpretation. I would have liked to feel the tension building up more (for those who have not read the novels, I think it is hard to understand how dramatic the 'death' of the successive fires are). But great job!

[@murdaek.9658]

Holy cow, this is insanely high quality.

[@expertmouse5764]

I just read this story for my English class, great animation you got the story spot on

[@imericayang]

I loved this! I showed this to my students and they all appreciate the story To Build A Fire through this. Thanks!

[@Biglittlehats]

This is really excellent. Well-done animation, pacing, music, and character design in a relatively simple format. Great work !

[@bertbealeale8134]

its sad whenever he goes after the dog, shows what people will do in their most desperate moments

[@TheHalflingLad]

The part where he tries to light his last matches was already intense enough in the original text. But here? How he breaths and grunts, and fumbles over and over... It's just so much more visceral all of a sudden. Made me shudder a bit.

[@slimyelow]

The scoring is absolutely beautiful and spot on. It captures the mood and the orchestration is both somber and rich. -luv luv !

[@chetanbisht4968]

a cinematic masterpiece! And that soundtrack!!!!!

[@Nina-oi2gz]

Very nice animation, although it doesn't begin to quite capture the full extraordinary essence of the story. It is a truly mesmerizing read

[@Gelbton]

Thanks to Jacob, this video finally made it where it belonged: recommended.

[@AkosLab]

This is such a beautifully animated film. I watched it in my junior year art history class and was trying to find it after watching the call of the wild just now.

[@viktor7712]

The quote at the beginning is chilling. No pun intended.

[@8-track]

This is truly a fantastic work of art. No matter what I say, I can not add to the beauty that has been stated by this magnificent piece

[@mahmoudkhaled7603]

I loved it. the animation was so well done and the soundtrack was fantastic. It helped me to understand the story.

[@d.h.lawrenceadigitalpilgri6834]

Great film, but it is such a beautifully written short story I was craving the narration.

[@agatheveuillezsaisirunnom801]

I was about to cry

[@livegaming5988]

This video is far better than the icse version U can imagine everything when you read the story

[@VaibhavaSavitala]

The dog's animation is such a cute good story and a type of tension to build a fire in very snowy and freezing weather.

[@Ditka-89]

Very interesting to see the story without the internal monologue/narration.

[@Thornnbush]

I need to find whoever made this music, it’s amazing

[@lucyhunt4630]

Yes! Thank you! This is awesome!

[@kuafer3687]

That an incredible work here. Beautiful animation. The Call of the Wild for the dog in the end gave chills.

[@readingwithjeremy]

Very well done. You have captured the spirit and emotion of the story. Thank you for sharing!

[@iabandonedthisyt383]

I’m crying :( I feel bad for this man :I

[@YardDutyBilly]

i feel much much worse for the dog :'(

[@shotgunsam23]

It’s been so many years since I thought about this short story.

[@mellow9989]

Great animation! It always helps me to have a visual for any story I read and this is amazing!

[@gerryhouska2859]

So glad I live in the tropics!

[@lednord741]

Everyone saying "go listen to the audio book" or "find the original story" just stop ffs. If this were meant to be anything like that, it would have been like that. This was great either way.

[@timothykaaria3579]

Amazing short film - I watch it with my year 11s every year as prep for reading the short story.

[@ArkAwaits]

i dunno if youve seen it but you might think it rather neat as a teacher, theres a video by a man named Jacob Geller, the video is called Fear of Cold and includes this story. its an amazing video and i think i might be worth watching and potentially incorporating into your lesson. im reccing this to you as a recent highschool graduate, his videos are amazing and as very least worth checking out for yourself

[@timothykaaria3579]

@@ArkAwaits Thanks! Will check it out!

[@MrHaunted]

This is awesome! Love the dog!

[@AdityaKumar-pp8ld]

Well done. The animation is so good.

[@athegodofanime7108]

This is amazing, keep up the great work!!

[@Super_Bowl_Bound_Eagles]

Love the animation! I read this short story for school today and it’s a long, but neat story.

[@cydneyhosey]

Amazing sound design

[@mothmustardseed1858]

Jacob Gellar brought me here! Amazing work!

[@metalrocks1069]

Here watching

[@void3793]

It's so scary because at 8:03 he see his own death. At that moment he has died just like the fire.

[@adorefelip1843]

Great animation😍 yet depressing story🥺

[@abisaurus_x]

I came here for my 6th period class and I like the story:D

[@eb3986]

An interesting depiction. Thank you

[@garvitagrawal6291]

Very very nice 👍👍👍 this really helped to understand the story more clearly

[@mijishi7438]

Every detail is well captured in this video. Cool. We watched it in class and are going to have an exam about it next week lol

[@Humorless_Wokescold]

Not to bring down the mood too much but I'm kinda glad they omitted the yellow icicle of chewing tobacco spit. I feel like it allowed him to keep a little more of his dignity. In this telling of the story he's more unlucky than arrogant.

[@seciaruthpangilinan87]

Thanks for this

[@philominapalathingal2284]

This is so UNDERRATED.

[@mad_chan7205]

The animation is so cool :D

[@gummi1203]

This deserves more views!

[@erlendvageskar3356]

Great animation. This is scary in a psychological way, and I love it.

[@erlendvageskar3356]

Also when he takes his final breath at around 10:24, that gave me chills (no pun intended)

[@Banana3560cola]

god i love this

[@hughg10]

I almost spent a wet frigid night in the woods with my dog.Knew where I was and how to get out but wouldn't leave my dog behind who couldn't get through the rough blackberry entangled bramble in the dark. Tried carrying the 40 pound dog in my pack to no avail, kept falling down. So I piled ferns high around us and held the dog on my lap. Eventually was able to ping my gps location to my wife with the last sliver of power in my phone. She and a friend reached us with fresh dry clothes and flashlights. When I got home I realized I was already hypothermic. After a warm shower I lay in a Cold sweat under a massive pile of blankets. Couldn't sleep. In hindsight, not sure if I would have survived the night. Now I always bring flare fire starters and back up batteries etc when I'm Mushrooming alone. I should have tied the dog to a tree and self rescued. I could have gone back and retrieved her later. BUT I didn't do that because I was fearful Coyotes or Cougar would get her. In hindsight my life was worth more than hers. The experience still haunts me.

[@HappyBazinga]

Beautifully animated

[@LavastormSW]

I'm just glad the dog lived. Beautiful animation!

[@bholl6546]

It’s a story about man’s hubris and the power of nature. Without the “old timer’s” warning, the story doesn’t have the same thematic weight. Just a guy dying cause he’s cold. Good animation, though.

[@neokusaknedenokusak8280]

Jack London, Ateş Yakmak 🔥

[@abhilashmaity7968]

Thnx really helpful felt as if watching a movie... this is in our syllabus for cls 12th boards isc... ❤ thnx... for this vdo ..

[@ritzx5470]

november 15th.....

[@h.p.lovecraft7286]

great, just great

[@aryankala7858]

you know this really hits different after you have read the storyyy sooooo goddd

[@xxxzzzip8961]

I come here for my ameriacan literature reading and find this amzing video!!!

[@migusta.]

I heard about this story from jacop gellers video fear of the cold its really good and it goes super in depth about this story and others

[@williamlenker8326]

Chilling

[@kmrose4741]

New phobia unlocked

[@swaraapednekar8176]

9:14 , 9:42 I love the way the dog just sat there and watched the man suffer after he tried to kill him

[@TheCampingCanuck]

Really enjoyed this

[@nirvairsingh3416]

Watching one hour before my preboard exam😂

[@robertgregory8936]

In the story, the sky is clear without haze or overcast, which is the condition of a cold air mass.

[@bear1050]

Not bad, I would have liked to see his last thoughts animated though. His ghost finding his body with his friends as he falls asleep. I like how they did the animation in the same style as "The Long Dark."