Man's Best Friend | CalArts Film 2024

A variety of animals are interviewed about their experiences with humans!
My third year (BFA3) film at CalArts! This has been my most challenging project so far, I had to push myself in every aspect of the animation pipeline. But I had a lot of fun interviewing people and trying new things, and I hope you had fun watching it too!
Director and Animation: Jaimi Qiu
Composer: Mate Satalich - matesatalich.m...
Sound Designer: Rony Junior
Sound Mixing: Daniel Eaton - www.danielcast...
Interview Names (in appearance order): Antoine Couttolenc Camacho, Justine King, Metias Gray, Atlas Alma, Sonia Lee, Matthew Lei, Kirsten Magbanua, Liz Yang, Ofre Sparrow Vaknin, Sydney Agans, Roxanne Sanders, Byungkyu Lee, Emy Galustyan, Sophia Uy, Dave Thomas
And of course, thank you to all the CalArts faculty and classmates/friends that helped this project come to life :^)
You can find me on:
Portfolio: jaimiqiu.mypor...
Instagram: / owldreig
Twitter: / owldreig
Email: [e-mail]
Feel free to reach out, I would love to talk with you!
Watch all the other wonderful films made by my classmates this year: • 2024 CalArts Character...

[@JaimiQiu]

For people wondering: you can watch the film mentioned at 3:23!! Please watch Justine’s beautiful film dedicated to Mona in the link below

[@owowarrior864]

i ADORE the subversion here, how you were able to use these experiences and change the context. the artstyle is adorable too.

[@FredwardDrawn]

man, i don't know. I just started tearing up a little. it's so cute hearing how people talk about their pets and showing that in reverse for this film was just so sweet. I loved the style, all the shots with the ants are my favorite part!

[@Mymgal]

Ty for the honor of having me in this beautiful film JAIMI!!!!!

[@JaimiQiu]

thank YOU for letting me to interview you about bugsy!!! and your film this year is so good!!!!

[@kokomoko5339]

This is like the Steven Universe Dove commercials meets Creature Comforts. Love it.

[@claireng9957]

I love this so much 😭😭 your art combined with like the sweet and authentic interviews it’s so comforting to watch and it makes me so happy

[@UltraChiakiKinnie]

This makes me so unbelievably happy

[@waterbeing]

i actually cried lol the animation style is so beautiful, the concept is brilliant and the voice acting feels very natural :D great job! :))

[@khxlua]

I dont think it is voice acting. I think these are just interviews about pets so they really are just being themselves, which I guess is why its so natural lol

[@waterbeing]

@@khxlua ooh that makes sense lmao i didn’t think about that possibility

[@GooseToe]

SO ADORABLE! I love the art style and the interviewee's are so likable! Also the composer knocked it out the park! gives me heavy "Headspace" on netflix vibes with it's floaty sound. I love this!

[@JaimiQiu]

Ooo i haven’t heard about “headspace” i’m definitely gonna check it out!!! Mate Satalich is the composer, he scores for many of my school’s films!! You can find more of his awesome work here: matesatalich.myportfolio.com

[@L0rar3]

This film means a lot to me 💙 My dog is sick and she'll probably die this year which made me realize how many memories we have together It really is like having a sibling. Unconditional love without needing to explain yourself bc they always feel what's going

[@JaimiQiu]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I wish the best for your dog! One of the best things when making this film was people sharing stories and images of their pets :’) we really have so much love for them!

[@BobRossCat]

This is one of my favorite animations I’ve seen on KZbin! It’s proof that you don’t need a super complex style to draw people in. I actually found myself sad that it was over when I was finished!

[@doozinaomi]

I love how this sounds like an actual, non-scripted interview. Like the laughs just sounds so real😮 well done on this animation and on the voice actors!!❤️💗

[@cosmic594]

I really adored this! The moments between pets and humans and the silliness that come from their interactions with each other. Also the sound design, the sound mixing, and the composer who makes everything come alive and really highlights the warmth and general shenanigans and behaviors of everyday life! What an absolutely phenomenal film. :D

[@sky44david]

What a excellent and original narrative concept to do animation for: animals are the stars!

[@FusedHeart]

I’ve always loved these “interview-style” short films. This is so cute!

[@SN-of5tu]

what a beautiful homage to nature and humanity. beautiful, heart warming, and wholesome. thank you for making and sharing this. it really brought me joy

[@JinxFan2003]

This was sooo cute and heartwarming!!! I love the creative twist! The art style and animation are also spectacular, the whole thing is very well done💖💖

[@CutTheMustardAnimation]

Love this so much! You really nailed the execution of this unique concept. Can't get enough of the visual style too!

[@hellodelightfulrando]

Why am I crying?? 😭😭 This was so precious omg… ❤️

[@Henkiwashere]

AUGH THE STYLE AND DIRECTING OF THIS IS AMAZING. DESERVES MORE VIEWS!!

[@WonderworldsLab]

it's like creature comforts

[@himignicest1571]

dude this was actually so genuinly clever and charming like what i have no words, one of the best calarts films i've seen, so lighthearted, ugh thank u man, so whimsy so artistically unique grrr

[@Saurabh-p5y4i]

great animation from the perspective of animal

[@Orangecatinahoodie]

Oh I love this so much! It reminds me of Aardmans Creature Comforts

[@arthurjeremypearson]

Very high quality, and very entertaining. You did a really good job with this animation. You flipped the scenario expertly.

[@Andyband668]

This might be my favorite short film so far

[@somie.0.]

Took me until the third animal till i fully got it but this was soo cute and sweet!!! Loved it

[@davidbettcher8843]

Adorable.

[@IHS_NMT]

this reminds me of the steven universe bullying videos! lovely art style. very lovely!!

[@astridgog890]

this was so relaxing and cute to watch😂

[@zephyrcalantian]

The ant perspective in particular was wonderful.

[@sofalint2905]

This is such a creative take on hearing people talk about their pets

[@karamii9147]

this was amazing jaimi!! the lighting is so beautiful and wahhh it really touched my heart :'3

[@Goldendoodlegamer11]

I love how gentle and full of love this short film is. It just feels like a warm hug. The animation style and music are so lovely and everyone’s voices are very soothing. The shot with all the people and their pets in the apartment complex made me tear up a little. I love it!

[@cristina.valencia]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH OMG MY GOODNESS THIS IS SO CUTE AND EVERYTHING TO ME LOVE

[@dyelusion1582]

this is so stinking cute!!!

[@arthurjeremypearson]

When I was a kid they taught us that the animal response to stress is to fight or flight. Lately I've heard of at least two more responses freeze or fawn. That's what pets do in response to the stress that they're not in their natural environment they fawn for the humans that are giving them food. They don't love the humans, they fear them, and their response is to be nice to their captors. Some pets, like hedgehogs, are observed that it is inhumane to own a single one. You're supposed to get them in pairs, so they can entertain each other while you're gone. Therefore, it would be more humane to get more, so they can interact with each other more. Taken to the extreme, it is most humane to have them interact with each other exclusively, taking the humans interaction and socialization out of this situation. It is most humane to let pets be by themselves with other pets of their own kind, and just give them food to live and do what they want to do on their own. Very much like just not having them as pets in the first place. We have bred these animals to be dependent on us, so much so they cannot live on their own in the wild. The most humane decision in this whole situation would be for us to provide them with food and safety until they die out, and not let them breed anymore generations. Also, in that same line of thinking, the natural world does not provide food and safety because of global warming. Our encroachment of our species humans on the planet is gradually replacing all life, resulting in a soylant green scenario where we are forced to eat the only remaining life on Earth, other humans. It is not ethical to kill humans. It is not ethical to let them replace all life on Earth with their own like a virus. But that is exactly what is going to happen, and mother nature will show us at the true life on Earth will be those weird things in the deep sea thermal vents, who will survive a global warming. Earth will be an empty place, the only life in The deep Sea thermal vents. And that is justice

[@shadein00]

so wholesomely silly

[@docdoc.4500]

This is incredible!!

[@EmmaLeeRugburn]

That was the best video! Mad my heart swell with love!

[@RoniFou]

I'm pretty happy to be a part of this ❤❤ it's amazing

[@rifkinr4660]

This was very sweet and heartwarming. I love it so much! Congratulations on finishing this great artwork 🎉!!!

[@grrawesomenessc.8399]

This is really beautiful! The set design, the colours chosen, it's all lovely! Very reminiscent of Creature Comforts as well, which is quite cozy!

[@Moo_is_cute]

this reminds me of "creature comforts" so cute and calming

[@ThedoorMan-zh9ln]

3:35 Omg it’s Remy from ratatouille

[@JaimiQiu]

haha i’m glad someone noticed that reference!

[@leitmotif7268]

Whyyyyy am I crying lol 😂 this is beautiful, thank you for sharing your work with us ❤

[@emeraldplayer5635]

10/10 short film of the year.

[@applekoi8639]

Glad to see how emotional this is making everyone else! Keep it up, this is amazing!

[@asimandre6390]

Ahhh im obsessed with this! The concept is so fun and I love the interview style. You rock!!!

[@grrawesomenessc.8399]

You'll really love Creature Comforts if you like this! A, somewhat older British show where the lads who made Shawn The Sheep animate animals talking about their lives. (the animals being, interviewees) Hours and hours of really, interesting peeks into peoples lives.

[@The7thDraconian]

Such a cute idea and executed so well. The paper cutout style looks beautiful.

[@fogluvr8081]

such a genius idea jaimi this was SOOOOOOO GOOD freaking amazeballs

[@id3it]

I love the art style used for this and how natural the voice acting is!! To all the people who worked on this u did great :D

[@itsmereem6748]

I love the artstyle its like paper cut outs. Its so cuteee i love this sm

[@yea8611]

oh..... I absolutely love this, so beautiful thank you for sharing this with the world

[@sunclownkin3388]

this is amazing jaimi ! looking great it amazing me to see how much youre doing an improving there at calarts ! hoping ur having fun too !

[@JaimiQiu]

wow hello it’s been so long! thank you so much for watching my film and i hope you’re doing well too ^_^

[@kay-no]

I really love this one

[@edmondaggabao]

😆 This is great! Keep it going 👍🏾

[@cyh..7]

AWWW I LOVE THE ANIMATION STYLE

[@johnathanehritz4481]

Reminds me of Ardman’s Creature Comforts.

[@WillWatches]

Love it so much! Creature comforts vibes, love the twist on it tho

[@olive4097]

this is wonderful !! the style really makes this stick

[@cyaneous227]

this is incredible i love everything about this

[@Victoriamcgruder]

Really heart warming. Is this stop motion?

[@pigeon2531]

This is beautiful!

[@tomatobread1284]

art style reminds me of the steven universe dove ads

[@mariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

i love humanity. so much :(

[@Toastrz97]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I think I've seen those two on the right at 2:27 before but I can't put my finger on where... 🤔

[@JaimiQiu]

HAHA hmmmmm i wonder where 🤔

[@theKungFuFerret]

This was adorable!

[@juanchopingo]

This is so cute!!

[@LeoLenzi]

This is really different worlds 😅❤

[@AstroEden]

JAIMI I LOOOVE THIS SOO MUCH

[@jennyduong2466]

Aw this is all so cute and sweet

[@iiice650]

This is sooo cute!

[@strawber3seal_77]

wonderful!!

[@StudioMircze]

Surreakcja pozdrawia

[@valexanderr]

so so cool jaimi... u r crazy 🎉

[@M0M0_454]

This is so cool! May I ask how you are able to pay tuition? Did you get any special grants or the like because I want to apply but the tuition is out of my budget

[@Thunderwolf-u]

I really love this!!

[@Bongu5.dongu5]

Awesome

[@Rajclaw]

I think I love this video

[@Cammy_Universe]

Thats it , Im so going to cal arts😤

[@pyeitme508]

RAD!

[@JoyTaylor-101]

I thought this would be like how woman’s can have pets but I was wrong

[@schmee9025]

genius

[@Cicada11011]

This is so cute lollll!

[@scribbleshrimp]

Lovely

[@Uncertifiedfish6]

i am from your art class

[@JaimiQiu]

haha hello!!!

[@quintjohnson7462]

Wow

[@yelsnas]

Ssooooo freaking cute 😭😭😭

[@bupcorn4136]

Honestly i wanna see the calarts animations that were rejected. see what im up against

[@ynnne-v9w]

이 영상을 만드는 데 어떤 툴을 사용했는지 알려줄 수 있어?

[@JaimiQiu]

배경은 procreate이라는 앱으로 그렸고, 애니메이션은 tv paint, 그리고 편집은 adobe after effect 를 사용했어요 (i do not speak korean, so i asked my friend to help translate!)

[@ynnne-v9w]

@@JaimiQiu thanks!! 답변해줘서 고맙습니다!

[@luckamooey]

This was so sweet 🥲 I really like to believe this is what they think. heartwarming