The Mandrake | 2020 SCAD Short Animated Film 🌱

The Mandrake | @themandrakefilm on Instagram and @theMandrakeFilm on Twitter
created at Savannah College of Art and Design
Directed by Quincy Baltes
Produced by Katlyn Jansen
Created by Arden Mayer, Maria Migalko, Stephanie Verhelst, Andrea Cortez, Gaby Gonzalez, Maeve Shea, Olivia Taylor, Jane Morrison, Jenna Fowlow
Score by Tyler Grow
Sound Editing by Carly Lewis
Sound Supervision by Elizabeth Moore
Additional Compositing, Animation, and Layout by Ryen Goebel, Bruno Mendonça, Marco Elizalde

[@a.k.6345]

I think the reason why when the badger was unable to grow the baby mandrake was something they didn't have what the rabbit holds. A good heart to raise another

[@misterpower4280]

You right

[@marieindia8116]

love

[@stickwood8071]

Nah it's the soil. He's a farmer and have better soil that's all

[@Drak_Thedp]

Or maybe she didn't have any talent except turning everything into huge piles of shit(which is not that uncommon, you don't need magic for that).

[@kingavocado]

@@Drak_Thedp im pretty sure that's soil

[@kirafranklin3504]

Aw dang, I really wanted to see the baby grown into a man in the place of his father and had figured out his past… I just want a series at this point 🧍🏾‍♀️

[@michdominguezgonzalez9480]

Me too xd

[@check-mate1307]

Me too..

[@jimduncan5860]

And me 3...no, I mean me 4!

[@aainiainni6107]

Great idea

[@whoscatimi7590]

Me 100th

[@Total_DuDe]

My grandfather told me; "I remember when I asked my mama, 'How was I born'. She replied, 'I picked you right out of the cabbage patch'." He believed that until high school.

[@GengUpinIpin]

"Harvested locally and fresh"

[@pattheplanter]

Did he have green eyes? You may be part mandrake.

[@gameseeker6307]

Mans was adopted

[@wendydiaz8296]

The cabbage patch kids are real. They’re clones

[@mepmepimabee9866]

Quite the organic fellow.

[@lunamoth_]

the sound design on this is extremely satisfying on top of the really cool art style

[@themandrakefilm8645]

Our sound design team was top-tier!! they're pros for sure!

[@shawnwilcowski]

Absolutely agree

[@twotone3471]

Love the art style, wish there were more like it, and less the overtly CalArts style out there.

[@wynniebaguette]

This film was so touching! It shows the unconditional love one has for their child and the lengths they're willing to go to protect their child.

[@marieindia8116]

but it wasn't his child...that's what makes it so remarkable.

[@jocelynmachado8127]

@@marieindia8116 I think oc's comment was fine, you don't have to be related by blood for someone to consider a child as their own

[@cultistcrowmuerte]

P l a n t b a b y This is just beautiful- I can't even. Just a wonderful animation and short story-

[@vilelilman4252]

Ok. I looked up Mandrake mythology, and it does have a mix of good and bad. The mandrake is said to be made from the blood and semen of a hanged man. Which reminds of this Mandrake’s dark origin with the badger. Guess I know what the witch was writing with. They look like babies, and when you ‘yank’ one from the ground they screech so loud, that agony and death befall who hear it. That said it also blessed conception so a baby can be born. It was associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite being the “the love apple of the ancients”. It has a ‘sleeping’ affect, being used to put people safely under sleep for surgery. And people would carry it as ‘good luck charms’, believing the mandrake would grant them wealth/good fortune and the ability to control their destiny “as well as others”. I think the badger witch wanted a mandrake so they would have the ability to cruelly control the destiny of other people. But the Mandrake gave rabbit dad good luck, “a child”, and the ability to control his own destiny. Aka raising his plant child on his farm and not being forced to give his kid away to someone so cruel nonetheless, simultaneously also working as his ‘good fortune’.

[@samlllll]

look at picture hanged on the wall in the beginning. It shows the badger eating the mandrake.

[@stinksorstonks1498]

Did you notice that after a while of the farmer having the mandrake his carrots and vegetables were growing like crazy? It really was bringing him good luck

[@Scarshadow666]

That first bit makes me wonder where the mandrakes in Harry Potter come from... Oh noooo... 0_0

[@pattheplanter]

The root cutters of old Greece started the rumours about the mandrake scream to maintain their monopoly. The myth of the connection with a hanged man started in about 1500 AD. They are best grown from seed, easily found on the internet. The lucky charms, called _alraun_ in central Europe, were said to double money left near them overnight and to keep them happy needed to be fed milk and biscuits and richly clothed. The plant was only native to southern Europe, north Africa and the Middle East. The ones sold in central and northern Europe were almost certainly fakes, most carved from bryony roots.

[@neiacormae9550]

@@Scarshadow666 Azkaban prisoners released into the wild, probably.

[@puppytree6343]

I was not expecting the twist, giant grape badger... The film is adorable and has a soft use of color and lighting despite it's sunny brightness (at least to these eyeballs) The rabbit reminds me of rabbit from winnie the Pooh

[@jayangel5127]

I was thinking the exact same thing, it reminded me of how rabbit adopted a bird in the adventures of Winnie the Pooh show.

[@brandonmercado1]

Loved every second of this! Also loved the rabbit’s stache!

[@maureenmclaughlin1210]

Loved this. Was so afraid it was going to end sadly...but, yay, it didn't. The rabbit reminds me of actor Sam Elliot with that mustache

[@nestler4936]

Sometimes I look at myself watching hours of short animations and it always amazes me the work of some animators!

[@MayuhoHiruhota]

Can we make this a Netflix series???? I would totally watch it. Or all full on movie!

[@dkkfish8048]

Sameeee! uWu

[@lilblkrose]

Some things are better left short...

[@Praecantetia]

@@lilblkrose true

[@Praecantetia]

Maybe a over the Garden wall type series?

[@killerclone1786]

Same

[@mystandwonder]

The baby sounds almost sounded real, I loved how the characters were expressed

[@Hel7100]

Such a wonderful animation! I agree totally that should become a series.

[@DrachonaTheWolf]

A simple story, but very enjoyable. I didn't quite understand the motivation of the antagonist, but the relationship between the main character and the mandrake was captivating and cute. The animation is pretty fluid, and the style is both soft and uncluttered. Just enough detail. I definitely think shorts like this deserve more recognition.

[@mariahthemarionette6536]

it look like the bunny could't grow a kid but the badger could but did't want to take of care It. So she pay the bunny to do it .

[@DrachonaTheWolf]

@@mariahthemarionette6536 I gathered that. I just didn't know if she wanted to have a child, or use it like an ingredient. Also, I'm not sure why she waited so long to come back.

[@tsm688]

@@DrachonaTheWolf I don't think it was longer than a day. It's easy to assume otherwise since it plays a bit like a timelapse but the garden doesn't actually change that much

[@DrachonaTheWolf]

@@tsm688 If you look at the montage of scenes, at least four nights pass between when the witch leaves and returns. The first night is when the mandrake is "born", and there are three shots of the farmer taking care of the mandrake by candlelight while it's dark outside. That's what we see, but it could've been even longer. The point is that the farmer has enough time to grow attached, and the witch wouldn't want that.

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

Likely used for ingredients. Mandrakes are often said to be very versatile in receipts of magic and incantations- sometimes used specifically like one would vegetables in a soup to massively enhance/balance out the output of what they are making or used as a charm- as it’s said they play towards manipulation of fortune, which could be dangerous in the wrong hands, which makes how they are grown almost a nod that they are meant to be with good people, given they all died in her presence and not the rabbit.

[@oligb1469]

That was so precious, the dichotomy of a man who's cultivated life all his day's vs a witch brings only decay, It's nice to see the farmer have a breath of new life in him too.

[@7raesloan]

I see so many short films with sad endings, while this one was so sweetly beautiful.

[@TheFoxofKnowledge]

Amazing animation! Couldn't stop smiling when the credits hit. Such a wonderful story

[@konradbauer685]

It reminds me of a series of book where one of the princes of darkness who is in love with a normal woman but their different morphology can not produce an offspring and in his desperation for having a child for both being able to life their life at full with children he makes a pack with a good witch, and she provides hem two seeds that must each be drenched in their blood and body fluids and plant the seeds with a full moon and out of this comes a beautiful androgyne creature but this creature is not what it seems and then begins a saga to undo the evil and harm that has come to the human world with this creature great read !!!

[@average-art3222]

Ok now that sound amazing to read

[@burpburp710]

What's the title of the book?

[@Lemonnitenite]

what is it?

[@christopherbroms2508]

Please I must know more

[@EmaStrawberry]

What the book called? :0

[@Blue-mj5gm]

This is such a cute story, and the animation!! With the pencil like style and the pale colours... It breathes peacefulness

[@mooneatsworms]

WAIT THIS IS SO UNDERRATED!!!! THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL FILM!!!! might or might not have made me cry

[@objectjon9015]

Okay this is Adorable beyond expression and kind of a juxtaposition to the only myths and stories I’ve personally heard about Mandrakes so I think it’s Perfect

[@Midge-ou3sz]

I can hear the rabbit saying “I will not give you my plant son”

[@RoseBunnysJourney]

ITS THE BOYYYYYYY!!!!!!! Best little squishy baby!!!!

[@megangensemeyer6107]

This is the sweetest short film I have ever seen ❤️

[@meloza]

so goood! the story reminds me of a folk Golden Cucumber or Timun Mas. a baby coming from a gold cucumber and later has to fight a monster. also a story of Princess Kaguya, a baby who comes from a bamboo shoot. was made by studio ghibli

[@average-art3222]

And this baby, was magically brought out of a plant pot by a supposed badger witch.

[@themandrakefilm8645]

Myths like Princess Kaguya and other baby-comes-from-the-earth myths were definite inspiration for The Mandrake! Folklore was the backbone of the preproduction process

[@cramerfloro5936]

Herman: I guess I’m a father now…

[@Mangamamapari]

This was amazing! So much love was put into it!

[@jennyduong2466]

This was incredible, every little piece from the sound design, to the backgrounds, and the animation. Just ties it together wonderfully

[@Random_shortyy]

Animation skills was astounding!!! Hats off to the Team👏👏❤️❤️

[@sergiomedina4568]

A good Indie short film is all you need in this life, thank you guys.

[@rain._.n0]

Awww this is so cute and heartwarming 🥺🥺 THE RABBIT MADE AN AWESOME FATHER ✨

[@KellySzymanski]

Such a beautiful story of love that comes to you in an unconventional way. The artwork was stunning, the soundtrack excellent and the depth of the characters superb. Bravo!! I have fallen in love with the Mandrake.

[@jpthomas587]

I’m amazed at how 7:00 minutes of an animation can tell a whole story including background. Just 👌👌👌

[@ibelieveinyourgalaxy07]

A film doesn't need to be so drastic, o satisfying. Sometimes, it just need to be this relaxing.

[@LunarNaiad]

BABY BOY BABY BOY

[@g4g_ministries315]

This reminded me of my dad's love for me, thank you for reminding me how special & amazing our step up dad's can be ❤️🕊️

[@sonikatsumaki]

This animation is so beautiful, wish there where more to it, but overall I greatly enjoyed it! 🥰✨⭐️🌟

[@user-lt3pt2ct1q]

This is too cute for my health

[@thepearson9372]

I need to see the vegtable child all grown up taking care of the farm while the bunny is old and gray PLZ

[@yellowcloud8758]

Omg why is this so underrated?! I LOVED IT! I want to watch more about this two! There is so much stuff that can be create about this duo! And I'M living to imagine it! This was so a good short film ❤️

[@zebrasonice4102]

Beautiful, adorable, heartwarming. I loved it.

[@elizabethrainbolt9443]

This is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever seen. I want more of these characters!

[@mihikagupta423]

That was amazing!! The level of imagination was great. Every second worth watching it. Eagerly waiting for the next one!

[@guntherthequizmaster9515]

And through his deeds, we shall prosper. - Potiphar, Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)

[@venusinscorpio7123]

What a creative and heart-warming story! And the baby mandrake is absolutely adorable!😊

[@didinou112]

woaw the story is magnificent !! and the landscapes are sweet to see!I would like so lively like you do

[@tonyrose9449]

Very cool Quincy and the whole team! So much talent.

[@vixen8572]

the baby is SO CUTE 😭😭❤

[@vrabbit7730]

Omg the plant child is so adorable And the animation made me cry because that’s a really good dad right there

[@sleepy.timaeus.arts.]

the sound on this is elite

[@HedwigXD]

Love this!!! I loved the story and the animation was so lovely

[@ravendemo4980]

What a lovely animation! Amazing job!

[@kipofthemany2213]

Awwww! This is so sweet! I love found family!

[@judithwalker3600]

Sweet! Well done! Grabs ya and holds ya right to the end and through the credits! Even the music works perfectly!

[@zaxophona]

Good will never succumb to evil!

[@Polzovatel348]

Такая простая, но милая история, с приятной анимацией и музыкой. Прекрасно❤

[@lineart1362]

Thank you for making this, it was so cute

[@hackeemationsofficial1601]

Only one more supporter to be 1000!!! I'll get that for you 😉 you deserve it!

[@cartoonsfortheking75]

I haven't found a short 2d animated film that I really liked until I found this one! It was really cool(especially the animation and art style)

[@TheSt0neK1ng]

This is amazing! Loved every second of it!💖💞

[@Varrbariouss]

Its so freaking good! So adorable too😭 great job!!

[@Reaver9029]

This is adorable and I love it 💚

[@Hjkhjfhhhgch]

So good!! Love this!

[@pacificharbourkiddo2094]

Amazing character design!!!

[@lauramenendez3212]

This needs more views! I loved every second

[@DandiPoofs]

I love this so much. This needs way more attention. Amazing job!

[@maevemooney6628]

Oh I remember seeing this one live at the Scad film festival… still such an incredible film 💕

[@iCookMe]

Watched this in the big 5 hour scad film… showing. It really shone bright! Fantastic work, so lovely to see it again!

[@malekahmed7960]

Finally, a film with a happy ending..., I can't thank you enough for creating this masterpiece

[@cynthiamoore3542]

Love it! Amazing!

[@cameronhansen4228]

This is so hecking cute

[@jamespetersen7416]

Awesome film! Nice job!

[@tintintheodor2765]

Here I was thinking it was a Harry Potter animation. But it was way cooler than that would be.

[@fredrichdeleon3382]

Sweetest cartoon i have ever watched, good job guys, shared your creation to my friends

[@EvasiveBlue]

This is awesome I love to see such great animations, especially from my school!🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@mrfish.-]

See y’all when this gets to 1mil 👋

[@Cryptic_Orbit]

Super cool short! Love the art style and the music was amazing!!

[@ameliatoney2910]

I would gladly pay to see this as a full movie

[@chfdrake91-]

Beautiful and inspiring!

[@gangasagarransarje5873]

Damn!!! The background music!!! The story is simple yet deep.

[@Neontiger77]

ohh my so cutish this was

[@starbackpack8189]

Oh my gosh the character designs are phenomenal everyone did so well afag hsjgsjd

[@charlology7219]

That was beautiful 😭

[@ballardsoccer5]

This was amazing!!

[@sandrinechambon5088]

Simply beautiful😍

[@doodlerbee9015]

The Mandrake's chubby arms! Oh my gosh this entire video had me gushing with how cute it was! And that little end picture with the Mandrake in overalls!

[@hyeonim594]

adorable, amaizng art, and just i cant explain how amazing this is

[@alexsmith2269]

Love is the greatest growth serum of all.

[@wolfymudkips4266]

Really enjoyed this! Would love a series from it

[@jimpey420]

10\10! A wonderful story!!!!❤

[@Wulfslove]

This made me cry. In fear and then in happiness.

[@rowenaestuaria695]

I LIKE THE STORY LINE WE REALLY TEND TO PROTECT SOMEONE WE HAVE CARED FOR THE ILLUSTRATION IS CUTE

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Beautiful film.

[@velvetinkmoth1294]

Es muy hermoso desde el sonido de fondo hasta el diseño de personajes. Simplemente bello

[@TheFinalGamerRN]

Absolutely lovely!!

[@iberissempersflorens6606]

This is do great, i love it with my whole heart 🌱

[@_SleepyNoodle]

This is made my entire day and I love it

[@karenwilliams30527]

A lil' Groot-like baby!? Aaaawesome!🤘🏻💚

[@ora0racatuno636]

great animation, great sounds, great music and job well done. Its sad that is only 8 minutes long but its still a beautiful masterpiece. I hope you will continue the story. It has a potencial. Anyway thx to you guys for that 8 minutes of great relax.

[@Ahaan24713]

Amazingly made