AMON 🐈‍⬛ (CalArts Film 2024)

My CalArts thesis film!! So honored to be winning the award again this year!
This is a story of a big mischievous plan of the innocent tuxedo cat Amon as he turns 5 years old and is getting ready for his graduation.
Little did everyone know… Amon is planning to rule the world.
Shout out to my team who brought this film to life:
Amon - Jonna-Lynn Alonso
Baby Amon/Singer - Rhiannon Lewis
Boo/Lil Creatures/Narration - Astrid Lem
Teacher Squid/Friends - Emily Gin
Composer - Dusty Hall, Fabrizio Aiello
Sound Designer/Mixer - Jack Weiss
Re-Recoding mixer - Daniel Eaton
Animation assistant - Sumin Cho
Hail King Amon ✨
Watch other films made by my classmates!
• 2024 CalArts Character...

[@catwitha_phone]

I feel like I just watched a whole Ghibli film in 8 min. The music, the atmosphere, and the characters were so cute and so well done I love Amon sm 🥹

[@koiifsh]

right?? this has such strong ghibli vibes

[@Atari2OO6]

I was thinking the same thing!!!

[@art-eroflore]

"was it number 2" with the double meaning is one of the top tier comedic + meaningful endings ive ever seen.

[@skinkshamer]

wait hold on, i understand the usual meaning associated with that phrase, but i don't get the other haha. actually please explain 🙏

[@art-eroflore]

@@skinkshamer The character just came back from another world, so I interpreted it as, "was that world number 2" as in "was it not as good as our world" and Amon agrees, because he came back to our world and prefers it.

[@AstridLem]

@@art-eroflore Thats such a good observation, I didn’t even notice!! Guess I was more wrapped in the potty humor when recording 😂

[@RioAKARay]

@@art-eroflore or it was the second time going to the bathroom

[@juanfifi4624]

Ohhh I got it as he had two choices and he ended up choosing the second one 😂

[@Izumations]

Toh, i just want to say, you are a huge inspiration to me. You totally deserved the award, from the story to the soundtrack, it’s all so so beautiful. I hope you don’t stop doing art. Thank you for sharing your work with many people!! Maybe someday, i’ll see your work in a theater

[@ncrahlav579]

the way your style has been so consistent that one could immediately know by the thumbnail that it was the one and only Toh that blessed us with another cute fairytale childhood nostalgia piece of animation. the growth is amazing

[@IunaIia]

It's true!! I saw the thumbnail and thought, it's the one from the museum art boy short from last year!

[@Nobody.thatyouknow]

"Nostalgia piece of animation" lol what?? It may feel nostalgic but using that word at that time was so unnecessary it just sounded weird and didn't make the sentence sound cohesive at all xd

[@EK-bv1ei]

This is one of those rare short films that move you so deeply. This may be too personal, but I cried watching this. You are an incredible storyteller and you deserve the world, just like Amon did

[@noopa5229]

One of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. The Amon song could literally be an OP for a cute show

[@kumococreations]

I love it! What a fun way to show how being in total control becomes boring. You get there by wanting it all, but once you're there it's empty. Having all the pies all the time takes away the specialness of a birthday pie. Much of the joy in life comes from the barriers we face, adding resistance, pushing us to be creative and savor the moment.

[@ryliedillman7391]

The way I would pay to see this in a movie theater even if it was only 8 minutes long and I would still be just as satisfied as having seen a full-length movie, if not even more so? Unmatched. Have my like, you've earned it! I truly hope this reaches as many people as possible, it's simply delightful, and everyone deserves the level of joy a cute little story like this can bring.

[@Yub.i]

This reminds me of the times I would watch those lil kid shows on the weekends and when the first song played I felt as if I heard it from someone. It felt nostalgic The art style is so cute and how he went back with everyone is so 🥺 If this was a show I probably would binge it 😆

[@Snodder]

I genuinely cried, this is the type of short film I aspire to make, beautiful work as always

[@TurtleCano]

this feels like a mix of those older animated shorts that was originally a book, but then adapted into a lil film to watch during calm time in kindergarten, like The Secret World of Richard Scarry show, The Snowman, or The Very Hungry Caterpillar short it really encapsulates the feeling of "the world is good, I feel like im glowing, everything's gonna be alright, and i know im safe here" this is severely underrated i really hope this gets picked up in the algorithm soon, thank you so much for making such a healing and adorable short 💚

[@justinehercthehuman]

I love how a guy called Justine King made a character that just wanted to be king.

[@Colatium]

Live laugh love Amon He’s our king

[@Ben-Cog]

This is simply the most beautiful thing I've seen all year. Thank you so much for making this sweet short film, It's adorable :D

[@thescaredwizard]

idk what i love more about this. the llighting, the art, the writing, the ilumniation or the fact that before this video there was a cat ad

[@tortikal]

This was so so wonderful! What a cute story, what loveable characters 🥹🥹🥹 your style and coloring is amazing and your backgrounds ughhhh I loved this so much

[@InTheWillows75]

This is so beautiful! The characters are so pudgy, the soundtrack is amazing (I really loved that Amon song, so cute!) , and the scene where he was flying back to his little school gave me actual chills!!! This is fantastic (and a nice change from all those short films that have dark endings) and I wish you all the best 😄💕

[@jollyjessart8201]

I have tears in my eyes this is the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time. You’re such a big inspiration to me as a creator. Fantastic work as always!!

[@itsmaovinnehere]

This is so beautiful and amazing. I always look forward to this time of the year to watch the animation students work. I never got into animation school, but I still have a passion for animation. So every year I did the same pretending I was in these animation schools. Even if they aren't as good as the real students, I'm proud of what I create. Thank you for being a huge inspiration to us animators.

[@evabadalamenti3189]

This is probably the sweetest and most amazing animation I've seen in a long time.

[@venti2569]

"Was it number 2" KILLED ME

[@justinehercthehuman]

THIS deserves so much more. It's like I'm watching a Studio Ghibli short on Disney Channel.

[@JMPT]

Cutely Amazingly Nice 🐈‍⬛

[@Orangecatinahoodie]

Hi JMPT

[@JMPT]

Hello ,how’s it going :)

[@blaker772]

This makes me happier than words can describe, just everything is beautiful and done wonderfully delicate 😭💕

[@larkzurzura]

All hail kind Amon 🙏

[@cheryune]

another year another stunning film!! so adorable with such endearing characters- your passion for the art is so apparent, i hope you keep making things you love ✨ congratulations!

[@koiifsh]

i keep coming back to this film, and even though im sure this is obvious to most, i'd like to put my observations (and thoughts!!) about the story of this film here: so what amon's dream is at the very beginning is his own kingdom where he'll never die, and he has the freedom to do whatever he wants (like eating a hundred pies). there's even a whole song about it once he enters his kingdom, and this song includes the line "you'll never be alone" but that's weird, right? because he IS alone, and that loneliness (touched on later) is what motivates him to go back to his own world. i think maybe this line was intended as some kind of foreshadowing bc at the end there's another, shorter rendition of this song that's JUST that line ("you'll never be alone"). about amon's stuffed mouse toy: i think it's meant to represent his childish desires, and, at times, his past memories/childhood. in the beginning, he promises to find it a really good mousehole, which i think is a metaphor for not being able to let go of his true dream, which he realizes in the end. when he gets caught up in his daydream of being a powerful king, he loses the mouse toy. when he finds it, it reminds him of the people he cares about the most, and he abandons his dream to return to them. at the very end, he ends up leaving the mouse toy (his childhood/childish desires) behind, in the garden at his preschool. that's why i think that ultimately, amon is a film about growing up, maturing, and realizing your heart's true desires, which, in many cases, surpass desire for material things and power.

[@kalopseia]

YAYY ANOTHER TOH FILM TO GET INSPIRED BY

[@rizikos_]

Ok I legitimately cried for the majority of the film thanks

[@salamiander]

This was so sweet and funny and absolutely a pleasure to watch, the childish innocence is captured so perfectly. It's amazing to see how your work grows each time, thank you for creating and sharing it with us! Congrats on finishing your thesis!

[@芝貓]

EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH THIS 💥❤‍🔥

[@Luna_vesper]

CUTNESS OVERLOAD

[@little_p3ngu1n]

im not crying, youre crying THIS MADE ME SOBBBB

[@vincarosea_art]

THIS IS SO ADORABLE!!!! The art style and backgrounds everything Amazing work and dedication ‼️‼️

[@snezver]

they look so squshy

[@senioraconfetid3422]

como estudiante de ultimo año de animacion que ha seguido el desarrollo de este canal es muy bonito ver este corto, es demasiado persona, gracias por hacerme sentir acompañada en la carrera a pesar de ni conocernos 💛

[@AtogaCreative]

Amon is magical. What an achievement. I'm so happy KZbin pointed me here

[@martymcfly2812]

This animation made my day, purrfectly done, very consistent artstyle and soooo cute !!!

[@Meepfinch]

This is so beautiful, I love everything about it, the style, the story and the soundtrack, it's all so good!!

[@mag3ntaP]

Man your animations and stories are so good I love them so much Dear Little King Amon I hope you find new adventures either way your friends! Man I really wanna write stories like this…(I admire you a lot!)

[@mpuffluv7206]

This is the most sweetest animation I've seen in a while. I really enjoy it

[@Drumfinch]

Beautiful. This was such a sweet film, and your color use is just phenomenal. Everything was so pretty to look at, and the characters were so well designed. Amazing work!!

[@atalyaasyer6890]

you're my inspiration! i love you're animation so much, you're style bringing the warmth soft childhood vibes to me. ! love the story so much and how amon is really fluffy that makes me wanna hug him so bad.... congratulation for the award!!! You're my favorite animator XD

[@theoneandonlybananafrom1776]

This has got to be one of my favorite animations ever, its short and sweet and I love it!

[@FallingDragons7]

I got this in my recommended and of course I had to watch it cuz not only did it look cute, but also cuz Amon is also my name! And I genuinely adore this animation! Unbelievably adorable

[@koiifsh]

this is so so beautiful and sweet, the art style and color palette are so soft and comforting, and the soundtrack is amazing!! you 100% deserved that award!! just curious, though, will you ever make a behind the scenes video of this animation? im curious as to what frame rate you used to achieve such an interesting (/pos) effect here

[@RWQFSFASXC39524]

THIS IS THE CUTEST THING EVER I TEARED UP AT THE END!! EVERYTHING IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE THE MUSIC AND THE STORY❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sukoy_am]

this is so good ! i hope i can get into calarts when i’m older , i hope you got the award you deserve it ❤

[@FrancoSebastianSuarez]

This comforts me after a long work day. Well done! It's great.

[@jin_cotl]

Bro the opening gave me the short film, “Best Friend” flashbacks. It starts the same way but ends gruesomely

[@user-ht5sc9kd8t]

Toh! Omggg, the second I saw that u posted a video, I clicked so fast 😭. Amazing work like alwaysss!!

[@M0U-v1-06]

every time i watch this masterpiece i cant help but cry. its a beautiful story about lil friends, and i love amon's cute design!! ive got a tux kitty too :3

[@ANMTama]

Toh, thank you for always providing us with amazing animations and stories ❤

[@cereal_k1ller]

I really aspire to be like you one day your work is so pretty every color is beautiful... And the little commentaries are wonderful

[@Astvraxei]

THIS WAS SOOOOO CUTEEEEEE!!!! i srl started crying😭 keep going I can't wait to see more of your art!!❤

[@nathaliedrinkstea]

🥲 ahhh, this was so cute! The memory scenes, ouchie 💗

[@GarmanyRachel]

I’m so in love with how cute this is

[@mauli3051]

This was so adorable and beautiful 🤩🤩. You are so talented!! I hope you release a process video...always love to see those

[@toooh]

Thank you!! I probably won’t make a process video this time it was a lot of work 😭 but perhaps an art book someday 👀

[@ougi_rk]

This is great, honestly the calarts film 2024 label makes a disservice to your work!

[@Splat654]

You are an amazing artist, all of your works are a delight to watch, subed after your first calart film and so happy i did

[@Phuongmap3006]

i hope one day i could see your film on the big screen...

[@serenvde_]

THIS IS AMAZING!!! thank you for putting this into the world

[@sharkkbyte585]

Oh yeah ur def going places. This is awesome.

[@decoflwr]

this is so gorgeous !! so cute and nostalgic and the artwork is stunning :)

[@kakishum7729]

I am touched. such amazing storytelling and animation arrangement. Thank you (cried

[@althae_the_dino]

OOh this is so cute ! Amazing work !

[@micaelams1]

I need merchhhh aaaaaaa

[@nayahanifardisa9985]

I LOVEEE AND ADORE THIS SOOO MUCHHH!!! 🥹💖

[@my-hanvo5811]

This is better than some stuff I’ve seen in theaters!

[@Sinezazazlnw]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

[@nurbalqis203]

its so cute the voice the character everything so cute im dyingggg

[@shramanakarmakar6717]

I have been waiting for this for so longgggg😩

[@rawls101]

Beautiful.

[@allenjoshuatrinidad4199]

its so adorable and prettyyy 😭😭😭 cant wait to see what ull do next!!

[@christinelin4882]

this is so cute i want to cryyy, this must be soooooooooooooo much workkkkkk awwwww

[@iiice650]

Love it soooo much...your works are so warm and lovely...❤

[@GabyT]

This is so cute!

[@Moonlight_Music_YT]

Omg I just wanted to say that I loved this!!

[@dinosaurclub]

lovely

[@GalateaSpace]

They are sooooo cuteeeeee

[@ml.9417]

Oh my god amazing

[@autumn1199]

I am in love with your animation style.

[@mintiipepper3673]

THIS IS SO CUTE I LOVE YOU TOH THIS IS SOOO CUUTTEEEE

[@seruniramadhan1617]

I CRIED TF THIS MADE ME CRIED

[@candykats]

OMG OMG OMG, I remember when I was 7 I made a short story similar to this. The lil mouse plush tooo, I had a pink mouse doll aaaa. This is sooo cuteeeee!! So pretty and brought up many childhood memories for me. I hope I get to see more of your work in the future! Much congratz on your award! The work your team and yourself have done is amazing ✨💥💕

[@pinespuzzler3252]

delightful

[@weltonn]

I LOVE THIS SM 😭

[@Orangecatinahoodie]

Hail king Amon ✨

[@CaitlinJohnston-w2y]

That was so cool

[@WarmWarthog]

Was it number two🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥

[@Dissectation]

cute! love the colors

[@jackweiss7441]

Hail King Amon

[@evaa2292]

THAT WAS SO GOOD

[@flyingteacup8369]

Aww ❤

[@JacyNinja147]

Tear jerking material

[@shairywu5256]

this is so cute !!!!

[@MultiMarat]

Kittens are cool. 😺

[@daipastels9662]

okaayyy oscar calling ☎☎

[@eclairlu7586]

Awwww that’s so cute!!!! 🥺😭

[@KnightOwl_Art]

OH MY GOSH ITS HERE