Traces of my Brother - animated short

"After the death of his older brother, a boy desperately tries to take his place in the family. But the mourning alienates the family and leads to the next disaster."
A short film by Moritz Mayerhofer
Subscribe for more animation: tinyurl.com/3x3kd365
Find out more on: moritzmayerhofer.com
/ moemayerhofer
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WINNER - Best Animation - Festival de Cine de Santander
SPECIAL MENTION - Constantine's Gold Coin Festival
NOMINATED - Best Music in a Short Film - German Film Score Awards
festivals: Austin Film Festival, Cinanima, Ars Electronica, Newport Beach Film Festival, ITFS Stuttgart, Animafest Zagreb, ...
CREDITS:
Directed by Moritz Mayerhofer
Producer: Christian Müller (eyecatchproductions), Martin Backhaus
Writers: Moritz Mayerhofer, Bartosz Grudziecki
Composer: Peter Thomas Gromer
Sound Design & Re-Recording: Dominik Avenwedde
Foley Artist: Daniel Weis
Production Designer: Josef Brandl
Character Design: Nikolai Neumetzler
Painting: Cindy Fröhlich, Frederik Troels-Smith
CG-Artists: Daniel Wichterich, Assen Semov, Jennifer Jason, Waldemar Fast, Harry Fast, Nikolai Neumetzler, Oliver Vogel, Hendrik Rost, Kristijan Dulic, Frederik Troels-Smith
Post Production: Daniel Wichterich, Martin Backhaus, Jan Hartmann
Editorial: Sven Kulik, Bastian Mattes
Voices: André Kaminski, Judith Brandenburg, Oliver Vogel, Nikolai Neumetzler, Robert Schmolinski, Charlotte Rost & Emilia Rost
Thanks to: C.A.I. Systeme GmbH, now films, DIE BASIS, 3dCoat
Funded by: FFA, BKM

[@neilmackenzie4394]

The Militarists and the Politicians seem to love War, but they never actually fight. It is the parts of families that fight and die. Excellent animation, touching, well done.

[@yvonneackerman6039]

The war it it's comerce...FOR thats thereare people invented heated betwen people native in other places. Selling themm weapons FOR war. I AM heartbreaking about this world...money first. After they send laboratorio pharmacy und boxmeal FOR the new jomeless

[@kyrab7914]

For who are the ones truly affected by war but the families of those lost and still fighting? The poor kid. So traumatized by what happened to his brother and what is still happening in his country he goes through a whole maladaptive dream. Ignoring real pain and injury and every other sign pointing to how this is going to go until it's almost too late. And at the end... It takes great maturity to admit you were wrong. And great compassion to comfort his sister as he did... He no longer has his fantasy, but they have each other. And sometimes that's all you have, and it'll have to do.

[@PoeticProse7]

We need more art like this. It spoke volumes without a single word.❤

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thank you very much for your kind words ❤

[@jimwallstrum371]

The only ones to truly understand war, are those who have been fortunate enough to survive.

[@AnnaByrne-A2J4ever]

True genuine love between siblings is unbreakable

[@linnetgee8857]

I think the visions of his brother might have been his ghost trying to warn his younger brother from suffering the same faith. I think this big brother was still looking after him, think about it he injured his foot after seeing vision of his brother and he remember what really happened when his brother left for war after he saw his bully being force to stay on the truck and saw a vision of sad expansion on his older brother. I think his bother send vision to his little brother about what really happen to him is not the greatest moment of his big brother going fight in the war for his country and honor but actually biggest tragic because he is force to leave his family and home to fight in the war that he did not want to and he never return home to his family because he die young. I think injuring his foot is really a great blessing in disguise because his injured foot got him out of going to war and able him to return home to his family.

[@diannebird9810]

Thank you for your wonderful piece, so moving, especially in light of current events. Please thank everyone who worked on this

[@amigos7776]

Так было всегда и актуально всегда. this is always relevant

[@jedi_ace6655]

Very poetic a true master piece, the feeling of pain hits hard as the feeling of loss is thick and the representation of the young children who don't truly know the meaning of war, the innocence of the boy thinking that honoring his brother means to fight. But then realize that honoring his brother means honoring your family and taking care of them, essentially filling his brothers shoes....

[@linnetgee8857]

I think that the government would target young people because they easily influenced and not fully realize what going to war is really like. I think school bully who was excited to be soldier at first just realizes the gravity of his situation "Wait I'm going to die if I go the war! I just a boy! I want to home to my family!" when he look around try to get off the truck. The main character wanted to go to war to honor his brother but when he just about to suffer the same, he remember what really happen that brother and their family never wanted him to go.

[@andreadosreiscantillo7102]

Ugh, this represents war so well, is just loss and pain for us and our loved ones. I really hate war.

[@conken5623]

There is also honor, and sacrifice

[@andreadosreiscantillo7102]

@@conken5623 What good is honor if you're dead? those are things that only the living give value to, and besides, most of the time honor does not compensate for the loss of a loved one.

[@Dr.davemiller]

Let's just honor the ones who died from ww1 and ww2 and hope ww3 doesn't happen I'm afraid dying

[@paulmorgan274]

What an evocative piece of animation, it's a shame that reality mirrors art.Always remember art in itself is a truth for all to see. Take care of each other freedom is a price paid in more than blood. Congratulations to the team who put this together. Regards Paul from London

[@NoesjkaHR]

Absolutely brilliant. Sooo...... emotion provoking. Love it.

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thank you very much for your wonderful comment ♥️

[@laman8914]

Beautifully told: War is the worst invention of mankind.

[@cmessett11]

Great message. And definitely some of Jake Gyllenhaal’ s finest work.😉

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

😅 he's such a fine actor, right?

[@cmessett11]

@@MoritzMayerhofer lol! Yes, loved him in How to Tame Your Dragon as well !

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

@@cmessett11 I think this time I have to correct you. That was John Krasinski 😉

[@cmessett11]

@@MoritzMayerhofer Hahaha! YES!

[@lunainezdelamancha3368]

So fortunate I haven't seen war in my lifetime...nor do I have children to be drawn into one either.

[@user-hk1yc5gp1j]

دائما مايكون دقيقا ومذخرفا للغاية ولكن فى صميم الموضوع وصحيح فى الحياة لوان الحياة ولو ان الناس فقط هم الذين سيقرون ذلك مصائرهم رائع وجميل❤❤❤❤ ‏‪1:21‬‏

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@serenasafira364]

I cried with your animation, congratulations on the work

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thank you very much! This means a lot to me.

[@Sky_moondance]

Oh my heart, soooo beautiful done ❤

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thanks a lot ❤

[@marlsberlin7716]

The look of the animation is in between "Simplicissimus" and Anarchic & Soviet propaganda. It's genius, brilliant.

[@nanarose8537]

Great film that hits hard emotionally. With the current war going on, I was especially struck by the smoldering cityscapes of your neighboring country. 😥😥 All the best to you in future animation endeavors.

[@duckdogers4438]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@AdamOliver52]

Congrats on a great film!

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thanks a lot Adam! Cheers to you

[@goofykl9]

At least he was saved from that monster that eats men alive. But the pain lives.

[@hghosz1702]

Good cartoon motivation 😭

[@joaolenon5525]

Que boa história e bela animação......

[@murcielagokuroko6561]

loved the ending, he hurt his family. more importantly he hurt his little sister, and he made up for his mistake

[@afiaanjum5030]

very emotional animation 🤍

[@MrOrmstunga]

Всегда так тонко и витиевато, но в точку и правильно. В жизни бы так люди сами решали свои судьбы, а не карденовские ароматье

[@wardragonizandomt8109]

Good thing his foot got bad... Great Job!

[@bronzeone9334]

Sad story, everyone loses at war

[@Al-humacooking-channel]

The girl is so cute and felt heartbroken when she got hurt made me sad 2:59

[@francescapaladini5763]

Weird no one put him at trial, they could think he made it on purpose

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess one can't tell everything in a story - and in my opinion that's not necessary. I tried to focus on the aspects that were more important to me.

[@Chanelle562]

Très belle animation. Merci.

[@munheemblox7862]

It makes me cry beautiful animation

[@11B30Inf]

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

[@user-yj3sw9zu6u]

very good!!!

[@Sergio-xs7ol]

I like how you made a parody of dictatorships by making a symbol that fuses the Nazi swastika and the Communist hammer and sickle

[@linnetgee8857]

I just realize that both him and his school bully were young teenagers! The school that they go to seem to be either mid or high school not college. Both of them are still living with are parents. There full grow adult that are short and skinning but him and his bully seem to be about same highs and build.

[@daliayale]

[@jeanneparisot237]

May God have mercy on the ones who die for the pride of some fools.

[@Fido-vm9zi]

Fools need the mercy.

[@mizejoubert.3176]

This is such a sad storie

[@W00sh33]

NO IT CANT END THAT WAY IT SHOULDN'T END THAT WAY WHY DID YOU MAKE IT EN THAT WAY!!! 🥺😱😭😓😥😢😨😰🥺😱😰😥😢😭😓😱🥺😥😢😭

[@user-fh7rw6hn4f]

Герб советский, форма немецких солдат

[@plagueman3376]

It's a shame I can't find the marching theme by itself, it seemed pretty nice to listen to.

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

I will let the composer Peter Thomas Gromer know. It seems he didn't publish the score yet. But this is the place if you want to explore his beautiful music: music.apple.com/de/artist/peter-thomas-gromer/1193724204/see-all?section=singles

[@b.r.olivas5507]

Great,!

[@catharinakopetschek6204]

Beautiful

[@junayedalam8463]

Great! ❤️🧡

[@moocow6189]

Power Control and Money and Military Complex that’s their emotion’s not the Soul’s they’re Murdering for Who’s little Games !

[@jebinjames9593]

great

[@Swift-kt2zi]

Now I’m going to cry

[@sandravanplaterink2057]

A very touching movie.

[@Kay12021966]

Traurig 😢

[@anymii6045]

I love stop motion anime 🌸🌸🌸🌸

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thank you for your comment. The technique used for the film was 3d computer animation. I hope you liked it nevertheless 😊

[@Sea-Keith]

Would be interested to know what that song is,sets the tone...

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

The composer of the song is Peter Thomas Gromer. It seems he didn't publish the score yet. But this is the place if you want to explore his beautiful music: music.apple.com/de/artist/peter-thomas-gromer/1193724204/see-all?section=singles I'll push him to release the score of the film :)

[@ionut-alexandrutoteanu8467]

Good animation

[@atishsonavane3709]

how nice tune !

[@letsgetcrackin5319]

I have no words at all, except for… Awesamazigreaterful

[@kekililhu3829]

💔

[@munnisarker5225]

it made me cry

[@frankcasatelli4078]

Thank god !

[@niklar55]

😊👍❗ .

[@docholliday9058]

Dude just keeps tripping: the movie

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

nice one :D

[@nyhuus85]

Very touching

[@earlyburg]

Feminist new age lies. Thank you for posting this.

[@jarekgajewski7054]

😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@ffcg6587]

Triste car prémonitoire de cette catastrophe que nous vivons actuellement ...

[@vernalc2449]

Great job with the video, but I hear they're currently not this enthusiastic about military service in Russia, if that's where this supposedly is, what with the red flag and sickle and hammer?

[@sumitbhattarai8169]

Name of that murmuring lullaby? 13:08

[@user-vo9pi3jp1w]

Да, это счастье для человечества, что есть на Земле американский народ! И несчастье, что есть россейский. (Неизв.автор) Запад и Восток это две параллельные, которые никогда не пересекаются! (Вост.мудрость)

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

"Yes, it is happiness for humanity that there is an American people on Earth! And the misfortune that there is Russian. (Unknown author) West and East are two parallels that never intersect! (Eastern wisdom)" source Google Translate Answer: I suggest to get back to the film and it's message. Peace / Предлагаю вернуться к фильму и его посылу. Мир

[@matthillman3922]

Those are German tanks

[@harliethomas1378]

Doesn't need to be Russian or Soviet... . Any army anywhere. I'm not saying this as someone not familiar or who hasn't been through basic. I'm just a lot older and don't like causing pain or killing anyone nor animals either, especially more sentient and intelligent ones, even when it's been necessary or unavoidable...... Ugh ..... Been way too many

[@ythacks1]

Wow!

[@rajithavroon9938]

දුකයි

[@geetavishwakarma4718]

🙏🙏🙏🌷🌷🌷😔😔😔😔😔💐💐💐👍

[@E1ik]

Надеюсь...что в моей стране Украина утихнут звуки взрывов и не придется брату брата в России брать оружие в руки...

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

"I hope ... that in my country, Ukraine, the sounds of explosions will subside and the brother of a brother in Russia will not have to take up arms ... " I really hope this, too! Я тоже очень на это надеюсь!

[@Ninja-kk1ze]

@@MoritzMayerhofer sorry but russia is too good and its a permanent member

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

@@Ninja-kk1ze in which way or what discipline "too good"? You mean "permanent member" of the UN Security Council? For many of us our hope is that this war will end soon and neither ukrainians nor russians have to die.

[@Ninja-kk1ze]

@@MoritzMayerhofer me too but still maybe ukraine did something bad so russia or usa japan france or china has the right to do something about it and this time russia did and also russia was good when it had soviet union

[@astat5535]

Грязная война, начатая без нашего с тобой согласия....

[@user-zw3gx9rb5v]

د.أ

[@juliaeisele8125]

Öffnungszeiten

[@user-rl9zl2nz5n]

Теперь рф устроила бойню в Украине. Чечни и Грузии показалось мало?

[@olegshkuratov6003]

Америка сегодня? Или фобии автора.

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Comment: "Америка сегодня? Или фобии автора." "America today? Or the author's phobias." Answer: Фильм вдохновлен реальной историей. Это универсальная история и не фокусируется на конкретной стране. Дети страдают от войны, независимо от того, какая война и где она происходит. (Google Translate) the Film is inspired on a true story. It's a universal tale and doesn't focus on a specific country. Children are suffering from war - no matter which one it is or where it takes place.

[@user-rm2kq3jw2t]

@@MoritzMayerhofer , не передать словами как мой народ устал от войны!!! Нас пытались завоевать, только в 20веке, две Мировые Войны!!! Но думаю, раз нужно это разъяснять, то я в пустую трачу время...

[@svetlova.1a698]

Зачем вы снимаете мультфильм об истории чужой страны, в которой никогда не жили ни Вы, ни ваши родители? Вам не понять тех событий, как и тех чувств, которые тогда испытывали люди на самом деле... Судите со своей колокольни и ещё пытаетесь выдать это за истину(

[@CoolDude-bu7fn]

tank is german tiger 2 hat is united kingdom flag is SOVIET UNION Bro?

[@MsArlette1]

Nop....the story line..nop...no really contex...snd the end no to moral ...actually creepy

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Thanks for your feedback. Would be interesting to know your suggestions for an improved storyline.

[@rinatmagsumov4057]

@@MoritzMayerhofer Moritz, I really liked the story.

[@user-pn2xk4yi1h]

😞🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

thank you for your comment

[@bogdanor]

a beautiful movie, and the terrifying truth about Russia. enslaved nation..

[@yayatheobroma929]

It’s not about Russia. It could be any army. The military equipment is from everywhere and the flag is not USSR. Look closer.

[@svetlova.1a698]

Что за дичь

[@user-mj6pc6jv6k]

почему сср приставлют нацыстами

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Why the ussr is assigned by the nazis? (google translate) War is painful and painful - no matter what the uniform. This film is not a film specifically about WWII, Germany or politics. Symbols were used to make the message more universal. Война мучительна - неважно в каком мундире. Этот фильм не фильм конкретно о Второй мировой войне, Германии или политике. Символы использовались, чтобы сделать сообщение более универсальным. (google translate)

[@user-zl2lu1ql3o]

Тогда надо было фашистский крест нарисовать, а не серп имолот

[@romaplotnikov8430]

У советских солдат зелёная форма

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

спасибо за информацию и отзыв. Это стилизованная короткометражка, которая не о Германии или России, а о том, что война ужасна и уносит человеческие жизни. Поэтому он пользуется художественной свободой, поскольку ему не нужно показывать исторически достоверные аспекты. (Google translate) Thanks for the information and the feedback. This is a stylized short film that is not about Germany or Russia, but about the fact that war is terrible and destroys human lives. Therefore it utilizes the artistic freedom of not having to show some aspects historically accurate.

[@freevard5705]

То же самое сейчас делают в современной Украине уверяют свой народ что русские им враги и ради амбиций одного мерзкого клоуна отправляют своих молодых сыновей на верную смерть.

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

Это диктатор, который разрушает мир агрессивной войной, нарушающей международное право и превращающей друзей и семью во врагов. И зовут этого диктатора Путин. Когда режим искореняет свою оппозицию и запрещает и наказывает собственный народ в доступе к объективной информации, его тирания раскрывается. Это должно заставить всех задуматься о том, сколько власти должно быть у одного человека. Не только люди одной нации задаются вопросом, правильно ли следовать за своим лидером на войну. (google translate) It is a dictator who brings ruin to the world with a war of aggression that violates international law and who turns friends and family into enemies. And this dictator is called Putin. When a regime root out its opposition and denies and punishes its own people's access to objective information, its tyranny is revealed. It should make everyone wonder how much power a single human being should have. It is not just for people of a single nation to question whether it is right to follow your leader into a war.

[@freevard5705]

@@MoritzMayerhofer я ни в коем случае оправдываю действия путина. Но во всех грехах обвинять его это как минимум примитивно. Клоун зелёненький прямо сейчас может остановить эту бессмысленную войну. Почему он этого не делает? Вы себя спрашивали? Включите мозги и думайте

[@ulitkabob7567]

Мальчишка который толкнул брата похож на Путина

[@MoritzMayerhofer]

any similarities not intended :) / любые сходства не предназначены

[@sriyanandadiyabalanage531]

❤️🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺💪🇱🇰

[@michaelbond6496]

War is absolutely disgusting thing. Glory to Ukraine 💙💛