The Animation Show

This third installment of Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt’s The Animation Show is the best one yet. The opening cartoon is amazing, a Dick-and-Jane book brought to life complete with floating labels for every object and a golden idol that turns flies into diamonds. There’s also a new Hertzfeldt cartoon, which is always a blessing, and some cool “live-action” animation. There are, of course, a few misfires among the many shorts, but this is the one animation festival that doesn’t have me squirming in my seat while derivative, googly eyed cartoon characters try to out-gross each other. Instead, it’s loaded with beauty, inventiveness and real humor, which are three of my favorite things to look at, listen to and eat.