Fishbowl (CalArts Film 2022)

The first robot to pass the Turing Test gets interviewed about his life.
My little second year film at CalArts, completed in May! Thank you to everyone who supported me in making this- and thanks for watching. :-)
Music Composer: Yemi Ogunkami
shirokishi.carrd.co/
Al: Metias Gray
Interviewer: Vic B.
E-mail: [e-mail]
Instagram: / charpng
Portfolio: charmaineang.weebly.com
Animation done in Adobe Animate/Flash, backgrounds done in Procreate and then printed on paper and scribbled on/coloured with pencils and crayons before getting scanned back in and compositing done in After Effects.
Watch other films made by my classmates: vimeo.com/channels/calartscha...

[@TheGamingBun]

Al and Winston best duo

[@YaeMikoH8r]

Fr

[@theneedlemice_aiden]

Yes

[@Gomezali0809]

Yes

[@JunoCat1890]

Scientists: Helicopter/Emotionally neglecting parents
Al: gifted kid with burnout
Winston: His first friend (possibly, an imaginary one?)
Test: expectations
Edit: i made a pronoun change cuz the creator referred him with male pronouns in the desc.

[@sylvester452]

I love that interpretation!
As a neurodivergent person, I found some parallels to Al's story, like with being trained & programmed to sound "like a human" & wanting to also "act like a human" is relatable to me in that I've spent most of my life training to mask my neurodivergence. Idk if that was intentional on the writers' part, but I appreciated it nonetheless :D

[@JunoCat1890]

@@sylvester452 yeah, those parts also lowkey relatable to me. But i cant say im neurodivergent since im not diagnosed yet.

[@PunkHerr]

@@JunoCat1890 does a diagnose matter to you?
@original post: Why does pronouns matter here (because they are a robot) and does pronouns matter at all?

[@clay_rl]

Afraid to misgender a fish :')

[@Periwinkleaccount]

@@clay_rl the robot, not the fish.

[@pobodysnerfect9175]

I love that AL feels the most like he is "sounding human" when he's describing his feelings of dread at the prospect of being seen as inhuman. There's something there. Something about how the nature of humanity is to ponder its nature.

[@ShadowDemon_4]

Are we just going to ignore the fact they accidentally dropped Winston and the scientist just gave them a new fish? They still felt depressed about it and messed up their code by going to the beach.

[@eternitypeach1309]

I can't express how much I love this. I'm not really sure how the ending is meant to make me feel. Should I be sad? Happy? Either way, I hope that if we ever create an AI like this, we treat it with kindness and respect. At the end of the day, we're all still learning love. 💙

[@FriedWyce]

The beauty of art like this is the end being up to interpretation

[@kevinsundelin8639]

I feel the same about the ending

[@mysteriousmaker1733]

Aren’t we all just meat robots. The same as AL. Just born not built. But even so, aren’t they too the same. Born = Built

[@Molledd]

I think its a mix, we're supposed to be happy that Al gets to visit the ocean but the camera disconnecting signifies that the saltwater kills Al

[@kindauncool]

+@@mysteriousmaker1733 who the hell is AL

[@napustangwattanakarn4535]

After second watch I realized that at 2:52 he dropped Winston?! And scientist gave him a new fish, yes?.

[@Agnes.Nutter]

oh noo T-T

[@ThePineappleFellow]

No no no no no guys hes ok ok guys

[@WOWOWOWOOWOWOWAHHHHHHHHHHH]

i also noticed how there is a lot of metaphors, winston and al are similar; both trapped and yearn for the beach via to feel at home and freedom. it's so open to many interpretations whether society is getting to a inhumane point of humanizing AI from the very start or the expectations we face as children to adulthood

[@cass_p]

This is so sweet, yet sombre. Nicely done.

[@TsubasaAnimations]

I see Al gets existential with captchas too. This turned out great and it better blow up! Really well done ❤️

[@skewerscribbles5259]

This is incredibly good, and now im emotionally attached to AL

[@Dark_Slayer3000]

You could say he was too NERVOUS to go to that award show :)

[@livvidity]

al is so precioussssss little man deserves the world

[@rein2951]

This was amazing. I loved it. Al doesn't need to be someone they're not.

[@pralaya3272]

This is really touching, inspiring individuality and self worth toward robots with AI. It makes me wonder if they learn the same, does Al go through experiences and learn? they seem to with sounding human, observing others and picking up cues from them. How does Al distinguish inappropriate questions from normal ones, do they have a frame base reference that decides for them? or is it their independent determination that decides. With sounding human, they also seem to express emotional distress with not wanting certain questions, did that originate from code or did they learn that through observation?
Theres so many cool things this opens up! What a film, very nice

[@StuffGameStuff]

this reminds me off the pandemic. Al being a person. the winston being home, the beach being no pandemic, and the scientists being the pandemic, the tests being lockdowns.

[@KaixexD]

i just realized i've watched all your videos without realizing all of it was yours- and i loved them all

[@philip_shoebuckle]

i just realized you named him “Al” because when written it looks like “AI” as in artificial intelligence. thats actually pretty clever :]

[@nay.c866]

I think AL stands for artificial life.

[@p.ainfullyhuman]

I would watch an entire movie of this at least 10 times. It’s absolutely incredible!!

[@attackehh]

Why? Why only 9.5 thousand views? More people need to see your work. You're so creative and so inspiring! Wonderful work.

[@Blublublu23]

I honestly want this to be a TV Show so bad.

[@StuffGameStuff]

I love the boiling on Al and everyone else. the backqround being so still with everything else moving and lively!

[@yourhomez]

AL SOUNDS HUMAN TO HUMANSSSS

[@averynelson1186]

A lot of this reflects my experiences growing up as a neurodivergent person

[@jamly8740]

So cute. Love your art style.

[@drakhavik]

There is a lot that resonates with being enby/trans. The way he responds to external influences and talks about their creation is extremely relatable. He's sounds detached from it and like life didn't start until he "proved" he was human-like. It sounds like he has to (and doesn't enjoy) justifying his existence. He just want to go sit on a beach with his fish.
Excellent job with the narrative alone. Not to mention the art and animation being really good. This is a shortfilm that will stick with me for a while, methinks.

[@OneAni.]

Your art style is very amazing hope this project does well!

[@vanessatears4312]

2:36 😂made me cry laugh poor Al he aint a chatbot but also this was beautiful

[@mr.glitch6781]

Alright this is the second video I’ve watched but this has to be the most underrated gem of a channel ever

[@WavyDragoon]

Uhm, the truthful human behavior on Al is wanting to do something, cute

[@AlwaysOpenUtopia]

The music reminds me of bee and puppycat!
I love it!

[@rafalitoelsenor6278]

I LOVE THIS. The animations is truly beautiful, the story is so wholesome yet so sad. I’m looking forward for you next animation projet !

[@Stickestpt2]

THIS. IS. THE. CUTEST
incredible job! you deserve all the praise in the world!
this reminds me of my first student film I made. you're awesome

[@almondsanimated]

OH MY GOD I NEED AL TO BE IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW

[@milohatesspit]

this was a very cute animation, i loved it! it reminded me of how i was always supposed to be perfect as a child, and how i was expected to do no wrong.

[@echlinryan]

Very heartwarming, just wonderful!

[@pepe_felipe]

What an interesting concept thank you for exploring Al

[@YaeMikoH8r]

Im speechless in awe

[@gulpinmackerel1429]

For a second, I thought AL was going to throw Winston into the sea.
Whew
Freshwater animals cannot be in seawater.

[@amberkatanimations6585]

The ending breaks my heart

[@cvqxpr]

i feel so bad for her especially how she doesnt even like being a robot ur idea is so cute i love itt

[@thatguyblu23]

All your short films are so heartwarming and wonderful

[@daisylane8380]

Your art style is so beautiful! Fantastic work and attention to detail!

[@graguu]

your animations are beautiful and wholesome. my heart is full ❤

[@leannechee2422]

amazing :") so much depth and heart, this made me so happy

[@emmag1636]

i absolutely love this so much

[@breadbird]

words cant explain how much i love this

[@DeronHargrove]

This was adorable

[@Pookiewookie.]

Al and winston!! 💕💕💕

[@vIIIlllIIIlllv]

ITS SUPER CUTE AI (not a simp)

[@JunoCat1890]

Obviously. Why did you feel the need to clarify that you’re not simping? It looks even more suspicious now cuz before that the comment “IT’S SUPER CUTE AI” doesn’t makes peoples think that you are a simp.

[@_shuck]

YES, AN UPLOAD!!!

[@0800pela]

love these animations

[@Deltexterity]

this made me cry. like, twice. this is so amazing

[@King_sauce2]

Your animations are the best keep up the good work

[@kellycroissant8015]

I love the way you used the colors in this short!

[@whoisRaca]

YOU HAVE IMPROVED SO MUCHHH

[@braincanister]

Love this so so much

[@okaeiart4526]

Awe , I love thisss!

[@nobedsthelimit7579]

Wholesome

[@sandstorm3363]

Well done! This is lovely and so creative!

[@vikaviruz]

This is so nice! Your art is amazing :')

[@quantumblur_3145]

Wow, amazingly done while staying on the subtler side. Reminds me a lot of Twins In Paradise the way he's dwarfed by his surroundings so consistently. Great stuff

[@UserName-eb9oy]

Fricking fantastic

[@venca955]

This is amazing!

[@WorldWeaver]

I love all of ur animations! keep up the super-duper-duper good work! :D

[@blalhber5447]

this is incredible

[@AaronIsTerrible]

watching this at 12:09 AM this was amazing, wow, this inspires me to start animating again

[@jords7853]

I love this

[@stemms]

So good!!!!

[@alekdavid]

I love thissss

[@7hestraywolf505]

I adore this, and all your your work. I wish you luck!

[@lazyQianYun]

so cute❤ love it so much

[@martinn5769]

This is amazing.

[@Blooperzz]

This is so cool and good, i wish you uploaded more so i could love every thing more!

[@_janky]

god i love your animations!!

[@samschmit7181]

Are you still active?

[@artieramirez3276]

Casi olvido que vi este canal alguna vez, entiendo que estas cosas toman tiempo, pero se me hace super lindo, me gustaría ver más como esto.

[@c0rrupt.1nk_]

i love al ♥️

[@m1stq933]

Its kind Remind Me Of My Life Actually

[@bellathesmolneko9159]

This is adorable!!^^

[@touleyzer]

i physically smiled when i saw Al go to the beach

[@uninspiredproductions]

Good job! This is soo cute haha

[@irishpotato867]

Yess Documentaries are just 😍 I can sort of relate to the AL with the crowds and why I’m here. I feel like he has social anxiety. I’d love to see more videos about him

[@JMPT]

Incredibly Nice 🩵🩵

[@emmag1636]

this is so underrated!!!

[@FNM519]

Best and upcoming famous RUclipsr

[@u.2280]

i love it

[@PaytonPaw124]

A true friendship

[@lcatx9666]

You have now earned a new sub 🙂👍

[@TvFGD]

It's soo pretty >w

[@citruzz_0805]

1 MINUTE AGO!? hell yeah

[@AlmostAnimations]

The backgrounds in this are 10/10

[@Jessica18010]

I like how Al’s name is Al because it looks like the acronym for Artificial Intelligence aka AI. Except Al’s name is spelled with an L and not an I.

[@JaysJinxed]

A++

[@ameryaser3987]

Great cartoon!

[@lucasgoodwin751]

I love your drawing style!

[@christianblue4580]

Please I want more AL and Winston

[@NotDyllian]

i love Al i would protect him with my life

[@Jacob-vc4ok]

I have know you for a full 20 seconds, subbed

[@PinterestCatImage]

Goddamn son! Hope you get a million views for this.

[@aidendoyle6126]

I love Winston

[@aditinath]

This was a really lovely film! enjoyed it so much! how did you come up with this concept??? very unique