PIVOT | Omeleto Animation

A young girl is forced to wear a gaudy dress -- and stands up for herself.
PIVOT is used with permission from Ana Gusson. Learn more at / pivot_animated_short .
Ashley is on the verge of becoming a teenager. She's athletic and active, and dresses in simple pants, sneakers and tops. But her well-meaning mother buys her a frilly dress and presents her with some makeup as well.
Ashley is resistant to it all: she doesn't like dressing up, and she never has. Angry and rebellious, she must confront her inner fears and find the courage to stand up for herself -- but also risk disappointing her well-meaning mother.
Directed by Ana Gusson and written by Robyn Campbell, this charming and relatable animated short film is about the tensions of growing up, which for many means exploring an identity that is different or at odds with the one envisioned by parents or caretakers. With its bright, detailed visuals and an economical but vivid sense of storytelling, we trace the defining moment in Ashley's quest to be herself, which may also challenge the relationship that she has with her mom.
The narrative itself is self-contained and simple on the surface, with viewers meeting Ashley as she spends time alone in her room, dribbling a basketball and quickly establishing that she's more of an active tomboy-next-door. But when her mother enters the room, we see from her ladylike outfit and demeanor that she's more traditionally feminine, and it's no surprise when she pulls out a frilly, gaudy dress. Their conflict has its roots in their different temperaments and tastes, but it's sparked when Ashley is confronted by her mother's expectations of how she should present herself.
The storytelling has no dialogue, but the animation's clear, joyful colors, appealingly bold lines and shapes and attention to detail tell us plenty about both the characters and the situation. An evocative, often charming musical score reinforces the emotional ebb and flow as well, turning ominous when Ashley's inner monsters are brought to life, in an almost surreal departure from the storybook storytelling into something more frightening and fantastical.
Ashley has to deal with her anger at feeling forced into a box that she doesn't want to be in and her hatred of the frilly, constricting version of femininity presented to her. This anger is profoundly scary to Ashley because to stand up for herself is to possibly risk losing her mother's love and understanding -- but staying silent and compliant is anathema to her growing sense of self.
PIVOT is a warmly engaging, endearing watch that many children and parents can relate to, but it also resonates because of how effectively it evokes the inner lives of young children and tweens. It captures how seemingly simple and small things can provoke large emotions that are threatening in their intensity, leading to even larger fears and worries. But it also shows how a little love and understanding on both sides can breach whatever surface differences emerge as a natural part of growing up, keeping families connected even as children embrace their independence.

[@clorgborg]

This film is so freaking beautiful and relatable, I love how it manages to convey emotion through color and music without it being jittery, awkward or out of place. I also love how despite the lack of dialogue, the animation makes up for expressing emotion coupled with a few voicelines and it, also not being awkward to watch. That theme of being afraid to confront your parent about something you're not comfortable with genuinely hits home, especially the feeling that your parents would stop loving you for refusing something that they'd expected or wanted you to be instead of accepting you for who you are. Love it!

[@ONEPEAKFRFR]

Im so happy this channel is uploading more short films

[@Maude_T]

Beautiful short. I loved all the photos of the people who worked on this with weird dresses, real cute detail!

[@Enel97]

This film was amazing. It especially spoke to me about the trans experience and what many ftm people go through but even cis people who are forced tk display femininity