Sebastian's Voodoo (2008) User Reviews

Eerie and fascinating

[Rectangular_businessman · 8/10 · 22 June 2012]

"Sebastian's Voodoo" is a surprising animated CGI short which tells a unique and unusual tale of heroism and self-sacrifice.

Personally, I found incredible the fact that the animators were able to make the creepy voodoo dolls to look endearing in an almost adorable way. However, the stories from this short isn't patronizing or anything like that, having an eerie and suggestive atmosphere of fear and tension.

The result is pretty satisfying, with an impressive use of computer animation, and a interesting main character, even if the story it's a bit too simple, it ends being something pretty effective and well done.

The inevitable sacrifice

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 27 July 2015]

"Sebastian's Voodoo" is a 3-minute short film from 7 years ago and it is a solid watch in terms of every aspect I must say. No surprise it won all these awards and was also nominated at the Annies. A smart idea, good execution of that idea and finally decent animation as well. When you think about voodoo, you usually only think about the people that the dolls are supposed to represent and not about the dolls themselves. Now, if the dolls live, does that mean that you could actually make a doll of a doll? Never mind, that takes it a bit too far. This was the second short film written and directed by Joaquin Baldwin and he was only in his mid-20s here. Since then, he made one more short movie and worked on several pretty famous animation films such as Oscar winner "Frozen", "Feast" and "Big Hero 6". I wonder if he will ever get the chance to make his own film. With "Sebastian's Voodoo", he shows us that he may have the talent although that's always a bit difficult to say from such a short work. Still, this got me curious about his work and I recommend watching it.

Impressive art student animation.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 11 April 2012]

Sebastian's Voodoo starts as a line of stuffed Voodoo doll's wait, they see a man grab one of them & stick pins in him. The little Voodoo doll dies, the other's become increasingly anxious but one manages to escape & senses freedom but as he watches another Voodoo doll like himself be pinned to death can he let his other fellow Voodoo doll's suffer the same painful death?

Witten, produced & directed by Joaquin Baldwin who also animated it Sebastian's Voodoo is a short four minute CGI computer animated tale of a Voodoo doll who turns the table on his human creator & gives him a piece of his own medicine in order to save his other Voodoo doll kin. As far as Sebastian's Voodoo goes it works perfectly well, it's sort of cute yet creepy, it's sort of charming yet also quite sad & I liked the basic concept of a Voodoo doll turning the tables on it's human owner in a very apt way. If you've got four minutes to spare then definitely give it a watch, hell I have to wait longer than four minutes to catch the bloody bus to work every day so a mere four minutes is hardly any sort of hardship. Bleak & tragic in a cute sort of way I liked this.

Apparently made on a budget of $2,000 at the UCLA School of Film and Television as a second year project Sebastian's Voodoo has humble beginnings but doesn't look out of place amongst bigger budgeted professional competition. The animation is great, sure it can't reach the heights of Pixar & Toy Story for instance but it's better than many of the CGI computer animated rubbish that pass for children's television these days (although to be fair the length probably has something to do with that, being only four minutes the makers could invest a lot of time & effort in every frame whereas if you have twenty thirty minute episodes of a kid's television programme to make on a low budget & on a tight schedule then it becomes a lot harder). There is no dialogue in Sebastian's Voodoo & it's credit to the animation that every emotion & the entire story is relayed through the movement of the character's.

Sebastian's Voodoo is a cute little animation with a slightly grim subject matter & downbeat end but the story is a nice play on traditional expectation. I liked it & it only lasts for four minutes so what's to complain about?

A Rare Find

[sinemaiestas · 9/10 · 29 August 2010]

Finding a short film that tells a complete story without jumping or missing important plot points is hard to find. It's even harder to find that in a 4 minute film.

This one does just that.

Hands down, some of the best writing I've seen in a short. All coming from a Student? Wow. This kid has a bright future ahead of him. I can't wait to see what else he puts out there.

Amazing CGI, a perfectly attached score, and phenomenal writing. Really, this is what short film making is all about. The attention to detail and the quality result in the end has made this short a rare find indeed.

This was done by a second year student?!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 29 October 2008]

SEBASTIAN'S VOODOO is a very simple story that is told in a short film of only about four minutes duration. A large group of voodoo dolls are being used and the dolls seem to feel this pain! And, in an attempt to help one of the other suffering dolls, our small stuffed hero resorts to fighting the human by giving him a taste of his own medicine.

The animation quality is superb with the dolls and backgrounds. The human, while well done, isn't quite as lovely but it doesn't really impact the film. With no dialog, the story is still very captivating and well executed.

This is a great example of how remarkable software and computers have become in recent years. The animation quality of this project by a second year student is amazingly beautiful and shows how much CGI has improved in recent years. However, at the same time, despite advances you still need to admire Joaquin Baldwin for his exceptional work in directing, producing and writing this short film. If this is what this guy can do now, imagine what he'll be doing in the future when he's REALLY good!! Great stuff and I really look forward to seeing more of Mr. Baldwin's work.

touching

[Vincentiu · 30 August 2014]

one of rare films who use imagination , care for details, drama and emotion in perfect manner. a touching movie about sacrifice and team spirit. a splendid animation , so simple but so extraordinary. and the story is magnificent. in fact, this short film, real gem, it is an pure artistic experience, exploring unknown possibilities of a real delicate subject, giving not ordinaries characters, using the tension with precise delicacy. to define it as beautiful is only a word because it is more than touching or an artistic success but it is tool for rediscover fundamental aspect of life. in fact, it is a kind of poem. like old ones about heroic virtues, about dramatic choices, about noble gestures. an useful film. for remind yourself.

What A Dark Heart-Warming Flick.

[tiskec · 9/10 · 11 November 2016]

This short film had great animation. The artwork was dark and outstanding. Yes, there's also a little cuteness in there, or at least I find the voodoo dolls cute. I'm sure others will as well. It almost makes me feel sorry for all the dead ones that this crazy dude comes and kills with long pins, that he sticks through them. It's kind of shuttering because you see the voodoo doll expressing, and moving, trying not to bare what's coming.

Towards the end of the film, the creeps own voodoo doll escapes the hooks that all of them hang on in this shed or basement type environment. The voodoo doll ends up committing suicide to save his friends little voodoo lives. It's actually quite sad and done really well.

I really liked the animation and the dark artwork involved in this film. I would definitely recommend this short film to dark movie lovers anywhere.

Early evidence of a major talent emerging.

[EyeAskance · 15 June 2009]

*SPOILERS*

Roughly-hewn fabric dolls. They hang on a meat rack...tortured souls in the darkness of a sadist's voodoo workshop. One of them manages to free himself, but steadfastly refuses to leave his suffering comrades to their grisly fate. In an ultimate act of courage, he faces off against the evil antagonist, losing his life so that the others may be spared.

An impressive short CGI project, SEBASTIAN'S VOODOO tell's a moving and moral story of good versus evil and self-sacrifice in less time than it takes to microwave a hot dog. Bravo to the young filmmaker of this project...your future looks very bright, indeed.

6.5/10

perfect

[Kirpianuscus · 27 August 2016]

a perfect animation. the touching story, the precious details, the exoticism of a fairy tale with powerful message , all is more than great. and the most important thing the use of CGI for a film who seems not only realistic but like-life. dolls. a human. and an old ritual. and a gesture who change everything. Sebastian's Voodoo is one rare films with the gift to become an experience for its public. because it use a taboo theme for a magnificent art product. because it reminds importance of generosity and love and absence of selfish. sure, it sounds bizarre, but I think it is one of the most beautiful Christian films. because the well known/ignored message of the Savior is present in the splendid manner. and this small detail does it a real great film.