Best New Zealand animation movies

The film tells the story of Mosley, a "thoriphant" who rebels against his life of servitude and embarks on a treacherous journey to find the fabled city of Uprights.

In Red Son, Superman's rocket ship lands on a Ukrainian collective farm rather than in Kansas, an implied reason being a small time difference (a handful of hours) from the original timeline, meaning Earth's rotation placed the Ukraine in the ship's path instead of Kansas. Instead of fighting for "...truth, justice, and the American Way", Superman is described in Soviet radio broadcasts "...as the Champion of the common worker who fights a never-ending battle for Stalin, socialism, and the international expansion of the Warsaw Pact." His "secret identity" (i.e. the name his adoptive parents gave him) is a state secret.

In this powerful abstract film with a soundtrack of African drum music, Lye scratched "white ziggle-zag-splutter scratches" on to black leader, using a variety of tools from saw teeth to arrow heads. The first version of the film won a major award at the International Experimental Film Festival Held in Brussels in 1958 in association with the World's Fair. Stan Brakhage described the film as "an almost unbelievably immense masterpiece".

In this breathtaking science fiction spectacle, a strange mechanical device lands on a desolate world and uses the planet to undergo a startling transformation, that has profound implications for an entire galaxy.

A granddaughter brings joy on Christmas morning by mending her Filipina grandmother’s beloved Mickey plush and decorating her house with Filipino Christmas lanterns ‘parols’; reviving a family tradition and evoking memories of Christmas past. In partnership with Make-A-Wish. Featuring "Love Is A Compass" by Griff.

A dramatization of the events at Gallipoli using the letters of the soldiers who were there.

Claude and his friends are out of their element and in a whole lot of trouble when they choose the wrong lettuce for lunch. They must now find their way out of this world of horrors before they end up on the menu!

In a clearing amongst a forest of pines lives a reclusive old man who struggles to keep himself warm in an unrelenting winter, though help comes from an unexpected friend.

A short animated meditation

Twenty-One Points is a light-hearted and eccentric buddy movie between a grown man, his imaginary friend, and his Mum. Set over a single day in suburban New Zealand.

When Cardboard City catches fire, it's up to an energetic fire chief and his brave deputies to save its citizens from the encroaching flames.

A precocious kitten wants to be a witch's familiar and must pass a test or she will forever be just simple cat, but the witch sees something in the kitten she does not expect.

The short tells the story of a drunkard going through alcohol withdrawal, as personified by the Devil. Director Bob Stenhouse takes what could be a dark subject and makes it a funny madcap romp.

New Zealand’s first CGI short film gives “eyes on the road” a new meaning as a pair of eyeballs drive to a mind-bending purgatory. A collaboration between visual effects man John Sheils and his brother Michael, Scream was shot in early 1991; finally 25 minutes of footage was “brutally” edited down to three, and fulsomely scored by John Gibson. The sly ‘based on true events’ title-card nods to the makers’ ambitions to “treat animation like live action.” In 1994 it screened in NZ cinemas as opener to the ILM wizardry of Jim Carrey hit The Mask, followed by a number of overseas festivals.

Poppy is a Performance-Captured CGI drama set on France's western front in World War One. Two New Zealand soldiers are trapped behind enemy lines and are trying to find their way to safety. They find an orphaned baby under it's dead parents in a ditch. One of the men wants to save it, the other does not.

A vengeful Easter bunny plots to steal Santa’s sack, and in the process, learns something about himself that will change Christmas forever.

The story is mainly about a cyclops and the misadventures of a boy, that takes place in the valley to which the monster lives.

A child enjoys the Festive atmosphere, until he gets sent to the hospital.

Some day we’ll be able to measure the power of words but in the meantime let’s be careful about the words we use.

A man wakes up to a mysterious entity in his room.

A wizard tests out his powers.

Officers Bliss and Russ follow up on an ongoing investigation, upon entering the complex it is evident the foul smelling odour is the least of their problems. Their shocking discovery is enough to put anyone off their appetite.

Crouching Tiger, Missing Ryan. Ryan takes one last swing for the master and leaves his mark behind.

In 1970s America, a taxi driver takes it upon himself to seek justice for the murder of his daughter.

Mirabelle and her traveling family band, the Veggietones, are determined to make their next gig at Vegtable Square Garden. On their journey, a fierce winter snowstorm hits, and the family gets stuck at a run-down resort! Mr. Beet, the grumpy manager makes me sing - and clean - for their supper. Why is Mr. Beet such a beast? And can Mirabelle's kindness change him? Find out in this hilarious and heartwarming tale of unconditional love!

One tiny little mistake and suddenly you’re lost in Canada.

Thomas is trapped inside a fabricated reality he can’t be sure is real.

Unreasonable rhymes, preposterous characters and enchanting music come together in this remarkable animated short film of twenty-five delightful, surreal songs. Featuring music by Bend with a star line-up of New Zealand artists: Neil Finn, Tim Finn, Don McGlashan, Bic Runga, Boh Runga, The Topp Twins, Dave Dobbyn, Jenny Morris, Renée Geyer, John Clarke, Ché Fu, King Kapisi and Chris Knox.

A TV with a mind of its own and a man determined to stop it. Nothing is at it seems as the plasticine starts to fly - just don't get too close to the screen. A fantastical clay animation treat. The jazzy score and trench-coat wearing protagonist in this claymation short promise film noir. But it soon becomes apparent that the room for rent has something more sinister lurking in it to explain its availability and lack of furnishing. When the supernatural being attacks the man and his oversized revolver, he has more to worry about than his brain rotting from too much TV.

Acknowledging Len Lye, Lomas has created a vibrant, naturally kinetic and textural world of colourful geometric shapes going flatstick. (NZFF 1998 programme)

The spirit of a person killed in a motorway accident runs through forest and beaches on its journey to Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Rēinga). En route it meets tourist buses and other spirits, before reaching the gnarly pohutukawa and making the leap towards Hawaiki-Nui.

A colourful tale of sex, love, and fabulous wardrobes.

Aroha wants to share her creativity with her neighbours. Her imaginations come to life for everyone to enjoy.

Godzilla fights the shapeshifter.

An animated homage to some surprising lesbian icons. Eve embarks on a journey beyond the garden gates; the Virgin, Venus and Mona Lisa are waiting.

Lizzie Firkin's house is a mess. The cat sleeps in the breadbin and cobwebs cling to the curtains. Lizzie has no time to tidy up - she is far too busy working at a famous nightclub, tap-dancing and playing the trombone. So one day Lizzie sends for Robin Puckertucker, the Wonder Housekeeper, and the result is quite a surprise to them both.

Mrs. Gimble's peg-leg cat, Tom, is taken for a hat, and a ride atop her rascally roving brother's bald head, in this hilarious tale of mistaken identity.

The letter x seeks to justify its place in the world.

One damp dull day David's mother is baking cakes. Everything is fine until a naughty witch comes to settle in their cherry tree. She just can't resist the smell of baking. A hilarious and mouth-watering story!

A little boy takes great care of his shadow. He is so careful with it that a witch notices him. She gets the boy to look after her shadow while she goes away on holiday. Minding a witch's shadow turns out to be more complicated than the boy ever imagined.