Abiogenesis (2011) User Reviews

The animation is breathtaking....

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 2 February 2013]

I have been going to the theater on a pilgrimage for quite a few years now each January-February to see the annual showings of the Best Animated and Best Live Action Shorts. I am lucky enough to live in one of the few places in the country that shows it each year. And, along with the nominated films, they usually show several commended films--animated films which didn't make the final cut but which are well worth seeing.

"Abiogenesis" is unusual in that it comes from New Zealand. You don't normally see animated films from this country in these special showings--and after seeing this film I sure hope we see more. That's because the animation is really breathtaking--and possibly better than the nominated films in this department. However, there isn't much in the way of story. So, while interesting, it's much more a film you see for the artistry than for the story. But, when they look this good, I say see this film!!

You can get something almost this cool in a lot of video games nowadays.

[Hellmant · 5/10 · 6 February 2013]

'ABIOGENESIS': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

This 5 minute New Zealand animated short was screened with the 2013 Oscar nominated animated shorts in theaters and billed as 'highly commended'. It's a science fiction tale directed by Richard Mans and tells the story of a machine that lands on a lifeless planet and brings it it's first life. The animation is beautiful but the story is almost nonexistent and there are no characters to speak of. You can get something almost this cool in a lot of video games nowadays. Still, it's pretty cool while you're watching it. Is it worth the 5 minutes? Sure. Is it something you'll remember? Probably not.

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Amazing visuals, pointless story

[Imdbidia · 7/10 · 10 January 2017]

Abiogenesis has awesome visuals, as good as those you see in blockbuster science-fiction movies or in well-developed expensive video-games. the film is great depicting the unknown planet where the action happens and, especially, in the mechanics of the robots. The fluidity and creative transformation of these mini-transformers, the almost natural transformation of the machine into animated forms is one of the things I liked the most in the imagery.

Abiogenesis means "the original evolution of life or living organisms from inorganic or inanimate substances." Another term for spontaneous generation. This is the theory of the origin of the Universe, which is contradicted by creationists and still being discussed by scientists because we really don't know much about it, that is how life sprouted from nothing.

The story in this film offers a sort of possible origin of the natural life on a given planet beginning from nothing. We don't know if it is Earth or an imaginary planet, something that rests power to the story because depending on which one is the case the story has conceptual ramifications that can be dramatically different.

We see an exogenous element, a space capsule, arrive from outer space, collecting material, mixing it, spreading it, and creating certain circumstances and conditions until it makes flora sprout on the planet, and then the spaceship leaves. That is it. Nothing else. The question is, who sent the transformer-spaceship? What was first the chicken or the egg? Is that is the point, well, not really well explored.

delightfull

[Kirpianuscus · 24 March 2018]

An artistic demonstration of high creativity and splendid sugestion of story. for me, a reference to "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint - Exupery. in same measure, a hopefull film. sure, the aesthetic fascination is the first for seduce. and it is easy to tsay than the story itself is absent. but, in essence, it is the film of a state. fragile, touching and so personal. and, that did it a real must see.

quick idea

[edoardopasquini · 7/10 · 13 October 2019]

It's an idea, nothing more. Little piece of visual art, for the life and its origins

Beautiful piece of animation art

[bluefox01 · 8/10 · 16 November 2015]

The deeper theme of this short film seems to me the joy of creation. It plays magnificently with transformations of mechanical and biological forms.

It tells a story about seeding (or supporting) lifeforms on a barren planet. So, I have to disagree with the previous reviewers, that there is no story. What do you expect to see, before you label something a story - talking faces??

At several points in the film I ask myself: Could this be possible? From a chemical/biological standpoint I have to say "no, that's not how it works". Nevertheless, the visual ideas are inspiring and the sound is equally good!

Visually convincing, that's it

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 23 October 2015]

"Abiogenesis" is a 4-minute short film from 2011 and so far the only directorial effort by filmmaker Richard Mans from New Zealand. I think the story was okay at best and that already takes into account how this is such a short movie. At 6 or 7 minutes, it certainly would have been a drag. However, the animation is nicely done without being magnificent, however. All in all, this is a fairly mediocre outcome as there are so many more movies, especially when it comes to animation. I would like to recommend it, but taking into account also how this film takes itself so seriously from start to finish, I just can't. I wonder if Mans will ever make another film, but if he does, I really hope he can step thing up until then. Thumbs down.