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The Meaning of Life

  • 20052005
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 12m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Meaning of Life (2005)
  • Animation
  • Short
  • Comedy
The evolution of humanity, through countless eons.The evolution of humanity, through countless eons.The evolution of humanity, through countless eons.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Don Hertzfeldt
  • Writer
    • Don Hertzfeldt
  • Stars
    • Murwarid Abdiani(voice)
    • Jaden Alexander(voice)
    • Lance Anderson(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Don Hertzfeldt
  • Writer
    • Don Hertzfeldt
  • Stars
    • Murwarid Abdiani(voice)
    • Jaden Alexander(voice)
    • Lance Anderson(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Photos6

    The Meaning of Life (2005)
    The Meaning of Life (2005)
    The Meaning of Life (2005)
    The Meaning of Life (2005)
    The Meaning of Life (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Murwarid Abdiani
      Jaden Alexander
      Jaden Alexander
        Lance Anderson
          Karin Anger
            Laura Basler
              Kareen Battle
                Ross Beeley
                  Margot Bercy
                    Wendi Bergamini
                      Wendy Campbell
                        E. Simon Cavazos
                          Dotty Chasse
                            Stephanie Comer
                              Kenneth Cook
                                Linda Cook
                                  Sara Cushman
                                    Jennifer Damas
                                      Emily de Groot
                                        • Director
                                          • Don Hertzfeldt
                                        • Writer
                                          • Don Hertzfeldt
                                        • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
                                        • All cast & crew

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                                        Storyline

                                        Edit
                                        The evolution of humanity, through countless eons.
                                        • atom
                                        • molecule
                                        • creature
                                        • galaxy
                                        • alien
                                        • 19 more
                                        • Plot summary
                                        • Add synopsis
                                        • Genres
                                          • Animation
                                          • Short
                                          • Comedy
                                          • Drama
                                          • Music
                                          • Sci-Fi
                                        • Certificate
                                          • Not Rated
                                        • Parents guide
                                          • Add content advisory

                                        Did you know

                                        Edit
                                        • Trivia
                                          Don Hertzfeldt single-handedly animated and photographed tens of thousands of drawings for the film, over the course of four years.
                                        • Quotes

                                          Voice in Crowd: Those stars are millions of years old... Those stars are millions of years old...

                                        • Crazy credits
                                          No computers were used in the animation or photography of this motion picture.
                                        • Connections
                                          Edited into The Animation Show 2005 (2005)

                                        User reviews10

                                        Review
                                        Top review
                                        7/10
                                        The meaning of Life (2005)
                                        The evolution of humanity, through countless eons.

                                        The cartoonist's title sequence shows images of black and white flames. And then a human body falls down through it decaying. (A human stick figure)

                                        Next sequence is stick figures unique to the cartoonist's tradition walks and we are reflected of each one saying same dialogue lines. Then the crowd increases. And it becomes chaos of mixture and confusion. And in an instance all are dead and we see black clouds and confusion.

                                        We have a starry sequence later.

                                        And then mutation. Which was my first thought after the observation but later I realised it was a reflection of a parallel universe and how alien life would be behaving and it is accordingly reflected.

                                        We see a discussion with an alien language. We see stars and other beautiful aspects floating around after the discussion.

                                        And then slowly it concludes to the end title.

                                        It's more like a mindless observation of life without any logic or judgement. The film maker establishes his violent and dark abstract style to theme and it is a very unique short animation.

                                        Overall - 3.5/5
                                        helpful•0
                                        1
                                        • dpolwatte
                                        • Dec 5, 2018

                                        Details

                                        Edit
                                        • Release date
                                          • January 21, 2005 (United States)
                                        • Country of origin
                                          • United States
                                        • Language
                                          • English
                                        • Also known as
                                          • Смысл жизни
                                        • Production company
                                          • Bitter Films
                                        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

                                        Technical specs

                                        Edit
                                        • Runtime
                                          12 minutes
                                        • Color
                                          • Color
                                        • Sound mix
                                          • Dolby SR
                                          • Dolby Digital
                                        • Aspect ratio
                                          • 1.33 : 1

                                        Related news

                                        Don Hertzfeldt on ‘World of Tomorrow Episode Two’ and Expanding Upon the Best Short Film of the Century
                                        Don Hertzfeldt on ‘World of Tomorrow Episode Two’ and Expanding Upon the Best Short Film of the Century
                                        Nov 17Indiewire
                                        ‘World of Tomorrow’ solidifies Don Hertzfeldt as an auteur
                                        Apr 7SoundOnSight

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