The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005)

Set in a world of iron dirigibles and steam powered computers, this gothic horror mystery tells the story of Jasper Morello, a disgraced aerial navigator who flees his plague-ridden home on a desperate voyage to redeem himself.

Director:

Anthony Lucas

Writers:

Mark Shirrefs (screenplay), Anthony Lucas (story)

Stars:

Joel Edgerton, Helmut Bakaitis, Tommy Dysart

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Joel Edgerton	...	Jasper Morello (voice)
Helmut Bakaitis	...	Doctor Claude Belgon (voice)
Tommy Dysart	...	Captain Griswald (voice)
Jude Beaumont	...	Amelia (voice)
Richard Moss	...	Kovaks and Additional Voices (voice)
Lewis Fiander	...	Engineer Kemp and Additional Voices (voice)

Storyline

Set in a world of iron dirigibles and steam powered computers, this gothic horror mystery tells the story of Jasper Morello, a disgraced aerial navigator who flees his Plague-ridden home on a desperate voyage to redeem himself. The chance discovery of an abandoned dirigible leads Jasper through unchartered waters to an island on which lives a terrifying creature that may be the cure for the Plague. The journey back to civilization is filled with horrors but in a shocking climax, Jasper discovers that the greatest horror of all lies within man himself.

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Plot Keywords:

alternate world | australia | creature | industry | steampunk | 

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Taglines:

"Do you wish to see a miracle?" Dr Claude Belgon, Aerial Biologist from the Academy

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2006)

User Reviews

Beautiful Animation Sets Off A Marvelously Macabre Story

"The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello" is a wonderful cross between the animation of Hayao Miyazaki and the science fiction of Jules Verne.

Beautiful animation sets off the stark, futuristic, macabre story by Mark Shirrefs that has historic resonance from the Black Plague to AIDS to "On the Beach," and recalling tales of mad scientists from "Frankenstein" to "The Island of Dr. Moreau" to the cloning scandal in today's South Korea yet creates a completely original and very suspenseful film.

Not only is a whole other worldly environment and civilization created, but the silhouetted people (with their all too human foibles) and their complicated vehicles travel through breathtakingly beautiful weather and dangers. This is a very fresh take on the human role in nature vs. technology in the guise of an old tale of obsession as if told by Herman Melville or Edgar Allen Poe.

Joel Edgerton's gentlemanly journal narration as the titular navigator marvelously captures the Victorian formality of the storytelling, like an Australian Sherlock Holmes or Robinson Crusoe.

This film was viewed as part of a commercial screening of Oscar nominated shorts.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jasper Morello

Box Office

Budget:

AUD600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

3D Films, Film Victoria, SBS Independent

Technical Specs

Runtime:

28 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1