Narrated by Andy Serkis, Amos Sussigan’s extraordinary handmade short is a moving, funny and deeply human reminder that progress should never come at the expense of compassion.
★★★★★
Sonia Smith for Arts Muse Magazine
Every so often, an animated short comes along that reminds us why storytelling is such a powerful art form. Amos Sussigan’s PIGEONS is one of those rare films. Beautifully imagined, wonderfully original and unexpectedly emotional, it is the kind of cinematic gem that deserves to be celebrated on the Oscars stage.
At first glance, the premise sounds delightfully simple. A hardworking carrier pigeon suddenly finds himself unemployed when his owner installs a telephone. Just like that, his purpose disappears. No longer needed, he must navigate a world that has moved on without him, searching for food, shelter and somewhere to belong.
What follows is something rather extraordinary.
Through the eyes of one small, seemingly insignificant bird, PIGEONS explores some of the biggest questions facing humanity today. What happens when technology replaces us? Does progress always mean improvement? And perhaps most importantly, what happens to those who are left behind?
It is remarkable how a story about a pigeon can say so much about being human.
The film arrives at a particularly poignant moment, as artificial intelligence transforms industries and raises questions about the future of creativity. Yet PIGEONS never feels preachy or pessimistic. Instead, it offers something far more powerful: a gentle reminder that efficiency cannot replace emotion, that perfection is not everything, and that there is extraordinary beauty in the imperfections that make us who we are.
The decision to create the film entirely by hand makes its message even more meaningful. Forty-five artists from around the world spent an entire year bringing this beautiful story to life. At a time when images can be generated in seconds, there is something profoundly moving about knowing that every frame represents human imagination, patience and craftsmanship.
And that care is evident throughout.
The animation is exquisite, filled with warmth, personality and charming details. There is an almost timeless quality to the storytelling, recalling the magic of classic animation while delivering a message that feels unmistakably contemporary.
Andy Serkis is simply wonderful as the narrator. His unmistakable voice brings humour, tenderness and emotional depth to the story, treating the pigeon’s increasingly unfortunate circumstances with the seriousness of a nature documentary. The result is both hilarious and heartbreaking. One moment you are smiling at the absurdity of it all; the next, you find yourself genuinely concerned about the future of this little bird.
That is the brilliance of PIGEONS. It never needs to force its emotions. They emerge naturally from a story that is so beautifully observed and universally relatable.
There is something particularly touching about watching a character who has spent his life being useful suddenly discover that the world no longer has a place for him. It is a feeling that transcends generations, professions and cultures. Whether we have experienced redundancy, loneliness, rejection or simply the fear of being forgotten, there is a little of this pigeon in all of us.
And perhaps that is what makes the film so special. Beneath its charming exterior lies a deeply compassionate story about dignity, belonging and the universal desire to matter.
Sussigan and his extraordinary creative team have achieved something that many feature films struggle to accomplish: creating a world that makes us laugh, think and feel deeply in such a short space of time.
Its Best Production Design win at Animayo 2026 feels thoroughly deserved, while its international festival journey, including screenings at Indy Shorts, HollyShorts and Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, demonstrates the reach of this wonderfully imaginative work.
But PIGEONS deserves more than festival recognition.
This is exactly the kind of animated filmmaking the Academy should be celebrating. Not simply because of its beautiful craftsmanship or its timely subject matter, but because it captures the very essence of what great cinema should do: tell a story that stays with us long after the credits roll.
In an industry increasingly fascinated by what technology can create, PIGEONS reminds us of something far more important: why human beings create in the first place.
It is funny, tender, intelligent and bursting with heart. A small film with an enormous message, and one that deserves to reach the widest possible audience.
If there is one little bird that deserves to spread its wings all the way to the Oscars stage, it is this one.
PIGEONS is not just a beautiful animated short. It is a love letter to creativity, compassion and everything that makes us human.
Verdict: An exceptional, Oscar-worthy animated short that deserves serious Academy consideration.
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