Comicon’s Best Indie Animation Of 2023
by Tito W. James
All this week Tito W James brings his top picks of the year from the world of animation and anime. Today he picks out his favourite five indie animations.
Hidari
Every once in a while you encounter a film that you know will be an instant classic–Hidari is one of those films. Director Masashi Kawamura has created a love letter to stop-motion animation and cult cinema. The animated short plays tribute to traditional Japanese folklore and sculpture in a way never seen before. Hidari is currently being developed as a feature film and I can’t wait to see further adventures of the one-armed wood cutter up on the big screen!
Helluva Boss
Helluva Boss manages to deliver dirty jokes with genuine heart. Vivienne Medrano’s art and character designs are a breath of fresh air. The series is a trailblazer for indie animation. I wish Medrano’s Hazbin Hotel series even more success.
Murder Drones
Murder Drones is one of the most consistently thrilling and funny animated shows on the internet. Liam Vicker’s love of psychological horror anime shines in Murder Drones’ mind-bending lore and world. Jaw-dropping fights, flirty friends, and spine-chilling body horror put Murder Drones in a class of its own.
Playground
Playground is a prime example of how animation is an excellent medium for aesthetic horror. The eerie color palette, creepy character, and unnerving soundtrack work in tandem to deliver a haunting nightmare vision. I hope to explore more of this beautiful, bizarre, and terrifying world in the future.
Punch Punch Forever!
Punch Punch Forever! manages to be a love letter and a spoof of early 90s shonen battle anime. The action, humor, and multiple art styles make the animated short a blast to watch. If Speedoru chooses to make Punch Punch Forever! into a full series, I’ll be first in line to see it.
Crisis Jung
Crisis Jung is possibly the most offensive, yet wickedly entertaining, animated series to come out in recent years. The limited series is like the bastard child of violent anime OVAs, X-rated doujinshi, and Fist of the North Star. Abandon your God, ye who watches this cartoon.
The Amazing Digital Circus
When The Amazing Digital Circus premiered, the pilot received over 100 Million Views in less than a month. The cryptic world and wacky characters have endeared themselves to cartoon lovers of all stripes. Glitch Productions has proven to be the go-to place for indie animation for a Young Adult audience. If animation networks were smart, they’d look at Digital Circus’s success and change their output. It’s not just the CG animation that’s attracting viewers–younger audiences want mystery, horror, and adventure in their animated shows.
