Oscar-Winning Short On Netflix Is A Must-See Tearjerker
If you’re a fan of emotionally complex storytelling and hand-drawn animation, you may have stumbled across the Netflix original short film If Anything Happens I Love You. This project, which was released on the streamer on November 20, 2020, rapidly saw critical acclaim for its beautiful visuals and haunting storyline, and even took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The film is undeniably beautiful, though it may require a trigger warning for any potential viewers sensitive to matters of children’s safety or gun violence.
Only Needs 12 Minutes To Tell Its Story
If Anything Happens I Love You packs an incredibly brief run-time of only 12 minutes, though it utilizes this time very wisely. The short centers on a bereft couple mourning the loss of their 12-year-old daughter, who died in a school shooting before the narrative begins. As the couple process their emotions, they grow distant from each other, regressing into their own respective cocoons of misery until they cease communication with each other entirely.
A Story About Overcoming Grief
As the film plays out, the parents’ emotions are displayed by a pair of ghostly shadows which emerge from above. As these shadows attempt to express their love, grief, and hope for the future, the couple seemingly shut down, unable to process the weight of their unspeakable loss. As If Anything Happens I Love You builds to its tear-jerking climax, however, the animated short reveals a path forward, as the couple learn to process their grief and reflect on the happy times they shared with their daughter.
Sensitive To The Subject Matter
If Anything Happens I Love You was written and directed by Will McCormack and Michael Govier, who first conceptualized the project during a meeting back in 2017. The pair, who met and became fast friends while attending acting school, consulted with a number of parents of school shooting victims throughout production, in order to handle the extremely delicate subject matter with intense care and respect. They also worked with nonprofit organizations to support mental health and end gun violence including Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action.
A Certified Fresh Tearjerker
Critics quickly took to the heart-shattering short film, heaping praise on the visuals, aesthetic, and sob-worthy plot, resulting in a staggering 100 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. As stated, the short also took home an Oscar Award shortly after premiering, beating out such highly favored animations as Burrow, Genius Loci, Opera, and Yes-People. If Anything Happens I Love You also went viral with TikTok creators, as many users took to the platform to discuss their feelings on the moving project upon release.
Streaming If Anything Happens I Love You On Netflix
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Personally, I love this animated film, though its brutal subject matter makes it extremely difficult to watch, or even think about. If Anything Happens I Love You brings an incredibly human element to a subject that has been completely dehumanized by its constant politicization and frequent media frenzy, and allows you to see the victims of gun violence and the subsequent ripple effect these acts have on their surrounding community. If you have the heart for it, be sure to stream If Anything Happens I Love You on Netflix today, and bring plenty of tissues for the journey.
