They All Saw a Cat is a 2016 animated short film directed by Brendan Wenzel and produced by the National Film Board of Canada. It is based on the acclaimed children's book of the same name by Wenzel. The film opens to the sound of a meowing cat as it wanders through a diverse range of landscapes, from a city block to a farm and a forest. The visuals of the film are an exploration of relative perception as they present the point of view of the creatures that the cat encounters.
One of the things the film highlights is that, depending on their individual perspectives, the creatures the cat encountered perceived, interpreted, and reacted to the same cat differently. For instance, through the eyes of a fish in a pond, the cat looks predatory and menacing, while a mouse sees it as a gigantic, looming shadow. Similarly, bees see it as a buzzing blur, a bird sees it in a flash of feathers, and a flea sees it as a valley with hairy, bumpy mountains!
John Lithgow provides the narration in the film, immersing the audience in the point of view of the creatures the cat encounters. His voice acting is spot on and captures the whimsical and poetic tone of Wenzel's book. Lithgow's narration adds an additional layer to the visuals, highlighting the various perspectives on the cat's appearance and behavior.
The film uses a variety of techniques to move between the perspectives of different creatures. For example, when the cat encounters a dog, the audience sees the dog's face morphing into different shapes, each one a representation of how he sees the cat. Similarly, the bee's perspective is visualized through a series of abstract blurs and sounds, giving the audience an idea of how bees see their surroundings.
The animation itself is stylized and eye-catching, with almost psychedelic visuals that enhance the viewer's experience. Throughout the film, the cat changes in appearance and size, highlighting how different creatures perceive it uniquely. The technique consistently immerses the audience in the different creatures' perspectives, making the film an intelligent and immersive experience for children and adults alike.
Overall, They All Saw a Cat is a beautifully rendered medley of visual and auditory stimuli that explores the impact of individual perspectives on interpretations. The film's thoughtful message alludes to the significance of empathy and understanding how every creature is unique in its own way, even when they have the same physical aspect.
If you love animation and want to appreciate the unique perspectives of different creatures, this short animated feature should be in your must-watch list. The film's imaginative interpretation of perception might even prompt you to rethink the way you see and view the world around you.
They All Saw a Cat is a 2018 family movie with a runtime of 5 minutes.
