It’s easy to get lost in nostalgia at the opening of this wonderfully animated short film by Jared and Jerusha Hess. It instantly reminded me of some of the early short animations showcased on programs like Sesame Street or 3-2-1 Contact in the early 80’s. In an afternoon home from school, suffering from another bought of bronchial asthma or a major infection in my lungs, I relied on these shows to keep me occupied while in bed for long hours and days. Fittingly, I watched Ninety-Five Senses while sick in bed with yet another lung infection. This time as an adult.
What starts out as a warm, nostalgic piece subtly turns into something incredibly poignant and powerful. I’ll refrain from mentioning what is eventually revealed here, as it definitely contributes to the overall effect, but the story and the animation weaves and blends so eloquently with each other that you are left looking inward at the conclusion. The insights shared from the perspective of an old man on modern technology, and how things used to be, could have been very cliche but the Hess team instead uses it to show a turn in character arc that I did not expect.
Throughout this film I felt a warmth, both in the differing styles of animation and in the voice of Tim Blake Nelson as Coy. It wasn’t just his voice that created a sense of familial feelings but the words he speaks themselves. The delivery is spot on but the screenplay nails every aspect of what dialogue should be and how it should function to move a story forward. Most importantly, the visuals and the dialogue function together in congruence with what cinema is all about. They both complement each other while also being able to stand alone and be understood and enjoyed. The power here, however, is in the blending of the two. That is what lets you know the true craftsmanship evident in Jared and Jerusha Hess as well as writers Palmer and Bowman.
Don’t miss this film. I implore you to sit somewhere quietly and let the feelings it invokes wash over you. Afterwards you may just find that you are looking inward yourself, just like Coy does here.
For more on the film as well as with an incredible interview with Director Jerusha Hess and Ward W. Bond.
