Alma (film)

Alma
Alma poster
Directed by Rodrigo Blaas
Produced by Cecile Hokes
Nina Rowan
Written by Rodrigo Blaas
Music by Mastretta
Release dates
  • 24 June 2009 (Palm Springs ShortFest)
Running time
 5:29
Country Spain
Language None

Alma is a 2009 Spanish computer-animated short film produced by ex-Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas. It was received notable recognition at the Fantastic Fest awards.[1] The word "alma" in Spanish means "soul".

Plot

On a snowy day in Barcelona, a girl named Alma is wandering a street. Encountering a chalkboard inscribed with the countless given names of various children, she includes her own name. Before continuing her stroll, where she is suddenly captivated by a toy store overflowing with dolls across from the chalkboard. Taking notice of a doll physically identical to her through a window that resembles the mouth of a monster, she tries to enter the vacant, deserted, silent shop to retrieve the toy for herself. But the front door is locked. After giving up trying to open it, Alma begins to walk away, only for the door to mysteriously open. She returns and enters the store.

Alma tries to retrieve the doll but nearly steps on a small toy boy riding a bike who tries to escape but the door closes in front of him. As Alma starts to climb a shelf the doll somehow moved to, the eyes of the other children dolls suddenly start moving and watching her. While trying to snatch it off of the shelf, the moment she touches it a fast sequence of various brief, quick clips of petrifying footage flashes across the screen before suddenly taking focus on the entire shop from Alma's perspective on the shelf-top.

Afterwards, it is revealed that Alma's inner consciousness has somehow been withdrawn from her body into that of the doll resembling her. As all of the other dolls sitting atop the shelf suddenly roll their eyes, focusing on her (in revelation of the dark, true intentions of that particular store), a different doll is raised to the shop window bearing resemblance to another child, implying that the cycle will continue on another victim.

Film adaptation

In October 2010, it was announced that DreamWorks Animation is developing an animated feature film based on Alma. Short's director Rodrigo Blaas is again set to direct the feature, with Guillermo del Toro executive producing it.[2] In November 2011, it was reported that the studio has hired Megan Holley, a writer of Sunshine Cleaning, to write a script.[3] Del Toro, who is also helping with the story and the design work, said in June 2012 that the film was in visual development.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Kelly, Kevin (30 September 2009). "Fantastic Fest Announces 2009 Award Winners". Cinematical. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  2. ↑ Steven Zeitchik (20 October 2010). "Guillermo del Toro finds soul with 'Alma'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  3. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (31 October 2011). "After "Puss in Boots," momentum for another Del Toro animated pic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Debruge, Peter (10 July 2012). "Del Toro bullish on several projects". Variety. Retrieved 4 June 2012.

External links