In the world of contemporary animation, few films manage to be as unsettling as they are insightful. “Bunnyhood,” a graduation film from the NFTS directed by Mansi Maheshwari, is one such rare gem. Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, this short film offers a “coming-out-of-appendicitis” story that is as frenetic as it is deeply human.
A Tale of Metal, Mothers, and Medical Mischief
The story follows Bobby, a heavy-metal enthusiast voiced by Maheshwari herself, whose life is interrupted by a sudden, sharp stomach pain. What follows is a meditation on the complex nature of truth within a family. When Bobby’s mother uses the lure of junk food to trick her into a hospital visit, the film pivots from a simple medical emergency into a Kafkaesque exploration of deception.
As Bobby’s appendicitis becomes the “victim” of this process, the mother takes on the dramatic, surreal role of a rabbit, blurring the lines between nurturing care and something far more animalistic.
An Anarchic Visual Feast
Visually, “Bunnyhood” is anything but polished—and that is its greatest strength. With a design style reminiscent of Phil Mulloy, the film utilizes shaky, messy, and angular imagery to reflect a “neurotic relation with family”. It feels as though “horror bunnies” have invaded your living room, waiting for their turn to take center stage.
Director: Mansi Maheshwari
Producer: Ashionye Ogene
Screenplay: James Davis, Anna Moore
Editor: Kaupo Muuli
Sound Design, Sound Editing and Mix: Alexander Faingold
Composer: Marcin Mazurek
Cinematographer – Adam Pietkiewicz
Production Designer – Dan Miskimmon
Colourist/ Online Editor – Cameron Ward
Production Manager – Ellie Lomas
Animation Assistants:
Ryan Power (Lead animator)
Paula Gonsalez
Elizabeth Fraser
Kathryn Haddow
Beatrice Babbo
Lucas Fruen
Cast:
Mansi Maheshwari (Bobby) Nina Wadia (Bobby’s mum) José Prats (Appendix)
The artistic choices are deliberate and striking:
- Color as Consciousness: The appendicitis itself appears in color, acting as a symbol for a lost, innocent consciousness with the superhuman power to recall the past.
- Anarchic Sound: The sound design is varied and chaotic, a key factor in the film’s success and its ability to soothe the viewer during its more realized moments.
The Bittersweet Truth of Growing Up
While the film touches on heavy themes—even bordering on a story of child abuse—it avoids becoming a “straight drama” that might otherwise feel heartbreaking. Instead, it leans into dark comedy, making the experience bittersweet and oddly entertaining.
Critics have compared the film’s energy to Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, imagining what might happen if such a protagonist found herself caught in the hands of “moral police” for her own supposed good. It is a quintessential animation short because it captures the distortion of our own realities; the messily drawn world perfectly mirrors the lies we tell to navigate awkward or painful situations.
“Bunnyhood” is a wicked, frenetic journey that proves lies can be a useful, if uncomfortable, tool for communication. It is a bold debut from Mansi Maheshwari that challenges the viewer to look at the “lessons to be learned” through a distorted, rabbit-eared lens. For those seeking an animation that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually rebellious, this film is a must-watch.
