Freebird (2021 film)

Freebird is a 2021 Canadian 2D animated short film written and directed by Michael Joseph McDonald and Joe Bluhm, and co-led by creative director Nicholas Herd.[1] The plot follows Jon, a boy with Down syndrome, navigating the world with a loving mother, an absent father, and a life-long crush. Forty-five years of Jon's life are depicted in five minutes with no dialogue.[2] The film is a joint production between Tonic DNA and L’Arche, featuring original music by Jordan Hart.[3]

Freebird
Promotional release poster
Directed by
  • Michael Joseph McDonald
  • Joe Bluhm
  • Nicholas Herd (creative director)
Written by
  • Michael Joseph McDonald
  • Joe Bluhm
Produced by
  • Michael Joseph McDonald
  • Jennifer Nadeau
  • Mariana Duran
Music byJordan Hart
Animation by
  • Guillaume Blackburn
  • Celia Bullwinkell
  • Malcolm Sutherland
Production
companies
Distributed byL'Arche
Release date
  • March 21, 2021 (2021-03-21)
(on World Down Syndrome Day)
Running time
5 minutes
LanguageEnglish

The short was revealed on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2021.[4][5] Following its release, the film received the 1st Prize award at the 38th Chicago International Children's Film Festival, making it an Oscar contender for the 94th Academy Awards.[2]

Plot

Jon helps his elderly mother into an armchair and goes to make her tea. When he returns, she is asleep with an open photo album on her lap. Atop the photos is a note written on a napkin: You were right. He's perfect.

In a flashback to the 1970s, Jon is an ultrasound on a screen. A beautiful woman is glowing. Her husband is overjoyed. The nurse hands the young couple a pamphlet entitled Institution. The husband can't handle raising a child with an intellectual disability. He walks away from his wife and unborn child. Despite the heartbreak caused by her ex-husband, she gives birth to a baby boy with Down syndrome named Jon.

Jon's earliest years are marked by good and bad memories with his mother: chasing a butterfly, burying a dead goldfish, splashing dishwater, getting ready for bedtime, and etcetera.

In school, bullies flick a rubber band at the back of Jon's head. At recess, Jon is fidgeting with the rubber band. A girl with Down syndrome named Miranda approaches him smiling. She guides his hand towards her arm, offering herself the rubber band and turning it into a wristband. Now during class, Jon turns all the bullies’ rubber bands into wristbands for Miranda.

Jon has a not-so-secret crush on Miranda for several years. In their senior year of high school, Jon runs for student president. His flyers say: "...are you DOWN?" His biggest supporter, Miranda, holds a sign that says, "I’m Down."

At graduation, Jon waves at his teary-eyed mother. His mother looks over to her left. A man she once knew is older and missing some hair, but it's him — Jon's father. He offers his ex-wife a sad smile.

Jon walks up onto the stage and pauses. He then rips open the front of his gown to reveal a superhero crest that says I'm Down. Everyone cheers — everyone but Jon's father. His son's success in life overwhelms him.

After graduation, Jon removes Miranda's green wristband and twists it into a ring as a wedding proposal. While Jon and Miranda have the first dance at their wedding, Jon's Dad hands his mother a note written on a drink napkin: “You were right. He’s perfect”.

It's the present now, and forty-five-year-old Jon doesn't know what to make of the napkin. He shows it to Miranda. Neither of them knows where the note came from, but the message is clear. Jon lovingly wraps his sleeping mother in a blanket and turns off the light.

Music

Jordan Hart composed the music for Freebird, the song "Freedom" was released on March 12, 2021.[6][7]

No.TitleLength
1."Freedom"4:21
Total length:4:21

Reception

Critical reception

CBC’s Shauna Powers called it "groundbreaking" adding that it was "the first time we’re seeing Down syndrome celebrated so beautifully in animation."[8]

Dan Sarto of Animation World Network described the short as "powerful" and "touching" stating that "the powerful film challenges the misconceptions surrounding Down Syndrome by asking the question, "Why does the world assume that a disabled life is not profoundly beautiful."[9]

After watching the short, Stashmedia.TV advised, "grab a tissue or six...guaranteed to have you in tears by minute one."[10]

Amid Amidi of Cartoon Brew said the film depicts Down syndrome in a positive light as it "moved away from problematic notions of pity and fear"[11] and listed Freebird as a contender for the 2022 Oscars.[12]

Clayton Davis, the Film Awards Editor at Variety, chose Freebird as a "Top 5 contender" in his 2022 Oscar Prediction list.[13] In a Q&A with the directors, Animation editor-in-chief Ramin Zahed called Freebird "one of the best animations of the year."[14]

Richard Propes of The Independent Critic described Freebird as "nothing short of exquisite."[15] He added "As a film journalist with a disability, in my case spina bifida/paraplegia/amputee who also works in the field of disability, I can assure you that the disabled life is, indeed, quite beautiful and "Freebird" captures it all to perfection."[15]

Accolades

As of Dec 2021, Freebird has won several awards, including:

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2021 Chicago International Children's Film Festival Professional Jury Prize for Best Animated Short Won [16][17]
San Diego International Film Festival Best Animation Won [18]
Vancouver Island Short Film Festival Best Original Music Won [19]
The IndieFest Film Awards Award of Excellence Special Mention - Disability Issues Won [20]
One-reeler Competition Best Screenplay Won [21]
Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift Best Canadian Short Won [22]
Spark Animation Best Music Won [23]
2022 Cleveland International Film Festival The Spalding and Jackson Award Won [24]

References
  1. Macaulay, Scott (2021-12-08). "Slamdance Announces Its Full 2022 Lineup | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  2. Zahed, Ramin (2021-11-18). "Sketches from a Full-Color Life: 'Freebird' Filmmakers on Creating Their Touching Neurodiversity Short". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  3. "The Best Work You May Never See: L'Arche Canada, Tonic DNA Release Teaser For Animated Short That Sheds Light On Life With Down Syndrome". SHOOTonline. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  4. "Powerful Animated Short Asks "Why Does the World Assume a Disabled Life is Not Profoundly Beautiful?" | LBBOnline". www.lbbonline.com.
  5. "Freebird is a short film about living a beautiful life with Down Syndrome". Toon Boom Animation. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  6. ""Freedom" Short Film/Music Video by Tonic DNA". Motion design - STASH. 22 April 2021.
  7. "INTERVIEW: JORDAN HART TALKS NEW EP 'ONLY PIECES OF THE TRUTH,' SELF-PRODUCING, HIS 100-DAY BUSKING CHALLENGE FOR L'ARCHE + MORE". Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  8. "Saskatchewan Weekend with Shauna Powers".
  9. "New Animated Short Challenges Misconceptions About Down Syndrome". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  10. Price, Stephen (2021-04-22). ""Freedom" Short Film/Music Video by Tonic DNA". Motion design - STASH. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  11. "Short Pick Of The Day: 'Freedom' By Joe Bluhm And Michael McDonald". Cartoon Brew. 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  12. Amidi, Amid (2021-11-01). "Oscars 2022 Best Animated Short Film: At Least 84 Films Qualify (Exclusive)". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  13. Davis, Clayton (2021-09-09). "2022 Oscars Predictions: The Collective (Top Contenders In All Categories)". Variety. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  14. "Freebird -- Animation Magazine".
  15. "The Independent Critic - "Freebird" Looks Toward Awards Season". theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  16. "FACETS 38th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Fest". | Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  17. "CICFF38 Awards | FACETS". 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  18. "Program All Films A-Z". San Diego International Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  19. "Regional filmmakers fare well at Vancouver Island Short Film Festival". Nanaimo News Bulletin. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  20. "Winners August 2021". theindiefest.com. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  21. "Best Screenplay – Joe Bluhm, Michael Joseph McDonald – "Freebird " (Canada) – One-Reeler.net". one-reeler.net.
  22. "Winners – May 2021". 18 June 2021.
  23. "SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Award Winners" (PDF).
  24. "Winners - Cleveland International Film Festival :: March 22 - April 1, 2023". www.clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
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