This short is featured on the Animation Show Vol. 3 DVD.
Luis Nieto's CARLITOPOLIS is more of a filmic experiment than a film per se. Set up as a demonstration to an audience, real life Carlito demonstrates his shocking experiments on a very cute mouse. Trust me, PETA would not be amused.
In the film, French animator Nieto shows off his skills at animating lifelike characters and mixing them seamlessly with live-action actors and environments. The shock value elicits a few laughs, but the underlying cruelty of the action mutes the overall humor. What works in a Looney Tunes short doesn't play the same way in some that is photo real. However, after seeing the film a few times, the shock has worn off and the mouse's character moments begin to emerge, which are very funny. Subsequently, the scales now tip more in favor of humor and less in favor of unsettling. Additionally, one could debate on what exactly is being experimented on, but a grander debate on cloning is not really what this film is setting out to do.
As a calling card to student Nieto's animation talents, the film gets an A+, but as a storyteller he gets a C+ at best. Nonetheless, I must admit the twisted short made me laugh and works better the more I see it. So I have to recommend it.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
