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Cartoon boy working in officeRemember pestering your mom to buy you a toy, and not understanding why she wouldn't buy it, because you didn't understand about money yet? The little boy in "Work" needs a pair of moon boots and he's totally willing to work for them, Mommmmm!

This animation by CalArts student Mike Rianda shows an amazing sense of motion, mid-century motifs, and hilarious voice work. The pleasure of childhood is smartly contrasted with the drudgery of the workplace, building a deep need for cathartic release. By the end, your heart pumps harder and probably grows a size. (We mentioned "Work" before, but I thought it deserved it's own post.)

Basically, Mike Rianda had better show up at Pixar soon, because he knows everything about making a fun story and telling it brilliantly.


Mike Rianda only has one other cartoon, "Everyone Dies in 90 Seconds," which is rougher but still cute. And of course no cartoon ever, anywhere, will match up to "Crater Face," the heartbreaker by Rianda's fellow CalArts student Skyler Page.