After six years of work, OtaKing Animation released Alien: MONDAY. Directed by Paul Johnson and Claudia Montealegre, the short film shows a single crewmember of a short-range mining hauler face down a xenomorph which has taken roost in her ship. Regardless of the Alien connection, this is an incredible short film.
Unless Alien: Romulus is a homerun on par with the first two films, this animated short will be the best Alien film released this year.
The animation is exceptional. The film is animated in the style of particularly high budget anime from the 1980s and 1990s, heavily shaded, technically detailed, and with breath-taking fluid motion and flourishes that show the expertise of the animating hand. It’s not only the horror and action sequences benefit from this: one of the most startling shots is a remarkably fluid, flowing camera that shows a crewmember walking down a hallway. The camera rotates, the shot does not break, and one of the most difficult feats in animation is pulled off with aplomb.
Alien: MONDAY is careful in how it expands on the franchise. Instead of outrageous twists, alternate motivations, or secret origins, we simply see more of the world. The mining hauler Thanatos fills in a logical gap in the world, and it is a distinct, unique place that follows the design language laid down in the first two films. It’s simply good science fiction, expanding on deep space mining in a meaningful way.
But is it a good Alien film? Yes! The pacing is perfect. The characters are intelligent, likeable, and recognizable as the kind of people you work alongside in an okay enough job. The xenomorphs are portrayed well, nearly unstoppable, and insect-like in a way that only animation can capture.
Alien: MONDAY presents an Alien film in a style, mood, and quality that Hollywood productions have been unable to produce since 1986. If you haven’t watched it, now is the perfect time.
Featured Image: OtaKing Animations
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