What makes a successful animated short film?

In my previous experience, the story and the purpose of that story are the foundations. It allows you to solidify the vision, and tell the story in a meaningful fashion.

It's Story, story, story. "Story is King", always. "Boy loses Girl, "Boy Fights "Dragon", Boy gets girl back". You must understand the character's "Journey". You must also understand your character's (Plight and Motivation). What is he or she fighting for? Along with that, your character must undergo a major (Change) by the end of your Story or Film. Also, you must understand the "Three Act Structures" of a (Film) or a (Story), along with the "Main Plot", "Subplots", and "Plot Twists". These (Plots) must all (Interweave) together to make a (Great Story). If you don't have a (Great) story, nothing else matters. No "Animation", No Visuals, nothing, period. Also, have a great ending to your story, and know your ending at the start. Thanks.

Story, plain and simple. If the viewer doesn't connect with the characters and the situation they're in, then it's forgettable. Story can be the full narrative or something relatable in any prop or object.

It is always the story. You can bend, play with structure, test ideas. But if your story is not engaging enough to make people watch it, there is zero chance it will be successful.

This may sound provocative but I assure you that it comes from a genuine place: I believe it's time to queer the story arc as we know it. The only value we may be left with as humans is our lived experience. While it remains important that our stories remain well structured (in the sense of possessing a unique rhythm and narrative logic), I don't think we absolutely have to stick to the classic hero arc sequence. As this century unfolds, it's the genuine that will become ever more scarce. I would like to hope my films will continue to give the viewer a chance to sit with the genuine, without making it too much to look at.

In every movie, short or long, every shot is important but with short films, this simple idea is more critical. Whether your animated short has dialogue or not, make sure that every shot is there for a reason. That each scene leads directly to the next and that subsequent scenes feel both surprising and in hindsight, inevitable. Every action MUST lead to a reaction. Each scene should have its own 3 Act structure. Each shot should also have a beginning middle and end. And even each line of dialogue should have its own version of a surprising story. Finally, your film needs to make an audience FEEL something. And that means you must know what you want them to feel. In each shot. Whether it's fear, humor, sadness or something else.

"Aesthetics of a short animated film". I've found that in my 11 short films, the aesthetics and style of the visuals has usually come down to one thing. My current skill level and interests. Now, to be fair, there are usually many more considerations. Client desires. Broadcast schedule. Budgetary limitations with software, personnel, hardware, physical space. Differing creative opinions. ... But fortunately, for me, none of those are an issue. I have one goal, and all the visuals spring from that: "Make the coolest most engaging content I can, timed to the music I compose, in 300 hours or less". And whatever springs from that, however it looks and whatever the narrative is... ...so far, I've been thrilled with the results.

I agree visuals and aesthetics play an important role. Colours, shapes and movements tend to keep the mind focused, if done properly considering rhythm and pacing..

"Music in short films" I'm pretty good at music. To be clear, I'm not great at it. Not enough to make a living doing it. For me, that turned out to be animation. Through a series of coincidences and luck, I have built a 29 year career in animation that I love, appreciate, and still pinch myself every day that I get to do this with so many cool people. But music...? I'm good enough at composing to be able to get what I hear in my head... ...24 hours a day... ...OUT of my head... ...adequately enough to serve as the soundscape for my short films. I'd say I have a talent for music, in that it's natural to me. Animation though, is more a skill I chose to develop, rather than a talent. Lucky for me the two work very well together.

Sound and music makes a lot of difference when it comes to make an animation, it is a tool to help the audience to engage with the actions and messages you are trying to communicate. Try making sound not only real by the movements your animation is having it, but also use as something to guide what will happen or what is expected to sound. Even when putting a sound that doesnt connect with the element (for example a glass makes a rubbery sound), you can use it as something to build up to the audience and go on with that. Of course is important that the sound effects and music is supposed to help your story to develop!

"Short films for an audience" I don't feel qualified to address this topic. Not for lack of experience. Over 29 years in animation and I've worked on dozens of projects and hundreds of episodes. Not for lack of audience awareness. In my job I'm always thinking about what the audience is feeling at any given moment in the narrative, and helping curate that with specific acting and action beats. The reason I don't feel qualified is that I make my short films for one audience member: Me. Yes, I'm aware that's somewhat self-indulgent. Probably completely so. But it's the only time I get to animate exactly what I want, how I want, when I want, without concern about pleasing a client. So yeah. I like my films. And that's enough for me.

It is crucial to note that when making a short or any film, it is important to ensure that your target audience will enjoy it as much as you do. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time, effort, and money. It is better to show the film to a select group of people first, take their feedback, and be open to it to ensure that the message is conveyed effectively.

I have been a judge in a few festivals and I have spoken with owners of festivals, including Spike from Spike and Mike, and we all say the same thing. The ending. Most shorts have no good ending. They just stop, but there's no good finale. Create a great ending and stop. Audiences are left unsettled if there is no strong ending.

Beside all the above, this is an interesting question. Is the technique? Or the number of awards? the audience reception? the budget? Or the topic? Well, there is not an answer. Prizes are most of the times a compromise among 3 ppl min who will select the ones they agree on Academy awards depend from votes. If you have a company with 1000 ppl and 300 have a company sponsored subscription to the academy well, you know where the award goes. Technique is not an indicator either, many big companies shorts are pretty mediocre while rough independent one could be gems. And so go on for all the possible factors that may make a short good or not. At the end I feel, a short is successful if it speaks to you watching, the rest doesn’t count