In reply to Dominion:
> I'm guessing it's more of a "calling card" for the CGI / Animation skills of the creator, rather than an idea for a film, though?
Having watched it about a dozen times over the last month or so I'm inclined to agree, but I'd go a lot further. I think the calling card says more than 'look at our CGI skills'. It's more like, 'look at our ability to tell a story'.
The more I see it, the more I think it's viable and complete as a stand-alone story. Short but packed to the rafters with implication, it's a seriously impressive feat of story-telling, as well as a CGI showcase. The beautiful photography, the art (an aristocratic robot plated in Delft porcelain, a magical box in filigreed silver, a downbeaten courier layered in shabby clothes against the cold - wow!). The mystery and the atmosphere, the way events are loaded with significance; visually and narratively, it adds up to a story that is complete.
I'd love to see more from the team that did this.
