It is better to be broken than be possessed by evil.

In this animated short film, a dystopian environment contains brittle glass characters, they are divided into two sides: the broken and the intact. The spirits that dwell within are either pure or rotten. The broken remain on their side, to waste away into shattered bits. But the shards have a healing property, a process exploited by an ambitious dark soul who desires to be whole, and part of a possessed, twisted, robotic tribe. "Broken" is a cautionary tale, it expresses the idea that it is better to be broken and pure, than be intact and possessed. Once tripped, smashed, and deprived of his glass body, the dark soul timidly rises, twisting upward, but is soon ripped down violently, and consumed mercilessly by the unbroken. "BROKEN" we go beyond the broken wine glass trope, the world in which these glass people dwell has evolved. The wine cups from previous stories have been replaced by characters with spherical heads, just as brittle as before. They shatter easily when struck, but also they are pliable and stretch and move.

Directors note:
For some reason this film evolved the way it did.. a bit creepy and twisted, but meaningful nonetheless. In many ways this animation reflects my belief that evil is often found in what we perceive as beauty or perfection, and conversely, goodness is found in what we dismiss as "broken" or unworthy. It's interesting to note that many Catholic Saints were broken or misled prior to conversion. Regardless of the meaning that viewers glean from this animation, I truly hope you enjoy it, and please share as much as possible. I'm hoping that this piece will resonate as a meaningful animated short film.

Official Selection:
• Durango Independent Film Festival 2024, USA.
• Spark Animation 2024, Canada.
• Animation Marathon 2024, Greece.
• TAF Thessaloniki Animation Festival 2024, Macedonia, Greece.
• Kuandu International Animation Festival 2024, Korea.
• Cartoons Underground 2024, Singapore.
• East Lansing Film Festival 2024, USA.

Animated By Patrick Smith.
Backgrounds, Color, Editing, Sound Effects also by Patrick Smith.
Music By Leon Riskin.
Additional music by Taylor Brook.
Associate Producers Kaori Ishida and Ahmed Chin.

Copyright 2024 Patrick Smith Animation LLC
Released by Blendshorts, Made possible by my Patreon supporters, and Youtube Members!
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License: Individual License, Commercial, none
Composer: Leon Riskin

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Format: Music
Title: Fake Body Parts Full
License: Individual License, Commercial, none
Composer: Leon Riskin

Item: 83554064
Format: Music
Title: Rising Ambient Horror Strings
License: Individual License, Commercial, IPI: 602881067 WORK: A1986381 Pro: SOCAN
Composer: Taylor Brook
PRO: IPI: 602881067 WORK: A1986381 Pro: SOCAN

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Format: Music
Title: Lightly Macabre (Percussion Only) Orchestra Quirky Kids Halloween Dark Comedy
License: Individual License, Commercial, PRS
AdKey:rxkL68BwAjZK

Other notes and titles:
It is humanity character #lifelessons
pause father broke son's head