The Lost Thing
The Lost Thing

Movie spotlight

The Lost Thing

2010
Movie
15 min
English

A boy finds a strange creature on a beach, and decides to find a home for it in a world where everyone believes there are far more important things to pay attention to.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic79/100
Google Users92%
Director: Andrew Ruane, Shaun TanGenres: Animation, Short, Family, Fantasy

Plot Summary

In a strange, colorless world where everything is meticulously organized and mundane, a young boy discovers a bizarre, misunderstood creature. He decides to name it 'The Lost Thing' and attempts to find its home, navigating the absurdities of his own world to return the creature to its natural habitat.

Critical Reception

The Lost Thing received widespread critical acclaim for its imaginative storytelling, stunning animation, and heartwarming message. It was particularly praised for its ability to capture the essence of Shaun Tan's beloved picture book and its appeal to both children and adults.

What Reviewers Say

  • A visually unique and thought-provoking animated short.

  • Beautifully adapted from its source material, with a touching message about belonging.

  • The animation style is distinctive and effectively conveys the film's whimsical tone.

Google audience: Audiences loved the imaginative concept and the charming, unique animation. Many praised its heartwarming story and the way it encourages viewers to look beyond the ordinary and appreciate the unusual.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Short Animation and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Fun Fact

The distinctive visual style of the film was heavily influenced by the illustrations in Shaun Tan's original picture book, which is known for its surreal and dreamlike quality.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

A lad is combing the beach for additions to his bottle top collection when he encounters a great big red metallic object - with tentacles. It looks something akin to an octopus stuck in a diving bell! He says hello and suddenly it comes ali...