Vagabond

Vagabond is a short film set in a dystopian future about a man who tries to recover his dog. Two main characters, a conflict with the environment and a metaphorical portrait of urban society are the main elements of Vagabond, which was created by students from Danish school The Animation Workshop.

With a strong emphasis on sensory images and sound design the short is staged in a futuristic/dystopian urban location, serving as a metaphor for the man vs. machine, slow vs. fast and city vs. nature themes. A plot point triggers a chase scene, which propels the action forward.

Vagabond employs a stylized aesthetic with a high visual rhythm and crowded image compositions, along with predominant warm colors (to help build a polluted environment).

Highlights of the short include the work on character and environment design, color palettes, use of visual rhythm and sound to describe the faceless crowds, editing, sensory images, use of off-screen space (the shot of the man watching the shadow on the wall of the container moving along the rail is especially effective) and the metaphorical portrayal of modern society, cities, pollution and “progress”.

Factoid: the vagabond character’s name, Dio, is an abbreviation of Diogenes. The authors state that the character has some influence from the Greek philosopher due to his appreciation of dogs and the place he lives in.