The Loneliest Stoplight

The story is about a traffic light in the middle of nowhere and the life it leads over the years. I am a huge fan of Bill Plympton and this is why this short was such a big disappointment--and I cannot understand why it was chosen as a commended film at the recent Oscar Nominated Shorts program.

For goodness knows how long, Bill Plympton has been producing, writing, and animating minimalist cartoons -- or, as he calls them, "Plymptoons." He has rarely, if ever, had much of a budget, so they generally fall into the category of "radio with pictures" or slide shows, with movement providing by a technique that looks like someone has been shaking the cel while it is being shot.