The Best Video Essays of 2018
Are you not edu-tained? Here’s a roundup of our favorite video content from the past year.
Disney – The Magic of Animation
By kaptainkristian
Sneak Peak
Why does Disney animation feel different? Here’s Kristian T. Williams calmly breaking down the mechanics of the studio’s method and philosophy. Whether you’re an animation nut or just like peeking behind the creative curtain, this video’s essential viewing.
“Three Thoughts About I, Tonya”
By VoorDeFilm
Sneak Peak
Divisiveness is the name of the game when it comes to Tonya Harding, a messy woman with a film adaptation that embraces that messiness. And perhaps, as the team at VoorDeFilm seem to suggest, oft-polarized film folks ought to make room for messiness too.
“Let’s Talk About Goosebumps’ Scariest Episode”
By Ryan Hollinger
Sneak Peak
Ryan Hollinger has a knack for visiting sense on vague nostalgic feels. A man after my own heart. His talents are on full display here, as he unpacks the truly terrifying “The Haunted Mask” episode of Goosebumps.
“The Hobbit: A Long-Expected Autopsy” (Parts 1, 2, and 3)
By Lindsay Ellis
Sneak Peak
From Bright to Michael Bay, Ellis excels at earnest post-mortems on cinematic forays the rest of us dare not touch. Her three-parter on the how/what/when/where/why of the Hobbit prequels is something special and deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as Lost In La Mancha and American Movie.
“What Wes Anderson’s First Film Teaches Us About His Style”
By Thomas Flight
Sneak Peak
There’s a heck of a lot of video essays out there about Wes Anderson, but Bottle Rocket is a bit under-covered. Flight fills the gap, unpacking the signatures inherent in the auteur’s first flick that tie it to the oeuvre.
“Bisexual Lighting: the Rise of Pink, Purple, and Blue”
By Brows Held High
Sneak Peak
Been curious about the meaning of bi lighting but too afraid to ask? Kyle Kallgren’s got you covered, turning in a comprehensive rundown that doubles as the most adorably film-dorky coming-out I’ve ever seen.
