War Is Over!

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War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko
WAR IS OVER! Movie Poster.jpg
Directed by Dave Mullins
Written by Dave Mullins
Story byDave Mullins
Sean Ono Lennon
Produced by Brad Booker
Sophie Cherry
Music by Thomas Newman
Production
company
ElectroLeague
Running time
11 minutes
CountryUnited States

War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko is a 2023 independent [1] animated short film written and directed by Dave Mullins. [2] The 11-minute short was inspired by and features John Lennon and Yoko Ono's anti-war anthem "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". The film was also based on a story by Mullins and Sean Ono Lennon. [3] The film was produced by Brad Booker and production was handled by Booker and Mullins' Los Angeles-based animation studio ElectroLeague, [4] in partnership with Lenono Music, Sean Ono Lennon and Yoko Ono. [5] [6] Thomas Newman composed the score for the film. [7]

Contents

Plot

Set in an alternate WWI reality, a heroic pigeon delivers messages across the battlefield, from one side to the other. The messages are exchanged by two soldiers on opposite sides, who, unaware of who their opponent is, are playing a game of chess against each other. As the fighting and the game both escalate, they continue to exchange their chess moves, delivered by the brave pigeon. Whoever wins the game, what's certain is that there are no winners in war. [1]

Production

War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko is an animated short film produced by ElectroLeague studio. [8] The animation and visual effects were created by Peter Jackson's New Zealand-based VFX company Wētā FX. [7] [5] Epic Games’ Unreal Engine was used in production to create the imagery. [5] The film was edited by John K. Carr and scored by Oscar-nominated composer Thomas Newman. [7] [9]

Accolades

The film won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject at the 51st Annie Awards on February 17, 2024, and later won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024. [10]

Reception

Collin Souter of Roger Ebert.com praised the film (seen as part of ShortsTV program of Oscar-nominated short films), confessing that: [11]

"Maybe I liked this more than others because it was the last one I watched and, for once, it wasn’t someone narrating a story about their past. And maybe because I’m a sap for the song. I get why people roll their eyes at the end, and I think I did at first, but I eventually found myself going along with its heartfelt sincerity, just like any Lennon/Ono song that wears its heart on its sleeve. The artists at WETA digital collaborated with Sean Lennon Ono on the piece and it tells a good story no matter how hamfisted the ending may be. I went into this thinking we’d be getting a music video treatment of the song, coupled with obvious present-day footage to make a point. This was a refreshing change of pace, both for the program and the approach."

Bea Hammam of 34th Street Magazine stated that the film was stylistically the least creative out of all the Animated Short nominees. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lennon</span> English musician and member of the Beatles (1940–1980)

John Winston Ono Lennon was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His work included music, writing, drawings and film. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history as the primary songwriters in the Beatles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Lennon</span> English musician, photographer, and philanthropist (born 1963)

Julian Charles John Lennon is an English musician, photographer, author, and philanthropist. He is the son of Beatles member John Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia, and he is named after his paternal grandmother, Julia Lennon. Julian inspired three Beatles songs: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1967), "Hey Jude" (1968), and "Good Night" (1968). His parents divorced in 1968 after his father had an affair with Yoko Ono.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoko Ono</span> Japanese artist and activist (born 1933)

Yoko Ono is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Lennon</span> British-American composer and musician (born 1975)

Sean Taro Ono Lennon is a British-American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and half-brother to Julian Lennon. Over the course of his career, he has been a member of the bands Cibo Matto, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and his parents' group Plastic Ono Band. He has released two solo albums: Into the Sun (1998) and Friendly Fire (2006). He has produced numerous albums for various artists, including Black Lips and the Plastic Ono Band.

Wētā FX, formerly known as Weta Digital, is a New Zealand–based digital visual effects and animation company based in Miramar, Wellington. It was founded by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, and Jamie Selkirk in 1993 to produce the digital special effects for Heavenly Creatures. The company went on to produce some of the highest-grossing films ever made, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Avatar series. Considered one of the most influential film companies of the 21st century, Wētā FX has won several Academy Awards and BAFTAs. The company is named after the New Zealand wētā, one of the world's largest insects, which was historically featured in the company logo.

<i>Some Time in New York City</i> 1972 album by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephants Memory and the Invisible Strings

Some Time in New York City is a part-studio, part-live double album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono as Plastic Ono Band that included backing by the American rock band Elephant's Memory. Released in June 1972 in the US and in September 1972 in the UK on Apple Records, it is Lennon's sixth album to be released under his own name, and his fourth with Ono. Like Lennon's previous solo albums, it was co-produced by Lennon, Ono and Phil Spector. The album's agitprop lyrics are politically charged compared to its predecessors, addressing political and social issues and topics such as sexism, incarceration, colonialism, and racism.

<i>Double Fantasy</i> 1980 studio album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Double Fantasy is the fifth studio album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and the final one before his death. Released in November 1980 on Geffen Records, the album marked Lennon's return to recording music full-time, following his five-year hiatus to raise his son Sean. Recording sessions took place at the Hit Factory in New York City between August and October 1980. The final album features songs from both Lennon and Ono, largely alternating between the two in its track listing. Other tracks recorded by Lennon from the sessions were compiled by Ono for release on Milk and Honey in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic Ono Band</span> Rock band

The Plastic Ono Band was a rock band and Fluxus-based artist collective formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1968-9 for their collaborative musical and sound art projects, films, conceptual art projects and eventual solo LPs. The creation of The Plastic Ono Band, which began in 1967 with Ono's idea for an art exhibition in Berlin, allowed Lennon to separate his artistic output from that of The Beatles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Xmas (War Is Over)</span> 1971 single by John Lennon and Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band and the Harlem Community Choir

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is a Christmas song released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. It was the seventh single released by John Lennon outside his work with the Beatles. The song reached number four in the UK, where its release was delayed until November 1972, and has occasionally re-emerged on the UK Singles Chart, most notably after Lennon's murder in December 1980, when it peaked at number two.

<i>Peace, Love & Truth</i> 2005 compilation album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Peace, Love & Truth is a compilation album of music celebrating John Lennon and Yoko Ono's songs for peace, released only in Asian and Australian markets in August 2005. In place of this release for the rest of the world, Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon was issued in October of the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)</span> 1980 single by John Lennon

"Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" is a song written and performed by John Lennon. It was released on the 1980 album Double Fantasy, the last album by Lennon and Ono released before his death.

<i>Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon</i> (video) 2003 video by John Lennon

Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon is a DVD that was released in November 2003, alongside the album of the same name. It features a series of remastered, remixed, and new videos with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound audio mixes.

"Grow Old with Me" is one of the final songs written by John Lennon. It was first recorded by Lennon as a demo while in Bermuda. A handwritten lyric sheet for the song is dated July 5, 1980 Fairyland Bermuda. The song was first released on the posthumous album Milk and Honey in 1984. It was also rumored to be among the songs planned as a possible reunion single by his former bandmates during the making of The Beatles Anthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Levitan</span>

Jerry Levitan is a Canadian best known as "the kid who interviewed John Lennon". He produced and starred in the animated short I Met the Walrus about his meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1969. Though only 14 years old, Levitan beat the world media and conducted an exclusive 30-minute interview with them about peace, The Beatles, and their music.

<i>I Met the Walrus</i> 2007 Canadian film

I Met the Walrus is an animated film directed by Josh Raskin and produced by Jerry Levitan. It stars Levitan and John Lennon. The film's pen illustration is by James Braithwaite and computer illustration is by Alex Kurina.

The War Is Over may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Boys</span> Yoko Ono song

"Beautiful Boys" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on Ono's and John Lennon's 1980 album Double Fantasy. It was later released as the B-side of Lennon's #1 single "Woman."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Mullins (animator)</span> American animator

Dave Mullins is an American writer, director and animator and co-founder of the Los Angeles-based animation studio ElectroLeague, best known for his animated short film, LOU (2017), for which he received critical acclaim and was nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. On January 23, 2024, Mullins received his second nomination in that same category, with the short film WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Ono (2023) at the 96th Academy Awards.

Brad Booker is an American producer and animator, founder of the American animation studio ElectroLeague. Booker is best known for The Iron Giant (1999), The Book of Life (2014) and the animated short film WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Ono (2023), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at 96th Academy Awards on January 23, 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 "War is Over": Animated Short Short Creates Timely Message of Humanity - IndieWire
  2. "Peter Jackson and Sean Ono Lennon create new animated short". faroutmagazine.co.uk. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. "John Lennon & Yoko Ono's Christmas classic inspires new short film". MyFMToday.com. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. "'WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko' shortlisted for an Academy Award". JOHN LENNON. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Keegan, Rebecca (December 5, 2023). "Sean Ono Lennon and Peter Jackson Partner on Animated Film Inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  6. "An Animated Message of Peace: Dave Mullins on the Making of his Oscar Short-Listed 'War Is Over!'". www.animationmagazine.net. December 24, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Tangonan, E. J. (December 5, 2023). "War is Over: Peter Jackson collaborates with Sean Ono Lennon and Dave Mullins for animated short film based on John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War is Over)". JoBlo. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. "'War is Over' Highlights Brotherhood and Brutality in Protest for Peace". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  9. Taylor, Drew (January 12, 2024). "War Is Over!, Inspired by John Lennon, Gets New Trailer". TheWrap. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  10. "The 96th Academy Awards (2024) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  11. Short Films in Focus The 2024 Oscar-Nominated Short Films|Features|RogerEbert.com
  12. The Most Underrated Oscar Category|34th Street Magazine