Renowned animator Don Hertzfeldt, celebrated for his critically acclaimed “World of Tomorrow” trilogy, has hinted at delving into larger-scale projects after years of focusing on his sublime sci-fi shorts. Expressing a desire for a faster pace in his creative endeavors, Hertzfeldt expressed his envy of artists in other fields who can produce multiple works in a shorter span of time.
While a previous ambitious project, “Antarctica,” faced setbacks, it seems that Hertzfeldt’s aspirations for a grander project may soon come to fruition. At the premiere of his latest dialogue-free musical short film, “ME,” which may have involved collaboration with Arcade Fire, Hertzfeldt confirmed his earlier tease of working with acclaimed horror director Ari Aster on a new feature.
Speaking at the Overlook Film Festival during a Q&A session, Hertzfeldt revealed that the collaboration with Aster would involve a “big/expensive project” that he had been developing over the past 15 years. Describing the upcoming venture as a horror film, Hertzfeldt noted that it would carry the existentialist themes often present in his shorts, akin to a “horror film in the same way his existentialist shorts are often seen as horror films.”
While details about the project remain scarce, including its title and plot specifics, the partnership between Hertzfeldt and Aster has sparked significant interest within the film community. Aster, known for his boundary-pushing and visually striking horror films such as “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” has demonstrated a penchant for experimental animation in his works.
Aster’s involvement in the world of experimental animation was recently showcased through his executive production of Joaquín Cociña and Cristóbal León’s short film, “The Bones.” The filmmaker’s fascination with the genre aligns with Hertzfeldt’s innovative approach to animation, suggesting a promising synergy between the two creatives in their upcoming collaboration.
As audiences await further updates on the project, including a wider release for Hertzfeldt’s “ME,” which premiered at the festival, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a compelling addition to the horror genre. With Aster currently immersed in the production of his fourth feature, “Eddington,” the collaboration with Hertzfeldt adds an exciting dimension to both filmmakers’ bodies of work.
