Based on the independent comic book of the same name, Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher is a fun, highly entertaining animated short film by a group of students from New York University. It is a loving homage to those old pulp serials (like Doc Savage) from the 1930s and a playful satire of propaganda news reels from World War II.
One look at this short film and you would be hard pressed to tell that it was produced by students on a small budget. It has very professional looking production values on par with anything you'd see from the studios. One of the things that stands out is the great attention to detail. For example, the opening newsreel, which sets everything up, pays tribute to the same kind of prologue that begins Citizen Kane.
The presence of Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher proves that both computer and hand-drawn animation can co-exist harmoniously. This is an auspicious debut and one hopes that Hollywood will take notice and let these guys expand what they've done into a feature film.
One look at this short film and you would be hard pressed to tell that it was produced by students on a small budget. It has very professional looking production values on par with anything you'd see from the studios. One of the things that stands out is the great attention to detail. For example, the opening newsreel, which sets everything up, pays tribute to the same kind of prologue that begins Citizen Kane.
The presence of Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher proves that both computer and hand-drawn animation can co-exist harmoniously. This is an auspicious debut and one hopes that Hollywood will take notice and let these guys expand what they've done into a feature film.
