The short film “Forevergreen” creates a beautifully crafted world that follows the relationship between a bear and a living tree. As the audience watches the bear grow up, we can see them begin to grow apart.
This plot is, of course, relatively simple and easy to follow. Still, it conveys a level of emotion found in very few other films, specifically the type that is relatable to families, with the bear being especially reminiscent of an adolescent making their way through the world.
The animation team, comprising around 200 volunteers and led by Gregory Smith, his most recent project being Strange World, includes many veteran Disney animators and combines emotion with animation that flows and meshes exceptionally well, with the animals and nature inspired by real wood carvings. At the same time, the man-made items, specifically trash, have a more plastic-y texture, making them feel out of place with the natural elements.
On the other hand, this film remains emotionally flimsy. While it can convey deep emotion, it is “sappy” and “over-sentimental” because of its simple plot.
It is the type of “coming-of-age” plot that has been seen many times and offers little originality beyond the tree-bear relationship, until you consider that it’s a religious metaphor.
This film was produced by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears, who were motivated by religious beliefs. This gives the tree a resemblance to God or Jesus, making it feel all-encompassing and flawless, rather than an honest parent that continues to have motivation after a plethora of mistakes.
However, this is not to say it is over-religious or Christian propaganda; religion is subtly woven into the story, influencing a character’s choices and creating an incredibly emotional scene. However, the allegory of the tree to a religious figure is poorly used and shouldn’t have been introduced or used in a way that has little to do with the film, and in a way, ruins the coming-of-age bit that the film already establishes.
Overall, this is not a terrible watch, especially if you’re in the mood for something giving tree-esque, but it is in no way life-changing. It has made its way to the awards mainly for the animation rather than the original storyline.
