Adiós – A Poignant Farewell in Stop Motion Form
In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of stop-motion animation, few films manage to capture emotional realism with the quiet grace found in Adiós — a 2024 short film directed by José Prats. Produced at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom, this 8-minute and 31-second stop-motion journey explores the delicate bond between a father and his son against the sun-baked stillness of rural Spain.
A Story of Distance and Acceptance
Adiós unfolds during a hunting trip, where an aging father confronts a painful reality — his adult son is leaving to live abroad. What begins as a routine day in the countryside turns into a quiet meditation on love, loss, and the inevitability of separation. Prats, who co-wrote the script alongside Natalia Kyriacou and Bernardo Angeletti, draws deeply from personal memories of family and the sense of departure that comes with change.
There are no grand gestures or dramatic turns. Instead, Adiós uses silence — the rustle of dry grass, the wind brushing across fields, and the pauses between words — to communicate the emotional terrain of its characters. It’s an approach that resonates on a universal level, mirroring the bittersweet moment every parent and child eventually faces.
Textures of Truth
Shot in meticulous stop motion, Adiós was handcrafted to feel utterly tangible. The miniature landscapes and puppets were designed to evoke the warmth, dust, and fragility of real Spanish countryside life. Prats and his team built detailed sets that mimic natural materials — from crumbling soil to faded fabrics — achieving a level of authenticity that grounds the story in an emotional and visual reality rarely seen in student productions.
Cinematographer Shaunak Ranade (with contributions by Natdanai Naksuwarn) and sound designer Liam Sharpe crafted a world that feels as alive as it is quiet. The soundscape, in particular, is spare and deliberate, allowing ambient elements like footsteps, breathing, and the hum of distant insects to fill the silence. Composer Rotem Frimer’s music adds a gentle emotional pulse without ever intruding on the film’s meditative tone.
From Student Film to Festival Favorite
Produced as part of the NFTS curriculum, Adiós quickly transcended its academic roots. The film was distributed by Distribution with Glasses and went on to screen at major international festivals, including Annecy and San Sebastián. It was also nominated for a BAFTA in the Best British Short Animation category and earned the *Annie Award for Best Student Film, a testament to both its technical excellence and emotional power.
Festival juries and audiences alike have praised Adiós for its understated direction and tactile realism — qualities that set it apart in an era when many animated shorts lean toward spectacle.
An Intimate Goodbye
In Adiós, José Prats proves that stop motion is still one of the most human forms of storytelling. Through careful craftsmanship and emotional honesty, he captures a moment that feels deeply lived-in — a small goodbye that speaks to something much larger about family, time, and the quiet ache of letting go.
The short reminds us that sometimes, the smallest stories carry the heaviest truths — and in the stillness between movements, we find the heartbeat of stop motion itself.
Credits
Director: José Prats
Writers: José Prats, Natalia Kyriacou, Bernardo Angeletti
Cinematography: Shaunak Ranade, Natdanai Naksuwarn
Sound Design: Liam Sharpe
Editing: Yiwei Pu
Music: Rotem Frimer
Production: National Film and Television School (NFTS)
Distributor: Distribution with Glasses
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 8 min 31 sec
Year: 2024
