We aristopeters love enjoying any artistic representation related to our best friends. And we're lucky, because dogs have always been very present in film. In fact, little by little they have been taking on more important roles and gaining prominence on screen.
We could talk about Lassie, that beautiful collie who was one of the pioneers. About the entire saga starring Beethoven, the most famous Saint Bernard of all time. About the Jack Russell Terrier who shared the screen with Frankie Muniz in My Dog Skip. Or about the golden retriever with the most impressive name in film history: Napoleon. The list of canine actors is extensive, and we talk about some others in this post.
The list of canine protagonists in animated films is even longer, and incredibly varied. Recently we shared with you a short film that stole our hearts and today we're introducing you to another one that you're sure to enjoy, although its starting point is quite different.
A dog’s life tells the story of an unnamed dog who lives in his owner's house. She works all day, and when she returns home she is so tired and fed up that she barely pays any attention to him. So the dog has no choice but to try to fill his monotonous days with all kinds of activities: cooking, watching television, playing chess with himself, playing the violin, reading the newspaper… But none of these activities can lessen the boredom that grips him all day, or keep him from thinking about his owner for even a minute.
In this way, the first few minutes of the short are tedious and routine for the viewer (obviously something unexpected happens later, otherwise this short would be very boring). But, of course, that's how the dog experiences it! And that is probably what the short's author, animator, and illustrator, the young Belgian Pieter Vandenabeele, wants us to feel and reflect on.
In that sense, A dog’s life is a rather critical reflection on dog ownership. Many people have dogs simply for the sake of having them, because it's fashionable. And they forget that dogs need time, dedication, patience, and affection. It's true that modern life means we don't always have time for the things we enjoy. We spend most of the day working, while our dogs wait for us at home, expectantly, longing to be with us. Of course, we aristopeters are also eager to be with our dogs, but since not everyone behaves this way, it is worth remembering that dogs are neither toys nor decorative objects. That is why ARISTOPET is calling on all of us to commit to spending more time with our own dogs.
We hope you enjoy the short and share it if you think it could serve as a not-so-subtle hint to someone…
http://www.pieterv.com/adogslife/