Genre is a 1996 animated meta-comedy short film by animator Don Hertzfeldt, his second 16mm student film, produced at the age of 19.
The 16mm short combines traditional animation, pixilation, and stop-motion animation to present a cartoon rabbit careening through a variety of rapidly changing film genres as his animator struggles to come up with a good idea.
Release
The cartoon received 17 awards from film festivals. In 1996 it screened nationwide in theaters as part of the Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation tour.
In 1997, it was shown on an episode of MTV's Cartoon Sushi.
In 2005, the original 16mm negative was digitally restored and remastered for the first time, for release on the extensive "Bitter Films Volume 1" DVD compilation of Hertzfeldt's 1995-2005 films. Special features included for Genre were Hertzfeldt's original production sketches, notes, and deleted ideas from the film, as well as a very rare 1993 video short called "Escape is Still Impossible", a precursor to Genre that Don created while still in high school.
Production credits
Written, Produced, Animated, and Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
Camera by Cary Walker
Editing and Sound by Kevyn Eiselt
Music by Dave LaDelfa
Stop Motion Assistance by Brian Hamblin
Sound Production by Kevin Kelly
Reception
The film was very well received. It was praised by critics such as Felix Hude of the Melbourne International Film Festival and won 17 awards.