Snow Bear (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2025 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! 

In an ever-changing world, a lonely polar bear looks for companionship. As he struggles to find any semblance of that which he seeks, this Snow Bear soon realizes that you have to make your own breaks, and that patience may just be the thing to set him free. 

Hand-drawn over the course of three years by Writer-Director Aaron Blaise, the passion possessed by this team is beautifully represented in this short, animated film. When a team is this passionate about their project, it often shines through in every facet of their film, allowing viewers an opportunity to develop an emotional connection to the content as well. Snow Bear is a perfect example of this, as the entirety of the film possesses something genuine and accessible, regularly providing viewers something to latch onto and appreciate as the film moves forward. 

The most prominent aspect of that aforementioned genuineness and accessibility is the animation itself. It’s the most important aspect of Snow Bear, and the time that it took Blaise to develop these images is highly commendable. Beyond the fact that I greatly appreciate the time and effort put into developing this aspect of the film, it’s nearly impossible not to understand the brilliance of what Blaise brings to life. Incredibly crisp, but wonderfully familiar animation takes the stage in this short film, and Blaise’s ability to blend a simplistic and mostly monochromatic color scheme is inspiring. Snow Bear takes place in the Arctic, meaning that whites are often layered on top of whites, presenting Blaise with a challenge in regard to creating visuals that pop. Yet, he manages to create something that remains on par with the simplistic color, while allowing the titular snow bear to pop and remain prominently in focus throughout the course of the film. 

Not a word of dialogue is spoken throughout Snow Bear, and this is another aspect of the film that likely has the potential to throw a wrench in the fluidity of the film. However, much like Blaise’s ability to boost the simplistic colors, he knows how to use the silence in favor of the film. Snow Bear relies, once again, on the visuals, trumping any need for dialogue. 

Snow Bear doesn’t wait to express its purpose, to introduce the ideas of isolation that will transcend the remainder of the film. Through stunning visuals, Snow Bear comes to life in a way that is so easily accessible. The film tells a compelling story, slips in subtle social commentary, and remains effectively balanced throughout. 

Directed by Aaron Blaise. 

Written by Aaron Blaise & Nick Burch.

8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING