Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘Coyote’

Review Fix chats with “Coyote” director Lorenz Wunderle, who discusses the influences and inspiration behind the animated flick and who will enjoy it the most.

Review Fix: How did you get involved with this project?

Lorenz Wunderle: I created the story, found a matching producer, directed and animated a part of it. Since as a young boy I liked to watch cartoons on TV and at one point of my life I ended up studying in the University of Lucerne Switzerland 2D Animation. Besides watching a lot of cartoons, I grew up with a lot of action movies too. And that’s why I’m not shy about to use fictional violence as an entertaining aspect in a story, as long it is a carthartic moment for the protagonist. I’m also fascinated about mythological figures, religions like voodoo or santeria.

So everything that I was interested in, fitted perfectly for an animated short film and that’s how I got inspired to make “Coyote”.

Review Fix: Why does animation still matter?

Wunderle: For me personally, I think animation has the ability to create an unique expression in imagery and storytelling.

It fits for my imagination and it’s easier for me to translate my toughts and stories in to images or movies. But it’s also a challenge to come up with something fresh. I guess for me, animation has no limitation of creating a special character in a weird world and display it on the screen. And animation still matters today, because it is an artistic instrument to deliver a story in a visual unique, different and interesting way.

Review Fix: What other animated films influenced this?

Wunderle: A lot animation that I grew up with and still today watching. Tom and Jerry, the Looney Tunes, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Akira, Ghost in the Shell, The Simpsons, the Ren & Stimpy Show, Adventure Times, Happy Tree Friends, Super Jail, Rick and Morty, and so on.

Review Fix: What attracted you to it the most?

Wunderle: How cartoon characters could folded, streched their faces or bodies after they got hit by an anvil or a piano and it looked so silly and funny to me, because of the exaggerated drawings and movements. But when I saw Ghost in the Shell in the 90s, I was shocked, because I saw for my first time in detail, how a cyborg got blown his head of from a gun shot. I thought like “that’s allowed to do that on a cartoon character?” It was totally revealing for me.

Review Fix: What have you learned from it

Wunderle: I learned from cartoons, when the actions in a scene are exaggerated, it’s more bearable, funnier or entertaining to watch. It means it is far away from a realistic image and you get probably a laugh out of it.

Review Fix: What was the feeling like on set?

Wunderle: I had a lot of fun and motivation to work with my friends on my short film.

Review Fix: How did this film affect you?

Wunderle: I was suprised and totally happy that it screened at the 68th Berlinale Short Competion on feb. 2018. And since then it went great for the film. It won also some awards in the U.S. one in Aspen Short Film Festival for best animation and in Palm Springs Short Film Festival for best international film. And I’m very glad for a lot of positive feedbacks from so many people around the world.

Review Fix: How do you want people to be affected by this film?

Wunderle: Trippy, inspiring and entertaining. The audience will get, how humans could grief, get crazy, possessed by evil thoughts, cause of violence and if revenge is the way of getting over the loss or a begin of an other circle of revenge and violence that maybe never find an end. Allthough the topic could be taken serious, I think the Audience will not be morally bummed out at the end of the short movie.

Review Fix: Who will appreciate this film the most?

Wunderle: I guess People that grewn up with those cartoons that I watched an still like watching it. But I’m not generalizing, everyone is welcome to appreciate it if they can.

Review Fix: How would you like it to be remembered?

Wunderle: If the audience says: “WTF!!!!”

Review Fix: What’s next?

Wunderle: An other animated short movie or a series, but in the next months I’ll animate in other short movies of friends that they’re directing

Review Fix: What else would you like to add?

Wunderle: I would like to thank my family and friends for the support, I love you all. YK Animation Studio forever!