September 3, 2025
Animation
Film
Kate Mothes

All images courtesy of Mitchell Keys and Hothouse 15

In northern climes, winter sometimes feels like it drags on forever. A new animation directed by Mitchell Keys taps into the feeling of elation and brightness that accompanies the first days of spring. And while his short film, “Springrise,” is only about a minute long, it traces the sun’s journey higher into the sky, as if awakening from hibernation while people rejoice.

Hothouse, an apprenticeship program facilitated by the National Film Board of Canada, invites a handful of participants to create ultra-short animated shorts every year. […]

More: In a New Hothouse Animated Short, the Sun Wakes Up After a Long Winter