'The Alchemist's Letter' is a wonderfully animated short

The Alchemist's Letter is a beautifully animated intimate moment between a father and son told with brilliant use of color, texture, and imagination.

Written and Directed by Carlos Andres Stevens and produced via Pixel Veil Productions, The Alchemist's Letter was mainly paid for via Kickstarter, where 355 backers donated $180,596. The animation focuses on intricate scenery and marvelous images while featuring the voices of John Hurt and Eloise Webb.

The Alchemist's Letter tells the story of a father's accomplishments and failures, his fears for his son's relationship with his granddaughter, and what he does to atone for the mess he's made.

The teaser trailer above immediately demanded my attention and generated an intense interest. With very little searching I found the entire five-minute short and watched it again and again. The story is well-told and elicits a range of emotions as each element shimmers with ethereal beauty, intricate plot design, and exceptional voice acting.

Eloise Webb's accent brings to mind a specific location while the opening scene places the viewer in a specific time. Though the story is primarily about a father's lack of a relationship with his son, it is told as a frame narrative, where the granddaughter relays a story her father tells her about a letter his father left him, in which he shares his most powerful memories.

Despite its brevity, John Hurt's composed and deliberate pacing seems to almost slow time, stretching an extremely short story into a rich, fulfilling one that seems to transcend time. Before I knew what hit me, it was over, leaving me in awe of the genius behind the film. It did leave me wanting a full-length film at first, but after my second viewing I saw that it wasn't necessary, that Stevens has created a perfectly self-containing short that leaves the viewer content, even happy.

Not only does Stevens take us on a journey through one family's extraordinary experience with technology and time, but he also presents intricate designs in the Alchemist's machine, where miniscule sceneries, flora, and mechanics come together to create a beautiful and unforgettable scene.

I rate this short 5/5 stars due to it's impressive visuals, amazing plot, and the perfectly executed 3-generational tale told in just over five minutes.

The Alchemist’s Letter was released April 21. Slashfilm reports it is expected to appear in Film Festivals later this year, where I expect it to completely demolish the competition.

Enjoy the full-length, five minute film below or at TheAlchemistsLetter.com.