The 21′ Director Tod Polson [Video]

Cartoon Brew is putting the spotlight on animated short films that have qualified for the 2025 Oscars.

In this installment, we’re looking at The 21 from American filmmaker Tod Polson. The short earned its Oscars qualification through theatrical exhibition.

A short film honoring the 21 Coptic men murdered by ISIS in Libya in 2015, The 21 is crafted in the style of Coptic iconography by a global team of more than 70 artists from more than 24 countries. Mixing live-action footage with animation, the film serves as a powerful tribute to the martyrs and a vibrant message against obscurantism.

Cartoon Brew: How has Neo-Coptic iconography inspired you and your team, and how has this global community of artists been inspired by it to create this film?

Tod Polson:The purpose of an icon is to aid in devotion and contemplation, acting as a window into the divine. In the same way, I wanted each frame of the film …