Kiwi!
{{short description|2006 computer-generated animation}}
{{Other uses|Kiwi (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kiwi!
| image = Kiwi_opening_screen.png
| caption = Title card shown at the beginning and end
| director = Dony Permedi
| producer = Dony Permedi
| writer = Dony Permedi
| music = Tim Cassell
| editing = Dony Permedi
| released = {{Film date|2006|05|05}}
| runtime = 3 minutes
| country = United States
}}
Kiwi! is a 2006 computer-generated animation short film created by Dony Permedi as his Master's Thesis project at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The music was composed and performed by Tim Cassell. The short gained widespread popularity online after being uploaded to YouTube, becoming a notable Internet phenomenon. Unofficial versions of the film have been paired with the song "Mad World" by Gary Jules, and have circulated widely as viral videos.
Plot
The animation follows a kiwi bird that painstakingly nails rows of trees horizontally along the face of a steep cliff. Once finished, the kiwi climbs to the top of the cliff, dons an aviator's helmet, and leaps off. As the kiwi falls, the camera perspective shifts sideways, revealing that the trees simulate a forest floor—allowing the bird to feel as if it is flying. A tear forms in its eye as it flaps its tiny wings, momentarily fulfilling its dream. The video ends ambiguously, with a sound that has been interpreted by viewers as either a crash or the opening of a parachute.
Reception
Kiwi! has received a large following for its deep meaning and heart touching manner. One of the most popular activities in the fan base is to create an alternate ending (usually one where the kiwi survives). {{as of|2024|08|23|df=US}}, the animation has been viewed over 49 million times. It won official recognition on March 26, 2007, when viewers voted it the Most Adorable video of 2006 in the first annual YouTube Video Awards.[https://www.youtube.com/ytawards YouTube Video Awards]. Retrieved on 2007-03-29 This was an event large enough to draw international media attentionRebecca L. Lee, [http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=2982456&page=1YouTube Goes Hollywood], ABC News. Retrieved on 2007-03-29[http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/26/youtube.awards.ap/index.html 'Ask a Ninja,' OK Go win YouTube Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407162337/http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/26/youtube.awards.ap/index.html |date=2007-04-07 }}, CNN. Retrieved on 2007-03-29Virginia Heffernan, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/27/arts/web-0329youtest.phpYouTube awards the top of its heap], International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-03-29 with ABC News describing Kiwi! as "so cute it hurts" while the International Herald Tribune, critical of the awards, characterized the video as being "sweet but dull."
See also
- Gagarin (Ger.) - cartoon about a caterpillar who dreams of flying.
References
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUUx5FdySs Kiwi!] video on YouTube
- [http://www.donysanimation.com Dony Permedi's website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080616020927/http://www.isfat.com/happyjunk/kiwi.php Dony Permedi interviewed]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140207081443/http://kiwi.kz/ Kazakhstani YouTube-like project named after this animation] (Archived)
- {{IMDb title|1051713|Kiwi!}}
Category:2006 independent films
Category:2006 animated short films
Category:American aviation films
Category:American computer-animated films
Category:American student films