PerfectLand by Ben Meinhardt

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PerfectLand is an oddly appealing series of Flash-animated shorts created for MTV by Ben Meinhardt. I’ve embedded the first one below and the other three episodes can be viewed on MTV Overdrive. The shorts have an undeniable “green” theme–peaceful nature-loving creatures are constantly attacked by a heavy polluting, industrial villain–but the concept is saved from typical heavy-handed environmentalism because of Meinhardt’s wildly creative imaginary creatures and his skillful animation, which becomes really impressive whenever the cuddly creatures exact revenge. I’m looking forward to seeing more work from Ben.

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  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWKVmCX6SKY Hasdrubal

    That’s odd, people used to be much happier when the steel and tire factories were capable of offering full employment, even though the Cuyahoga River would catch on fire sometimes.

  • red pill junkie

    I really liked it. Although coming from MTV, it feels kind of hypocrite.

    Of course, that’s something Meinhardt cannot control.

  • http://www.daganmoriarty.blogspot.com Dagan

    GREAT timing in the animation… Flash-done-right, me thinks! ;)

  • Emily

    His film from Vancouver Film School called “Dancing Animals in Love” is one of my favorite flash shorts of all time. I think you can see it at VFS.com somewhere under Showcase.

  • http://justforspite.blogspot.com Gene Hole

    the design is like something Winsor McCay might have drawn if he had grown up in the 80′s, but you’re right, something oddly fascinating about it, and great flash animation.

  • Dave

    Pretty good, although the plot to all of them is pretty much the same. Threat to nature changes peaceful species into violent destructive force that destroys boss-robot. The end.

  • http://stephansolarchive.blogspot.com Stephan

    Overkill in morality

  • doug holverson

    Ironic that there’s a Philips 66 gasoline banner ad above it….

  • http://www.forthebirdsblog.blogspot.com Michael J. Ruocco

    I saw the Egg Factory one in animation class a few months back. Really great animation & concept behind it, but it sure creeped the hell outta me!

    I just watched the rest of them. They do have the same plot structure, but that’s OK with me. Besides, it’s nice to know beforehand that the cute little tortured creatures mutate (adapt?) and beat the bejesus outta that Big BossBot & that things turn out OK in the end. It’s kinda like a Road Runner cartoon, except the fact that even though you know what’s gonna happen, but don’t quite know how it’ll get there.

  • Marty M.

    disturbing yet well done

  • http://www.moremojo.blogspot.com Jose Saenz

    I absolutely LOVED these! Thanks for the post! They have a sort of Invader Zim vibe. Awesome!

  • http://gagaman.blogspot.com The Gagaman

    I thought the whole point of the internet was it was to allow anyone in the world to see your stuff, without country restrictions. Stupid MTV web videos…

  • http://torontoanimation.blogspot.com TempleDog

    With ya, Gagaman. Canadian animator, schooled in Vancouver, and we can’t see his stuff here in Beaver-land becuz of those freakin’ post-strike copyright laws. Are ya flippin’ serious?

  • http://secure.mtv-q.mtvi.com/overdrive/?id=1586120&vid=227205 InFligitation

    try this one outside of canada, worked for me….

    http://secure.mtv-q.mtvi.com/overdrive/?id=1586120&vid=227205

  • Bobster_Rand5

    Bravo, but where did these go? Is this an MTV cartoon I somehow missed?