Blue Cooler, an oil-painted animated short film, captures small moments of life in Hawaii through a montage of richly painted and colorful brush strokes, sounds, and images. Like home movies that spark an atmosphere or feeling, the moving paintings in Blue Cooler pop with familiar experiences and vivid observations. The animation is hand-painted frame by frame using oil paints.

Juror comments: Gorgeous, absolutely spectacular! Blue Cooler opens a window into the real world of Hawaiʻi – not the tourists’ world, but the reality of everyday life for the people and families of the Islands. The images and sounds of holoholo, ukelele, surfing, paddling, fishing, picnics, shave ice, dogs and kids playing on the beach, the sounds of birds and insects, children in school, high school graduation, Christmas, supermarkets, even the city traffic. The images, painted in oil and shot frame by frame, capture what those who live here may take for granted, but constitute the fabric of our lives – the big and little things that make living in Hawaiʻi such a great privilege and pleasure. These are precious slices of life shared with everyone who watches the film. I give this film a rousing and appreciative 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. By Ann B., KIDS FIRST!