Alfredo Soderguit's Capybaras: An Animated Short Film on the Road to the Oscars

Published on January 06, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Still from the short film Capybaras showing the main characters interacting in the henhouse, with a warm visual style and detailed textures.

Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit: An Animated Short Film on the Road to the Oscars

The animated short film Capybaras, directed by the talented Alfredo Soderguit, has reached an international milestone by qualifying for the Academy Awards after winning the award for Best Latin American Short Film at the prestigious Chilemonos festival 🎬. Produced by Autour de Minuit, Estudio Palermo, and Pájaro, this work expands the boundaries of animation cinema in Latin America and symbolizes a significant achievement for the regional creative industry.

A Narrative About Coexistence and Overcoming Barriers

Based on Soderguit's book of the same name, the plot follows a family of capybaras seeking refuge in a henhouse at the start of hunting season, facing the initial distrust of the resident hens. Through sensitive narrative development, the film explores how the natural curiosity of the young animals gradually breaks down barriers, forging unexpected bonds that challenge established prejudices and the social norms of the rural environment, creating a powerful metaphor about intercultural coexistence 🌍.

Key Narrative Elements:
  • The capybaras' search for refuge in a henhouse, which triggers initial tensions
  • The role of youthful curiosity in breaking down barriers and forming unforeseen relationships
  • The critique of social prejudices through an analogy with animal life in a rural context
The film demonstrates that even in cinema, dynamics of territoriality are sometimes reproduced, which the film attempts to question on screen.

Visual Aesthetics and Narrative Techniques

Using 2D animation with a warm visual style and rich textures, the short film adds emotional depth to the story. The character designs, while seemingly simple, convey notable expressiveness through subtle gestures and carefully animated movements. This aesthetic choice reinforces the central themes, creating an intimate atmosphere that enhances the emotional connection with the characters' experiences of misunderstanding and subsequent rapprochement ✨.

Highlighted Aesthetic Aspects:
  • Use of 2D animation with detailed textures to evoke warmth and emotion
  • Minimalist yet highly expressive character designs through gestures and movements
  • The intimate atmosphere that facilitates the audience's identification with the protagonists' struggles and triumphs

Final Reflection on Impact and Irony

It is ironic that a short film criticizing territoriality and prejudices had to compete in festivals to gain international recognition, highlighting how even in the cinematic realm, the social dynamics it seeks to question can be reproduced. This work not only expands the limits of Latin American animation but also invites deep reflection on intercultural coexistence and overcoming invisible barriers 🌟.