Animator Honami Yano will present her short film Eri at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight. The hand-drawn work tells the story of a Holstein cow who falls in love with another cow in a world where bovines must give birth to survive. Based on the novel by Kasumi Asakura, Yano replaced humans with cows after reflecting on skin color and self-awareness.
The artisanal process behind the animated cows 🎨
Yano opted for traditional cel animation, drawing each frame by hand to capture organic textures. The dreamlike landscapes were achieved with watercolors and inks applied on paper, then digitized without excessive post-production. The director avoided CGI to preserve the physical sensation of the bond between the cows. The short required two years of production with a small team of six animators.
Finally, a love story that isn't a bore 🐄
While Hollywood sells us romances with explosions and happy endings, Yano gives us two cows staring at each other for eight minutes. And best of all: no dialogue. Because, let's be honest, who needs words when you have moist bovine eyes and a watercolor-painted landscape? Auteur cinema reminds us that true love is grazing together at sunset. No social pressure, no in-laws, just grass.