Animation is a fickle art. On the one hand it’s imagination incarnate, a playground where creatives can flex their dream-making muscles, and on the other, it’s being AI’d up the wazoo and stripped of all its hand-wrought uniqueness. So, when a genuine piece of handcrafted art like A Small Garden by the Window comes along and there’s a vital message about the environment contained within, the ears prick up and attention is duly grabbed. 

It’s when a giant, kind-faced architect picks a ripe cherry tomato from his well-tended tree, only for a googly-eyed Eco-Spirit to ooze out, all grins and cheer at its new home, that we realise we’re in Bonkersville. Though it’s a very controlled madcap world. There’s nothing too odd or over the score here, and thankfully being weird for weird’s sake is not the name of the game. Spirits occasionally pop out of plug points, happily taking shelter in the architect’s travel bag as he goes about his day, but it’s all coherent — there’s a method in the wackiness. 

So, in this Lo-fi, ultra-marshmallowy world, people hang out in tree houses, exist in unison with cuddly animals, and — wait for it — live in harmony with the environment. To us, that might sound impossible. Despite all the time warping and paranormal shenanigans on show, that might be the most fantastical element of all. Yet, it’s in this detail where Lee shines. We’re given a giant, pollution free world to explore, and it’s joyous. Brimming with colour and genuine lived in character, his team of artists and animators fill every inch of their world with a true sense of wonder. From plant-infused cities to arid deserts, it’s all inviting and super cute.  

And when the architect bravely ventures out to help stop a forest fire (a very timely plot point), we’re given a stunning sequence where the Eco-Spirits, together with a handy time-stopping device, heal the nature around them and spread a Powerpuff Girls level of love and friendship over everything.  It’s all quite touching, and behind every merchandiseable moment is a very clear statement: we’re better off living in harmony with our planet, not the other way around. It’s when we’re environmentally friendly, like growing our own vegetables or cutting down on certain kinds of energy, that the world pays us back. Only in this zany plane of existence that takes the forms of green Flubber-like ghosts. 

If nothing else, this short is an inside look at what our future could be, only stuffed with all the whimsy and delight you could possibly pack into five minutes. With the DNA of Studio Ghibli felt in every carefully crafted frame – it’s impossible not to mention the great house of Totoro – we’re in the hands of a talented filmmaker who has a real sense of the times. So, bring on the Eco-Spirit revolution!

Screened as part of the Glasgow Short Film Festival 2025