KIP TRIP - Ape Escape

Directed by Luke Palmer

2024

Opening with swirling, hypnotic credits that very much set the tone for the duration of this 5-minute film, Kip Trip is a peculiar tale which simply depicts the treacherous journey of a monkey and his escape from a white gorilla.

From a descent below a crumbling wooden bridge to a rubbish-filled underground passage and eventually to a high rise garden, Palmer’s charmingly hand-drawn animation immediately implements a pace befitting the short form’s strength, effectively animating this anthropomorphic tale to replicate dynamic motion.

Despite the still shots of the film, the variation in facial gestures and body positioning of the beautifully drawn monkey bleeds strongly with the dimensions of the world. And this generate a sense of genuine urgency in this 'swinging story'. The inclusion of incrementing variables of the gorilla’s attack similarly prevents the film from feeling static at any point. And it is a feat to be admired.

While the music is strongly in symphony with the colourful and clean visuals, an area perhaps in need of slightly more polish is the sound design. Where implemented it adds a great deal in the creation of atmosphere, especially of the gorilla’s varying assaults. However, its predominant absence in ambient settings is an element that could have been improved. Whilst the textures of the city scape and underground sewage are strongly realised, these are slightly let down by the less creative audio.

This is a similar trend with the first-person narration of the piece. Although understandable with the limitations and the difficulty of recording dialogue from an actual monkey, the tone of delivery doesn’t quite match the energy of the visuals. It is at places slightly too wordy in description and lacks variation in tone which prevents delivering true threat and urgency.

Perhaps a further revision could have helped the script for the narration, which then would replicate the energy of the visuals which is where this film’s strengths definitely lie.

Another revision to the script would have also benefitted the ending.  It is extremely abrupt and although may be attuned with the unconventional structure, it feels completely adjacent to even this dream-like tale. A lack of setup leaves it feeling slightly clumsy and an awkward link for a follow-up piece renders it unsatisfying as it feels somewhat incomplete.

In the end, Kip Trip – Ape Escape has a slightly unpolished and unrealised narrative, but Palmer’s strong visual world-building and beautifully penned creations craft visual charm. It's an enigmatic, strongly executed animation with a psychedelic original score with fittingly accompanies its fever dream aesthetic. And the wholly unconventional structure emits pure originality and the film should be commended strongly for its energy.

★★★

3 / 5

Josh Bird

Instagram @birdy9136

X @joshbirdfilms