Eddie Alcazar is the under-the-radar, up-and-coming visionary filmmaker who’s collaborated with everyone from Steven Soderbergh to Darren Aronofsky and The Weeknd. Soderbergh executive-produced Alcazar’s 2018 sci-fi debut “Perfect” before teaming up with the filmmaker again for his 2023 black-and-white Sundance premiere “Divinity,” which IndieWire deemed one of that year’s “best-looking movies.”
Aronofsky, meanwhile, executive-produced Alcazar’s short film “The Vandal,” released by New Yorker Studios in 2021. And filmmaker Alcazar, who also works as a writer and game developer, also wrote and directed The Weeknd’s stop-motion music video “Red Terror” earlier this year.
But Alcazar’s next project is “Bullet Time,” a hand-drawn TV pilot, fours years in the making, that he created and directed that tributes the Golden Age of ’90s animation (think “The Ren & Stimpy Show,” which immediately comes to mind when you see the surreal trailer below). Alcazar hopes the DIY, tactile approach to the storytelling will be an antidote to AI-driven times. Danny Elfman also composed the music.
IndieWire debuts a first look at the project before it heads to the Fantasia genre film festival this summer. Watch below.
Here’s a synopsis: “In a surreal world fueled by retro gaming nostalgia and Saturday morning cartoon mayhem, Bullet Time follows Bullet — an emotionally unstable bull terrier — as he battles his way through a bizarre digital gaming universe. Fueled by frenetic action, heart, and absurd humor, ‘Bullet Time’ delivers a visually explosive ride that blends ’90s cartoon weirdness with cutting-edge animation and a pulse-pounding original score.” Alcazar produces the project with Javier Lovato. Bob Jaques (“Ren and Stimpy,” “SpongeBob SquarePants”) serves as animation director, while voice actors include Eric Bauza, Luis Bordonada, David Firth, and Uly.
“Happy to finally share a project that holds a lot of meaning to me,” Alcazar said in a statement. “Four years ago, this film was started, and at the same time, I lost my dog Bullet, who I still think about everyday. His memory kept me going as I made this animation. This experience instilled a stronger appreciation to all the talent and detail that goes into the cartoons we all grew to love.”
He added, “The ’90s seemed like a golden era of cartoon inspiration, innovation, and love, and I wanted to go back to that feeling. The team behind this project are a mix of experienced talent from classics like ‘Ren & Stimpy,’ ‘Pee Wee’s Playhouse’ and ‘Big Adventure,’ and ‘Gumby’ to name a few. Plus, a combination of fresh new artists who were also inspired by the houses they built. Finishing this all completely hand drawn animation TV pilot as we turn towards the AI age feels a bit bitter sweet. Times do change but I hope the appreciation of hard work and passion doesn’t and that we will always find value in creation from skills and experience. Without it we are lost. … Without it things will lose all meaning.”
The full Fantasia Festival lineup will be announced soon, with the event running July 17 to August 3. But we can confirm “Bullet Time” will be featured. Watch the trailer below.
