Emily Youcis

"Recluse" is a short film I wanted to make as challenge to see if I could tell an effective story without dialogue and complete it in a 30 day time span. It ended up stretching out over the course of many months, mostly because I was getting "When Black Birds Fly" ready for release, but I'm pretty happy with the results! This is also the first film I've animated in 4K. Featuring cameo vocals by Emily Youcis & Rachael Deacon, and additional sound design by M dot Strange!

Traumatized? Come to Alfred's Playhouse - the place you can escape to mentally, where only silliness is making forced entry! Alfred, the emotionally-disturbed, Dissociative-Identity-Dis order inflicted dog, sucks you into his fantasy world, created through dissociation to escape from his painful reality. But the Playhouse isn't all that it seems - the fun leads to a penetrating flashback, causing Alfred to spiral further into dillusion - and get a visit from the candyman!

A troubled group of children living on the same block are haunted by a talking dog named Labby who brings them on surreal hell-rides between different dimensions and time periods.