– The latest animated short, ‘HAG,’ directed by award-winning animator Anna Ginsburg, brings a dark, comedic take on modern womanhood, breakups, and impending doom.
– This dynamic piece of animation is a production of Strange Beast and Passion Pictures, made possible by the benefaction of BFI Short Form Animation Fund using National Lottery funding.
– The news of this intriguing short film came public with an official announcement from both Strange Beast and Passion Pictures.
‘HAG’ – Animation on Fire: Dark, Comical, and Brilliant, Oh My!
Strange Beast and Passion Pictures Bring an Animated Gem to Life
Strange Beast and Passion Pictures are bringing us yet again another fresh and fascinating take on life, this time served with an amusing dark comedy about the highs and lows of being a modern woman. Let’s toast to breakups, inevitable doom, and of course, the monstrous pressures women face today. All this, embodied in a fresh animated short film, ‘HAG,’ directed by none-other-than our acclaimed animation queen, Anna Ginsburg, made possible through the aid of the BFI Short Form Animation Fund and love from our ever-generous National Lottery.
Grab your popcorn! ‘HAG’ is on the Horizon
The monstrous realities of modern womanhood are about to get a whole new hilarious, yet dark and profound facet in the world of animated short films. As hot and exciting as a Friday date night, this piece of animation art spills out the truth in the most creative, witty platonic relationship breakup you’ve ever seen. We tip our hats off to Strange Beast, Passion Pictures, and of course our lottery-loving, animation-supportive BFI.
And there’s the hot take! The animation world isn’t all fairy dust and happily-ever-afters, folks. But thank the National Lottery, we’ve hit the jackpot with ‘HAG’! A breakup story that promises to be as exciting to watch as a ride in a runaway roller coaster, with an extra dose of dark comedy and relatability. Watch out Disney, reality is gatecrashing the party and she’s brought a hand grenade named ‘HAG’ with her. Get ready to laugh, grimace, and ultimately applaud this beautifully – and monstrous – piece of animated brilliance!
Strange Beast and PASSION PICTURES unveil their latest animated gem – ‘HAG’, directed by the critically acclaimed Anna Ginsburg. This darkly humorous short film tackles the weight of modern womanhood and life after a failed relationship. Thanks to the supporting role of the BFI Short Form Animation Fund, ‘HAG’ is ready to grace international film festivals in 2026. The intriguing trailer can be caught below:
Delve into a world where a post-breakup transformation turns an average thirty-something woman into a mythical hag. Struggling with societal expectations, internal desires, and her ticking biological clock, our protagonist embarks on a journey for answers in a dystopian South London. But with authenticity considered monstrous, what price will she pay for attempting to quiet her true self?
Renowned actor Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts, Feel Good, Fresh Meat) brings the lead character to life in ‘HAG’, a unique blend of astute satire and vibrant animation. This short showcases director Ginsburg’s signature approach of coupling hand-drawn animation with pithy social commentary, a testament to the robust collaboration of two of the UK’s eminent independent animation studios.
‘HAG’ is an exploration of the suffocating societal expectations I once endured. I hope this film helps transform personal anxieties into a collective experience that is both surreal and liberating.
-Anna Ginsburg, Director
‘HAG’ is much more than a film; it’s an amalgamation of research, humor, and conversations surrounding femininity and ageing. While centric to the female experience, we hope it resonates with anyone who has ever felt out of sync with themselves and their surroundings.
-Miranda Latimer, Writer
Working with Miranda and Anna on ‘HAG’ has been one of my most cherished experiences as a Creative Producer. Here at Strange Beast, we prioritize uplifting our directors’ creative expressions through short films, creating an innovative playground for expanding their craft and storytelling prowess.
-Becky Perryman, Creative Producer
It’s our pleasure to support Anna, Miranda, Becky, and the Strange Beast team’s ‘HAG.’ Tackling the age-old stigma around single womanhood, this film is a masterpiece of humor, emotion, and creativity where the ‘hag’ archetype is reclaimed and celebrated.
-Phoebe Sutherland, Executive Producer and Development and Production Executive at BFI
For further insights on Anna Ginsburg’s work, be sure to listen to Skwigly’s podcast interviews Intimate Animation: Episode 2 and Animation One-To-Ones: Episode 5.
Don’t miss Anna’s discussion on ‘HAG,’ slated for her Artist Talk at this year’s Manchester Animation Festival on Nov 12th at 12:30pm at the Anthony Burgess Foundation.
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/hag-trailer/