Wild Life (2011)
A poetic Canadian animated short about an English dreamer who ventures into the vast, unforgiving beauty of the prairie frontier.
Wild Life - Movie Information
- Original Title: Wild Life
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation, Western, Fantasy
- Runtime: 14m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 10, 2011 (Canada - G)
- Alternative Titles: I det vilda (SE)
- Production Companies: ONF | NFB
- Production Countries: Canada
Wild Life - Plot
An English dreamer experiences both the beauty and harshness of nature when he relocates to the Canadian prairie.
Where to Watch Wild Life
Looking for where to watch Wild Life?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Wild Life - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Amanda Forbis
- Wendy Tilby
Main Cast
- Adam Blackwood
- Luba Goy
- Anthony Bekenn
- Keith Dinicol
- Colin Fox
- Nonnie Griffin
- Ben Carlson
- Amy Rutherford
Writers
- Amanda Forbis
- Wendy Tilby
Producers
- Bonnie Thompson
- Marcy Page
Wild Life - FAQs
What is Wild Life (2011) about?
Wild Life follows a young English gentleman who heads to the Canadian prairies, drawn by romantic notions of frontier life. The film poetically captures his encounters with the land's raw beauty and unforgiving nature, weaving together themes of homesickness, loneliness, and the humbling power of the wilderness.
Who directed Wild Life?
Wild Life was co-directed by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby, the acclaimed Canadian animation duo behind the Oscar-nominated When the Day Breaks (1999). The film was produced by the National Film Board of Canada and earned the pair another Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film.
Is Wild Life based on a true story?
Wild Life is not based on a single true story, but it draws on the real historical phenomenon of young British gentlemen — often called ‘remittance men’ — who emigrated to the Canadian prairies in the early 1900s. Their letters home inspired the film's nostalgic, bittersweet tone and its sense of displacement.
Did Wild Life win any awards?
Wild Life earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film at the 2012 Oscars. It also received nominations at the Annie Awards and won recognition at several international animation festivals, cementing Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby's reputation as two of Canada's most celebrated animation artists.
Where can you watch Wild Life (2011)?
You can watch Wild Life for free on Kanopy, a streaming platform available through many public libraries and universities. It's a great way to catch this beautifully crafted Canadian animated short without any subscription cost — just check if your local library offers Kanopy access.
How long is Wild Life (2011)?
Wild Life runs for approximately 14 minutes, making it a short film. Despite its brief runtime, the film packs in a richly layered story and stunning hand-drawn animation, offering a deeply immersive experience that feels far more expansive than its length might suggest.
What animation style is used in Wild Life?
Wild Life features gorgeous hand-drawn animation with a painterly, textured aesthetic that evokes the vast, windswept Canadian prairies. Forbis and Tilby are known for their meticulous, labor-intensive technique, and the film's visual style — rich with earthy tones and fluid movement — is widely praised as one of its greatest strengths.
What are similar films to Wild Life (2011)?
If you enjoyed Wild Life, you might love The Magnificent Seven (1960) for its frontier spirit, Princess Mononoke (1997) for its stunning animation and nature themes, or A Close Shave (1996) for its short-form brilliance. Nanook of the North (1922) also shares that raw, elemental connection to wild landscapes.
More About Wild Life
Explore further details about Wild Life on these trusted databases.