Riley's First Date?
Directed by Josh Cooley
- animation
- family
The story
Riley, now 12, who is hanging out with her parents at home when potential trouble comes knocking. Mom's and Dad's Emotions find themselves forced to deal with Riley going on her first "date."
What it’s like
Bright, saturated Pixar-style animation with clean digital surfaces, warm interior light from a suburban living room, and the glossy, slightly exaggerated look of a studio short. The sound is comic and rhythmic: a rock-tinged score, bursts of guitar and drums that rise to punctuate small domestic panic, and bright dialogue played for laughs. Its vibe is light, cheerful and quick, the kind of thing that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family viewing with kids, or a short break when you want to smile without thinking hard. The pacing is brisk, since the whole thing runs only a few minutes, and the emotional register stays playful and affectionate, following a father who is overprotective and a daughter trying to assert her independence. Intensity is very low: no violence, no gore, nothing frightening, and only mild tension played as slapstick. It is aimed at families, animation fans and anyone who wants a gentle, funny take on a parent's nerves about a child growing up.
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