While thinking about Tempbot (see below) I was reminded of another very different, but very great, short from 2002. Directed by Rob Schrab, Robot Bastard! features, as expected, robot ass-kicking action coupled with amazing production design that really has to be seen to be believed.

Schrab has a background in illustration and snappy, pulpy, writing (most notably the cult comic book Scud the Disposable Assassin) and it really shows. The blend of stopmotion, live action, and off the wall set/prop/robot design aesthetics come together in a nightmarish kick to the face. Another video project he helmed you may have heard of is Heat Vision and Jack – featuring Jack Black as the smartest man in the world (during the day) and Owen Wilson as his wisecracking best friend, who is (no joke) also a motorcycle. Rest assured I’ll likely repost that gem as well.

As for Robot Bastard!, you can also download a higher quality version of the short and/or learn more about the amazing people behind it at its official site, or take a look at its IMDB page

Before Neill Blomkamp brought us District 9, he directed this awesome short film.

Although Tempbot was written by Mark Fitzloff, you can see a lot of the common threads between this and Blomkamp’s District 9 -most notably the themes of (ha ha) alienation. Tempbot is certainly more accepted (and ignored) than the Prawns were, and even though I really really liked Christopher and his son in D9 I felt a lot closer to this guy. (to be fair though, that might have just been some latent emotion left over from WALL-E/a recent viewing of Short Circuit)

Together with really well done (especially for a short film budget in 2006) CG incorporation, the production design on the Tempbot is freaking great. That fan is such a nice touch. As much as I like our robot, Tempbot’s busy cobbled together look makes me want to go out to the junkyard and weld together one of my own.

To give all credit where credit is due, the IMDB page for Tempbot is here.