Snow Bear is an 11-minute hand-drawn animated short film by acclaimed animator Aaron Blaise, known for his work on Disney classics like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin and Brother Bear. Blaise spent about three years creating the film entirely by himself, drawing roughly 11,000 individual frames in traditional 2D animation.

The story follows a lonely polar bear in a harsh and rapidly changing Arctic environment as he searches for companionship. When he can’t find another bear, he creates a friend out of snow, an ultimately fragile bond as seasonal warming begins to melt his creation. The film has no spoken dialogue, relying on expressive animation and music to tell its story.

Beyond its simple premise, Snow Bear explores themes of solitude, resilience, loss and connection, reflecting emotional depth beneath its surface narrative. The visuals include richly detailed icy landscapes inspired by real Arctic regions.

Since its release, Snow Bear has been screened at international festivals, won numerous awards, and been shortlisted for an Academy Award in the Best Animated Short category.

🎬 The film can be watched free of charge here through this Monday, Jan. 12, only.

You can also read this article to learn more about the inspiration for the film.

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