Swedish animator Anna Mantzaris has released a new dark comedy short film titled “PLEASE.” The stop-motion project uses felt puppets to depict unhinged, desperate attempts to find love and human connection.
What happened
“PLEASE” explores the pitiful and cringy side of human emotion. The film shows characters going to extreme lengths to secure affection from others.
Mantzaris uses her signature felt characters to act out scenes of deep neediness. The short film unfolds as a series of disconnected vignettes.
In one scene, puppets light fires to stage dramatic marriage proposals. In another, a character sobs uncontrollably in a grocery store chip aisle.
Other felt figures hug puppies while waiting for commuter trains. The stop-motion animation highlights the stark difference between public facades and private desperation.
The project is the latest addition to Mantzaris’ growing collection of dark animated comedies. The puppets experience the most heated and pathetic moments imaginable.
Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård joins the voice cast for the project. Skarsgård recently received an Academy Award nomination for his role in the film Sentimental Value.
Why it matters
Mantzaris developed the concept during the early days of the pandemic lockdowns. People were trapped at home and spent hours staring at themselves on screens.
This constant exposure to video calls fueled an obsession with self-image. At the same time, the physical isolation created a profound sense of disconnection from the outside world.
Mantzaris wanted her characters to break out of that isolated bubble. She aimed to show human longing in a deeply flawed, imperfect way.
The director told Creative Boom that presenting ugly feelings through puppets serves a specific psychological purpose. The felt characters act out pathetic moments so humans do not have to feel alone in their desperation.
Watching a puppet behave badly makes those embarrassing emotions feel validated. The dark comedy format allows heavy feelings to surface without overwhelming the viewer.
The catch
The full short film is not yet available for general viewing. “PLEASE” is currently limited to exclusive screenings on the independent film festival circuit.
A wider public release is in the works, but the studio has not announced an official premiere date.
Only a handful of promotional materials are accessible right now. A short trailer is currently circulating on YouTube.
A few additional clips exist on social media platforms. One Instagram clip features the depressing dating profile of a particularly discouraged 21-year-old character.
What to verify
The exact dates and locations for the upcoming festival screenings remain unlisted.
The official timeline for the film’s wider public release on streaming platforms is still pending.
The specific character Stellan Skarsgård voices within the short vignettes is not detailed in the current promotional materials.
Source trail
Information about the short film originated from a June 2026 report by This Is Colossal.
Additional quotes regarding the pandemic inspiration came from Mantzaris’ interview with Creative Boom.
