I liked a lot this short animation, where a seemingly innocent beginning eventually leads to a darker turn of events. In many ways the plot feels like an updated version of some archetypes commonly found in fables and cautionary tales (A feeling certainly helped by the narration in rhymes) with a suspenseful touch.
The animation was pretty neat, with a nice use of colors and stylish character designs. Like in "The Northern Incident" by Max Gilardi, there was an interesting effect in seeing cartoonish characters being involved in a serious story (However, it must be said that the key difference between the two shorts is that in "There's a Man in the Woods" the seriousness is played entirely straight, while in "The Northern Incident"the thriller elements lead to a parodical conclusion)
About the voice acting, I think I will have to agree with the point made by another reviewer about the narrator not sounding the age of the character he is playing, but this detail can be overlooked in favor of the very interesting plot.
Also, Sid has to be one of the most detestable kids in any animated work from the recent years...It says a lot that his implied death at the end almost feels like a moment of justice being served rather than a tragedy.
The animation was pretty neat, with a nice use of colors and stylish character designs. Like in "The Northern Incident" by Max Gilardi, there was an interesting effect in seeing cartoonish characters being involved in a serious story (However, it must be said that the key difference between the two shorts is that in "There's a Man in the Woods" the seriousness is played entirely straight, while in "The Northern Incident"the thriller elements lead to a parodical conclusion)
About the voice acting, I think I will have to agree with the point made by another reviewer about the narrator not sounding the age of the character he is playing, but this detail can be overlooked in favor of the very interesting plot.
Also, Sid has to be one of the most detestable kids in any animated work from the recent years...It says a lot that his implied death at the end almost feels like a moment of justice being served rather than a tragedy.
