Conej Steps Out is a delightful and spirited tribute to the Golden Age of American animation, drawing inspiration from iconic series like Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, as well as the distinctive style of the Fleischer Brothers.

The Ambitious Quest

 

In a bid to impress his girlfriend, Claire, with the perfect gift for their upcoming date, Conej aims for the stars—quite literally. His bold (and rather unconventional) plan? To construct a rocket and persuade Claire to join him on a lunar adventure. However, things don’t unfold as he envisioned.

Insights from the Creator

 

Río, one of the creators of this short, shared:

 

 

“With this cartoon, our team of artists aimed to create entertainment that transcends the written word. I truly believe animation should be a rollercoaster of surrealism—much like experiencing a captivating painting, watching Fred Astaire dance, or listening to a beautiful melody. That’s the vision we pursued in our inaugural cartoon featuring our old friend Conej.”

 

A Vibrant Collaboration

 

Filled with lively hand-drawn animation and infectious energy, this quirky, retro-inspired short was produced by the Digipen Institute of Technology Europe in Bilbao, Spain, in partnership with the Musikene Higher School of Music of the Basque Country.

Behind the Scenes

 

Conej Steps Out was primarily crafted by four talented Digipen students during their senior year. The animation was led by Río, who also took on the role of director, alongside Leyre Zapata as the visual designer. The enchanting backgrounds, meticulously painted by hand using watercolors and gouache, were created by artists Aitor Olano and Bruno Santoro. The original score, composed by Jordi Arcusa, was brought to life by a 20-piece orchestra.

Persons