In northern climes, winter sometimes feels like it drags on forever. A new animation directed by Mitchell Keys taps into the feeling of elation and brightness that accompanies the first days of spring. And while his short film, “Springrise,” is only about a minute long, it traces the sun’s journey higher into the sky, as if awakening from hibernation while people rejoice.

Hothouse, an apprenticeship program facilitated by the National Film Board of Canada, invites a handful of participants to create ultra-short animated shorts every year. It aims to quickly and flexibly make animations while emphasizing creative and technical excellence, and 2025 marks its 15th edition. You can watch all of this year’s projects, plus dozens more from past cohorts, on the NFB website.

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