Watch: A Video Game-Obsessed Kid Gets a Gift in THE PRESENT

Take a look at Jacob Frey's award-winning short film The Present, which is "a thesis short from the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in Ludwigsburg, Germany." I don't want to say anything about it until you have the chance to see it for yourselves, so watch it and then meet me below:

So I know we're supposed to feel all nice and heartwarm-y after seeing that, but the first thing I thought as this short was playing out was: this kid is the worst. Obviously, by the end it's revealed that he's suffering from something that should make him a little more endearing to us, and that recontextualizes his reaction when he first notices the dog's missing paw, but don't you think that someone in his situation would have more compassion for a dog like that instead of less? I mean, this kid freaking kicks a puppy. What do you think? Does this short ring true to you, or were you like me and could never root for the kid after how he treated a disabled dog?

After a very successful festival circuit, running on over 180 film festivals and winning more than 50 awards, we’ve decided that it’s finally time to share “The Present” with the rest of the world. “The Present” is a thesis short from the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in Ludwigsburg, Germany. We really hope you enjoy the result of our hard work. Thanks to everyone who help creating this film and everyone who supported us during the festivals. Thanks a lot for making this such an incredible journey. “The Present” is based on a great little comic strip by the very talented Fabio Coala. Make sure to check out his page: www.mentirinhas.com.br Soundtrack by "Zealand" https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/present-feat.-septemberkind/id915500091 A more detailed list of all the festival awards: 01. Int. Festival of Animation Cinema and Comics Cartoon Club - Cartoon Kids Award 02. Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival – Grand Prize Best Animation 03. FESA - Best Film for Children 04. Animago Award - Nominated for Best Short Film 05. Int. Student Film Festival Pisek – Special Jury Award 06. Animalada - Best Short Animated Film 2014, Jury Award 07. Anim Arte – Maxi Second place: Audience Award 08. 15 Short Film Festival – Jury Award Best Animation 09. PISAF – Audiences Prize (International) 10. International Family Film Festival – Best Foreign Short Animation 11. Enfoque, Int. Film Festival of Puerto Rico – Best Animation and Audience Choice Award 12. Filmschau Baden Wuerttemberg – Best Animation 13. El Corto del Ano - Special Jury Mention 14. Watersprite 2015 – Best Original Film Music 15. California International Shorts Festival – Best Animated Short 16. Short Tiger, Next Generation – Short Tiger Award 17. Landshuter Kurzfilmfestival – Audience Award Kids 18. Soul 4 Reel Festival – Best Animation 19. Canada International Film Festival - Best Animation 20. CMS Int. Children´s Film Festival – Special Mention 21. Monstronale – Int. Children Jury Award 22. Sehsuechte Int. Student Festival Konrad Wolf – Best Children Film 23. RiverRun International Film Festival – Best Student Animated Short 24. VAFI – MIDI Section First Prize 25. Newport Beach Film Festival – Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking 26. Timeline Film Festival – Filmmaker Award 27. Animayo Festival de Cine de Animacion – Director Award 28. Chile Monos Festival Internationcional de Animacion – Second Place Int. School Short Film Competition 29. Carmarthen Bay Film Festival – Best Animation 30. Int. Film Festival for Children & Youth - THE HERMÍNA TÝRLOVÁ AWARD FOR YOUNG ARTIST AGED UNDER 35 31. Rendezvous Festival – Best Animation 32. Accolade Global Film Competition - Award of Excellence Special Mention: Animation (Student) 33. Long Day Short Film – Grand Jury Prize 34. Animatio Curtas Vila do Conde IFF – Curtinhas Prize 35. Anima Mundi – Best short film for Children 36. Maramures International Film Festival 2015 - Audience Award 37. Real to Reel International Film festival – Best Student Animation 38. Giffoni Film Festival – Second Most Voted Film 39. Traverse City Film Festival – Audience Award for Best Kids Short 40. Ariano Film Festival – Best Animation 41. Int. Film Festival Nueva Mirada for Children and Youth - Golden Kite" Award 42. Joy House Film Festival – Media Super's Best Film 43. ArTelesia Film Festival – School and University Award 44. Summer Slam Film Festival – Best Animation Short 45. Catalina Film Festival – Best Animation Film 46. Sapporo Shorts Fest - Best Student Children Film Silver 47. Sapporo Shorts Fest - Best Student Director Award 48. AKUT – 2. Audience Award 49. NYLA International Film Festival - Best Animation 50. Austin Film Festival - Animated Short Audience Award 51. Seoul Guro Int. Kids Film Festival - Best Animated Short Film 52. Filemon - Best Short Film 53. Virginia Film Festival – Audience Award for Narrative Short 54. Ojai Film Festival – Honorable Mention 55. Gold Coast International Film festival – Jury Award for Best Student Short Film 56. Short Film Awards – Best Animated Short 57. Roshd Int. Film Festival – Third Prize 58. Olympia International Film Festival – Children´s Jury Award for Best animated short 59. Los Angeles Independent Film Festival - Best Animation