Animated Short Film “In a Heartbeat” Takes on LGBTQ Love

When most of what circulates online these days revolves around political anguish, it’s incredibly refreshing and inspiring to see something real gaining widespread attention. Computer Animation students Beth David and Esteban Bravo are the brains behind the heartwarming short film titled “In a Heartbeat” that’s taking the Internet by storm. 

For their thesis at Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida, David and Bravo took on a topic in animation that is rarely discussed: coming out of the closet. But not only that, they’re tackling the matter at the middle-school level, a time in life when representation like this is needed the most.

In this lighthearted film, a freckled, red-headed boy named Sherwin who has not yet come to terms with his sexuality chases after his heart after it leaps out of his chest in pursuit of Jonathan, a young man with picture-perfect hair who’s absorbed in a novel and oblivious to the man’s heart until it lands right in his hand. The beautiful animation and compelling story will have you grinning from ear-to-ear from the moment Sherwin first appears nervously on screen until the tearful ending. 

The filmmakers note that 9 out of 10 LGBTQ youths experience bullying based on their sexual orientation, and one of the driving purposes for creating the short film is to send a message of love and self-acceptance. And in 4 minutes and 5 seconds, this silent film says more about the love and acceptance in the LGBTQ community than the White House has said since President Trump was sworn in in January.

LOVE INC. MISSION

Love Inc. is a leading EQUALITY-MINDED® wedding publication, devoted to creating original content targeted to both hetero and LGBTQ+ couples, setting us apart from other publications in this swiftly evolving world of weddings.

Categories