The adults in See Me are having a wonderful time. The child at the center of the film is having a very different experience.
Directed by Patty Stenger and visually shaped by Yvonne Kroese, this award-winning animated short follows a toddler named Alice at a crowded house party. From Alice’s perspective, the familiar quickly becomes strange. Adult legs stretch into towering forests. A family dog becomes a looming threat, and a discarded fish turns into an unexpected companion.
The result is a film that captures something many adults forget: childhood is filled with moments that feel enormous, even when they seem insignificant to everyone else.
Imagination and Isolation
What makes See Me so compelling is the way it balances wonder with emotional unease. Alice’s imagination constantly reshapes the world around her, turning ordinary objects into characters and adventures. Yet beneath that creativity lies a simple need: she wants her mother’s attention.
Patty Stenger has spoken about the inspiration behind the film. She recalls seeing parents absorbed by their phones while children struggled to get noticed. That idea quietly drives the story. Alice isn’t searching for excitement so much as connection.
The film’s distinctive collage animation reinforces this feeling beautifully. The filmmakers built the visuals from photographed cut-outs and textured 3D environments. The result feels rough and handmade by design. Rather than smoothing away imperfections, Stenger and Kroese embrace them, creating a world that feels unpredictable and alive.
From See Me to Beef Tomato
What continues to resonate about See Me is its emotional honesty. The film works as a playful exploration of childhood imagination, but it also serves as a reminder that attention can be one of the most meaningful gifts we offer.
That ability to blend humor, discomfort, and empathy can also be found in Stenger and Kroese’s more recent film, Beef Tomato (Vleestomaat). While See Me explores the world through a child’s perspective, Beef Tomato tackles prejudice and loneliness through the unlikely relationship between a troubled young boy and an elderly woman who proves far more complicated than first appearances suggest.
Like See Me, the film uses the duo’s distinctive collage-based style. Photographed elements and animation combine to create characters that feel both familiar and slightly surreal. The story continually challenges assumptions, revealing hidden vulnerabilities in both of its central characters while balancing moments of tension with surprising tenderness.
The film won Best Short Film at the Kaboom Animation Festival, further cementing the creative partnership that Stenger and Kroese have built over more than two decades.
If See Me leaves you wanting more from these filmmakers, Beef Tomato is a natural next stop. You can watch the trailer here.
