Watch “Pinched” (2010), David Vandervoort’s acclaimed animated short film. Discover its unique story & visual artistry. Stream now!
🖤 Pinched (2010) — Animated Short Film by David Vandervoort
A moody, hand‑drawn plunge into the underbelly of a faceless metropolis, Pinched is part crime story, part psychological fable. Written and directed by David Vandervoort, this 11‑minute animated short follows a nimble‑fingered pickpocket whose greatest enemy isn’t the law — it’s the voices in his own head.
🧠Overview
- Genre: Animation / Drama / Crime / Psychological
- Director & Writer: David Vandervoort
- Co‑Writers: Micke Tong, Keith Fay
- Voices: Minnie Goode (Rachel), Ruff Jackson (Jack), Tammy Hicks (Nikki)
- Runtime: ~11 minutes
- Country: United States 🇺🇸
- Language: English
- Release year: 2010
- Animation style: Stylized 2D with sharp, angular linework and noir‑inspired palettes
- Setting: The bowels of a crowded, anonymous city — all subways, shadows, and steel
Watch full short:
đź“– Story in Brief
In the dim tunnels of the subway 🚇, a schizophrenic pickpocket stalks commuters, guided — or haunted — by the incessant chatter of his inner demons. His life is a loop of theft, paranoia, and survival… until fate intervenes.
A chance lift from a stranger’s pocket reunites him with Rachel, a long‑lost love from a better time. For the first time in years, the voices in his head are challenged by something else: the possibility of redemption ❤️.
But choosing a righteous path means defying the only companions he’s had for years — the ones whispering in his ear, urging him to keep stealing.
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
- Linework as mood: Hard, straight lines and geometric shapes give the city a cold, oppressive feel.
- Muted yet rich palette: Rust reds, steel blues, and shadowy blacks create a world that feels both real and dreamlike.
- Magic realism: The “voices” are visualized in surreal, shifting ways — part hallucination, part metaphor.
- Urban rhythm: The pacing mirrors the subway’s pulse — slow lulls, sudden jolts.
- Character design: Faces are expressive but stylized, balancing grit with graphic elegance.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Atmospheric world‑building: The city feels alive, dangerous, and indifferent.
- 🎠Psychological depth: Balances crime drama with an intimate look at mental struggle.
- 🎨 Distinctive art style: Memorable, angular, and textured.
- đź’¬ Emotional hook: The reunion with Rachel adds warmth to the grit.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wanting more of the backstory.
- 🌀 Ambiguity: The ending leaves questions — which some will love, others not.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
- Inner demons: The literal and figurative voices that can dictate our choices.
- Love as catalyst: How connection can disrupt even the most entrenched patterns.
- Moral crossroads: The difficulty of breaking free from destructive cycles.
- Urban alienation: The loneliness of being surrounded by millions.
đź‘Ą Who Is It For?
- Animation lovers: Especially fans of adult‑oriented, hand‑drawn storytelling.
- Noir enthusiasts: Those who enjoy morally complex anti‑heroes.
- Festival audiences: Viewers who appreciate shorts that blend style with substance.
đź’ˇ Humanized Takeaway
Pinched is about more than a thief on the subway — it’s about the fight between the life you know and the life you want. Vandervoort’s sharp, moody visuals and layered sound design pull you into a mind at war with itself, reminding us that sometimes the hardest thing to steal back is your own future.
🔍 Find More & Watch
- IMDb page for Pinched — full cast, crew, and production details.
- David Vandervoort’s official project page — synopsis, art, and behind‑the‑scenes notes.
- Watch Pinched on YouTube — full short film, free to view.