Cell Buddies: A Handcrafted Tale of Friendship and Support in Uncertain Times. Cell Buddies was created during the minor stop motion animation course at Sint Joost in Den Bosch by Melle Windig, Hidde Alberts, Miguel Reyes, Jurgen de Smit, and Arjen van der Plas.
In just five minutes, this stop‑motion short shows how small acts of empathy and teamwork can create warmth, humor, and hope — a story that feels more needed than ever.
Stop Motion film Cell Buddies is a five‑minute handcrafted story about two unlikely cellmates: Sam, a grumpy raccoon, and Bob, a kind-hearted but naïve manatee. What starts as a simple escape plan turns into a heartwarming tale of connection, support, and friendship. In today’s world, where uncertainty and fear can feel overwhelming, the film’s message of helping each other resonates deeply and leaves audiences feeling uplifted.
“Created during our stop‑motion minor at Sint Joost School of Art & Design in Den Bosch September 2024- January 2025, every frame was made by hand: we sculpted the puppets, built miniature sets, animated frame‑by‑frame, and handled lighting, sound and voice acting ourselves. The tactile textures of the puppets and sets make the story feel intimate, humorous, and emotionally engaging.”
Cell Buddies has screened at over 100 Film Festivals in 39 countries to date including prestigious international festivals as Interfilm Berlin (Germany), YOUKI (Austria), Schlingel (Germany), Torino Underground Cinefest (Italy), Leiden IFF (Netherlands), Kuandu International Animation Film Festival Taipei (Taiwan). Cell Buddies also won several awards such as Best Animation at Lytham International Film Festival (UK) and Mangalia Youth Film Festival (Romania) and the audience award at Ko(o)rts Film Festival Enschede.
