Danse Macabre (2026) Review: Hisko Hulsing’s Apocalyptic Animated Masterpiece

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source: tv.lk21

Published: August 16, 2026 | Edited: August 28, 2026

Synopsis:

Danse Macabre (2026) by Hisko Hulsing is a horror, musical, social satire short animation. It is one of the most talked-about short animations at the Annecy Animation Festival in June 2026. This is a 4-5 minute animation with no dialogue. It was made from ±75 oil paintings that were hand-painted over 11 years, then animated using 2D, 3D, and rotoscope techniques. For the music, Hisko used the 2nd movement Allegro from Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. The animation took 11 years to complete, with a team from 5 countries. It is not a linear story, but follows the rhythm of Shostakovich’s music.

What is it about? It begins in a giant graveyard with a skeleton orchestra playing Shostakovich’s music. Then, skeleton soldiers, angelic musicians, and religious figures appear in a procession that starts out orderly. Gradually, it turns into chaos, war, and destruction. The visuals combine a fascist military parade, religious iconography, and modern conflict. It is reminiscent of The Triumph of Death painting by Bruegel. The horrors of war and devastation haunt us to the rhythm of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. In a shattered world, the haunting notes depict destruction and despair. What message does it deliver?

Death & Power are Blind. Shostakovich composed this music as a terrifying portrait of the Stalin era and the "Great Terror." Hulsing translates that into images of skeleton soldiers descending from the sky bringing chaos. The meaning: regimes, war, and violence will "come for" everyone, from ordinary citizens to leaders.

Modern version of Memento Mori. This is the classic message of Danse Macabre: death comes for all classes. But here, it is coupled with criticism of militarism, propaganda, and fanaticism. The skeleton soldiers are a depiction of soldiers who have lost their humanity.

Beauty in Destruction. Hulsing deliberately made the visuals "beautiful, intense, and terrifying at the same time." The texture of the oil paintings was preserved to make it feel raw and organic. The message: war is tragic, but humans often package it as a "grand parade." This is not just a cute "skeleton dance" like Disney’s 1929 version. This is Danse Macabre, a warning about how power, war, and death always dance together. And we could all become their dancers if we are not careful.

In my opinion:

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I was shivering watching this animation, as if this were an apocalypse accelerated by humans. I even saw a scene where a modern train emerges from the sky and crashes into a settlement. In my mind, I immediately interpreted that modernization, the future, and sophistication are leading us to destruction. Even the angels are executed, depicting how cruel humans have become, blind to the world. Ah damn, I am speechless. This is the greatest short animation I have ever seen

Danse Macabre, the Dance of the Death in a horrifying and elegant tone. It can be found in mural paintings in 14th-15th century European churches. It depicts skeletons inviting people from all professions to dance together toward the grave. Whether a king, a farmer, a priest, a child, anyone — all will be invited to dance by Death. The point is: "Death is fair and will surely come for everyone."

For me this one is 9/10.

Knowledge Corner:

Have you ever seen a picture of living people holding hands with a skeleton? That is called Dance Macabre or Danse Macabre, The Dance of Death. This is not a horror movie. This is one of the most famous art themes from the Middle Ages in Europe. What is Dance Macabre? Dance Macabre is a concept in art, literature, and music that depicts death dancing together with people from all walks of life. Kings, popes, farmers, merchants, babies, to beggars. All of them are invited to dance by the figure of "Death" whose form is a skeleton. The point is: "Death is fair. It doesn’t discriminate."

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Why did this appear in the Middle Ages? Dance Macabre was born around the 1350s - 1400s, right after the Black Death / Black Plague swept through Europe. Can you imagine 1 out of 3 people in Europe died within a few years? People became traumatized, afraid, and started to think, "Life is short. Social status means nothing in front of death. "So artists created Dance Macabre as Memento Mori: "Remember that you will die. So live well." It was also a social criticism of Kings and Popes who were humiliated because they were the same as everyone else in front of death. This art invites us not to be afraid of facing death. Instead of being afraid, death is depicted as "dancing". So it becomes easier to accept.

Dance Macabre has distinct characteristics in its images. If you look at a painting or relief of Dance Macabre, there will definitely be patterns like a skeleton that can play the violin, drums, and bone flute. He is the one who invites people to dance. There are always the highest authorities like a king or pope. This symbolizes the most arrogant figure who is forced to dance first. Then there are farmers and small children who represent the weakest, but still have to join the dance. Then there are chains or hands holding each other. This symbolizes that everyone is connected in 1 dance of death.

There are 3 most famous Dance Macabre paintings:  

1. Cimetière des Innocents, Paris - Destroyed but was the most iconic.  
2. Lubeck, Germany - There is a 15-meter-long wall painting.  
3. Bern, Switzerland - Still exists today.

Dance Macabre also entered the world of music and pop culture. Proving that this theme didn’t die in the Middle Ages. It lives on. One example is in classical music: Danse Macabre - Camille Saint-Saëns (1874). A creepy violin song with a story of skeletons waking up at 12 midnight to dance in the cemetery. In film, it was used in The Seventh Seal 1957, Bill & Ted, to Scream. In games and anime, you can find it in Dark Souls, Castlevania, Darksiders. The motif of a "skeleton boss inviting you to a duel" is a descendant of Dance Macabre. In Halloween, the dancing skeleton costume originated from here.

Dance Macabre teaches 3 things:  

1. Equality: In front of death, a CEO and a janitor are the same.  
2. Carpe Diem: Because life is short, don’t waste time being arrogant.  
3. Accepting Death: People in the Middle Ages did not avoid death. They danced with it.

That’s why the theme is still relevant today. We live in an era of FOMO, hustle, and social status. Dance Macabre whispers: "Chill. We’re all gonna die anyway."  Dance Macabre is a mirror. A mirror of a time when Europeans had just seen millions of people die, and they chose to paint it, instead of running from it. From church walls to horror soundtracks, from skeletons playing violins to "we all gonna die" memes, Dance Macabre proves that the best art is born from fear that has been tamed.