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