Rob Munday

Though lying has long been considered a natural, if uneasy, part of social life, the post-truth era has seen misinformation escalate to unprecedented levels. Exploring this phenomenon through an intimate and grounded lens, Mansi Maheshwari’s Cannes-selected short Bunnyhood takes a well-trodden subject and transforms it into something distinctly personal and memorable. Brimming with eccentric design and a singular creative vision, the film reframes the everyday act of lying as something far more unsettling and psychologically charged.

A cel animation, brought to life with ballpoint pen for a vintage flyer look, Bunnyhood reflects Maheshwari’s unconventional path into animation. An initial idea to start a fashion brand led her to a desire to create a promotional film, a process that sparked a wider fascination with the medium. This DIY, punk-inflected ethos – particularly striking given the film’s origins within the prestigious NFTS animation course – runs throughout the short, infusing it with unpredictability, dark humour, and a sense of creative freedom that resists polish in favour of expression.

Described by its creator as a project that allowed her to freely experiment with visuals, sound, music, and editing, Bunnyhood is both nightmarish and deeply relatable. It probes the motivations behind our impulse to lie and asks whether dishonesty can ever be justified, without offering easy answers. At the same time, the film serves as a compelling introduction to a bold new voice in filmmaking. With plans to adapt Bunnyhood into an animated series and a live-action/animation hybrid short also in development, Maheshwari is clearly a director to watch, and one whose future work we’ll be following with keen interest.