The Internal War: "Cheat Day" (CGI Animated Short)

Curator's Note:

Taking a brief break from true crime to look at a different kind of "horror": the terrifying struggle of sticking to a diet when a donut is calling your name. This CGI animated short by Diem Tran (produced at the prestigious Ringling College of Art & Design) is a masterclass in visual comedy.

The film creates a "psychological thriller" out of a mundane moment. We have all been there—the internal monologue, the bargaining, and the feeling that the food is literally staring back at us. What makes this short stand out technically is the texture rendering. In CGI, making food look appetizing (and not like plastic) is notoriously difficult. Tran nails the glossy glaze of the donut and the fluffiness of the bread, making the temptation feel genuine for the audience, not just the character.

It is a short, sweet, and painfully relatable reminder that sometimes the hardest battles we fight are in our own kitchens. If you have ever promised yourself "just one bite" and failed immediately, this video will speak to your soul.

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