In the brave new world of CGI explosions and franchise reboots, it's not easy being an ageing film star. Especially if you're a stop-motion animated skeleton who hasn't had a hit since the '60s.

Written and directed by Michael Shanks, Rebooted follows Phil, who was once a revolutionary feat of movie magic. Now he's caught in a cycle of green screens and auditions, and learns he's being replaced by a guy in a mo-cap suit. In the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, the short film blends distinct art forms (stop motion, 2D animation, animatronics) to poke fun at the chasm between old and new Hollywoods.

Phil's struggle against obsolescence becomes a loving tribute to the world of practical effects, in all its janky charm and painstaking craft. The dizzying mix of technologies offers viewers a brief, whirlwind history of how cinema has evolved.