Surreal Saturday Morning Cartoons Reimagined

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PILOT REVIEW
Bullet Time
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Genre: Animation, Comedy, Surreal
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 9m (pilot/short)
Director(s): Eddie Alcazar
Writer(s): Eddie Alcazar
Cast: Eric Bauza, Luis Bordonada, David Firth, Ulyana
Where to Watch: shown at the 2025 Fantastia Film Festival, watch here: www.youtube.com

RAVING REVIEW: With BULLET TIME, Eddie Alcazar shifts his talents into hand-drawn animation, and the result is a chaotic, affectionate, and unashamedly bizarre tribute to both 90s cartoons and his late dog Bullet. Clocking in at just nine minutes, this pilot is packed with frenetic energy, surreal humor, and an emotional undercurrent that sneaks up on you amid the madness.

The premise is as offbeat as it sounds: Bullet, an emotionally unstable bull terrier, navigates a digital gaming world rife with grotesque sight gags, exaggerated characters, and nonstop mayhem. Alcazar has described the project as a labor of love that began four years ago when he lost his dog. That personal connection matters; beneath the absurdity and bodily fluid jokes lies a surprisingly heartfelt appreciation for creativity, craftsmanship, and the kind of animation that shaped so many childhoods.

A big part of BULLET TIME’s appeal is its aesthetic. The short is completely hand-drawn, brought to life by a team of veteran animators, including Bob Jaques (REN & STIMPY), alongside newer talent. The animation is deliberately chaotic, echoing the gross-out humor and elastic character design of 90s Nicktoons (think ROCKO’S MODERN LIFE meets REN & STIMPY) while blending in a satirical take on video game culture. Viewers familiar with the claymation segments of Pee-wee’s Playhouse will recognize the references. Even the soundtrack, composed by Danny Elfman, leans into that era’s exaggerated sense of fun. Elfman’s work here isn’t a throwaway experiment; his score elevates the absurd visuals, marrying nostalgia with Alcazar’s penchant for polish.

The voice cast adds another layer of authenticity. Eric Bauza, one of the most versatile voice actors working today, gives Bullet a manic, emotionally unhinged energy without overplaying it. Luis Bordonada, David Firth, and Ulyana all contribute to the chaos with performances that match the off-kilter tone. There’s little in the way of conventional narrative; instead, BULLET TIME thrives on moment-to-moment creativity, much like the cartoons it honors. Jokes fly fast and frequently—some land, others linger as background gags waiting for a second viewing.

The sheer sensory overload might not work for everyone. As others have mentioned, it feels like a sugar rush without enough pauses to allow the jokes to breathe. That’s a fair critique; the nine-minute runtime barrels ahead relentlessly. However, Alcazar seems to have designed BULLET TIME as an assault of style and personality rather than a traditional story-driven pilot. If expanded into a full series (PLEASE!!!), some breathing room could help, but as a proof-of-concept, it’s hard not to admire the ambition and craft on display.

What makes BULLET TIME especially compelling is its context in the modern animation landscape. As Alcazar himself has pointed out, finishing a completely hand-drawn pilot in the era of AI-assisted content carries bittersweet weight. The short feels like a love letter to an era when animation required painstaking skill and dedication. It’s an attitude reflected not just in the visuals but in the story behind the project. Alcazar channeled the grief of losing his dog into something uniquely positive, creating an animated world where Bullet’s memory lives on amid chaos and weirdness.

The pilot’s premiere makes sense; it’s exactly the kind of unconventional, passion-driven project that thrives at a festival like Fantasia. And while BULLET TIME might seem niche on paper, there’s a broad audience for its mix of retro style, unhinged humor, and sheer visual intrigue. Think of it as a spiritual successor to the animation of the '90s but filtered through Alcazar’s distinct sensibilities as a filmmaker unafraid of mixing the grotesque with the heartfelt.

There’s also an unspoken but palpable commentary on nostalgia. Rather than offering a sanitized or purely comforting view of 90s cartoons, Alcazar leans into their inherent weirdness—the way those shows could be gross, experimental, and oddly sincere all at once. It’s not trying to re-create the past so much as channel its energy for a new generation. The outrageous character designs, as well as the offbeat pacing—all of it suggests a creator who wants to push the medium forward while acknowledging its roots.

As with many pilots, the question is where BULLET TIME could go from here. The nine-minute runtime effectively introduces the world, but expanding this into an ongoing series would require developing more depth and variety. However, given Alcazar’s track record and the sheer talent involved—from Elfman’s score to Jaques’ animation direction—the potential is undeniable.

Ultimately, BULLET TIME is an oddball delight. It’s messy, loud, and intentionally abrasive, but it’s also deeply sincere in its love for animation and the memories that inspire it. For fans of alternative animation, '90s cartoon culture, or simply creators taking risks outside the norms, BULLET TIME is worth seeking out. It’s a short with staying power, not just because of its nostalgic appeal but because of the genuine passion that bleeds through every grotesque gag and every lovingly drawn frame. BULLET TIME could easily evolve into a cult animated series. As it stands, it’s a one-of-a-kind pilot that earns its chaotic reputation and lives up to Alcazar’s ambition of blending “unhinged heart” with “absurd humor.” If the future of animation makes space for more projects like this, then Bullet’s memory—and Alcazar’s creative mission—will have done more than just survive; they’ll thrive.

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[photo courtesy of HYPERSPACE FILMS]

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