Small Sacrifice- UArts Senior Thesis Film

I have a theory that the vixen (female fox) lost a litter in the past. That’s why her mate seemed to be understanding at first because he knew that she was still grieving and so he was willing to humor her to keep her from going further off the deep end. However, it got to be too much for even him to take and he found that he couldn’t reason with her. He didn’t want to watch his mate starve or deprive himself of food in the process so he was forced to leave. She couldn’t bear the thought of killing the baby rabbits even when she was hungry because she’d already imprinted on them and she be experiencing the pain of losing another litter.

The animation is so perfect. I'm fighting back the tears because the bunnies left her but she accepted death. So beautiful

I feel bad for the male fox though— he was a loving mate and since he’s a fox he’d naturally try to eat them, he’d be feeling super betrayed that she chose their natural prey to protect over him. I also saw a tear in his eye for like 2 seconds when he was leaving

Actually foxes are omnivores not strict carnivores. They can eat insects, berries, fruit, acorns, corn, carrots, potatoes and mushrooms safely. There was no real need to starve herself just to avoid scaring the young rabbits. Although animal protein is an important part of a fox's diet going without it for a few weeks shouldn't cost her life. That's right I said weeks. Wild rabbits are completely independent after only three weeks.

To show she's willing to give her life to those rabbits whilst the other fox prefers survival- the contrast is simply amazing, and to show her death being happy after all of what happened along with the amazing animation, WOW!

Haha it's a really nice touch that someone came in from off-screen after the camera panned away, and then brushed the snow off of the fox and then took care of her and got her some food and then later everyone was reunited and happy. ... r-right? 🥺

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase nature vs nurture. Excellent work.

The vixen gave up everything for those bunnies - her mate, food, and eventually her life. I love this little animation so much <3

Hearing my growls perfectly timed with the animation had me GASPING OMG 😭💜💜💜 you did an amazing job!!

Beautiful, although that wasn’t really a “small sacrifice”. I feel like there’s some irony there, as well as irony in the fact that while the fox protected the bunnies, the bunnies could not do anything to return the favour except leave. She gave up her life, and the best thing those rabbits did for her was leave. Sure, they sated her motherly nature, but could fox kits not have done the same? She had a mate, or at least I’d assume that’s her mate. She could have had a future with children of her own blood, and actually lived to see them grow and mature. But instead, she ended up caring more for her fluffy adopted hamburgers, and left behind by everyone she cared for. An act of immeasurable kindness, but also, a very significant sacrifice. Anything but “small”.

2:16 Look at how the male fox looks from left to right. "Hey are you going to miss the squirrel?!Fine I'll get it."

The fact that she really loves the bunnys makes my heart warm up

The thing that sucks about it is, it's not like the fox didn't try to eat, she knew going for a chicken would be food for her, and the lettuce would be food for the bunnies. She was thinking smart, and considerate. It was the circumstances near the end that put her in a situation where she had no food and made that choice.

A mothers heart , even having adopted children. Love knows no prejudice, it bonds.

4:04 this is very well done.  I don’t consider your own life a small sacrifice but nice film. I can clearly see the emotion of each charecter

This is the cutest animation I have ever seen in my entire life

Still processing this beautiful animated message. A mother will sacrifice herself for her children. They are her life and soul. Even though the children were adopted, she was bonded to them completely. Very touching. 🌹💕

The animation is an absolutely beautiful piece but I wish in the end her mate came back. To show that he may not accepted everything she was doing but still cared about her and her life 🥺🥺🥺 sometimes our actions as well meaning as they are can be self destructive. She was an amazing momma bunny-fox. I hope she gets reborn as a bunny. That would be a neat ending too. I don’t want her to die 🥺

Aren’t foxes omnivores

Ngl, i'd have definitely eaten those bunnies when i got the chance. Since the Vixen had a mate, and it was this close to winter, she especially needed to store fat as it's harder to get prey in winter, and she's likely expecting kits already. What WolfQuest (Anniversary edition) has taught me, is, kill the young, feed your own instead, and hunt at every given opportunity cause you never know when you might be attacked, and wounded bad enough you can't go hunting.