Fish Heads Fugue and Other Tales for Twilight

Fish Heads Fugue and Other Tales for Twilight
Directed by	Lauren Indovina Lindsey Mayer-Beug
Written by	Lauren Indovina Lindsey Mayer-Beug
Production company	Rhode Island School of Design
Release date	2005 (2005)
Running time	6 minutes

Fish Heads Fugue and Other Tales for Twilight is a 2005 mixed-media animated short film directed by Lauren Indovina and Lindsey Mayer-Beug while they were attending Rhode Island School of Design. The story depicts a mechanical puppet theater, in which a series of dark and esoteric scenes are displayed. Traditional animation, cut-out animation, computer animation, and puppetry are all used. Critical reception has been generally favorable, and the film has received accolades from several noted commentators who have singled it out for its juxtaposition of music and evocative visual design.

An old woman, short and stout, enters a room containing a small puppet theater. Between the tasks of setting up a phonograph and a film projector, she carries in a large object, on top of which stands a statue of a dog. The dog comes to life. Inside the puppet theater, a mechanical platform rises up, revealing a miniature pianist. After a brief musical performance, the theater rotates, displaying an ocean scenescape - amidst other themed props, a fish's head is depicted bobbing up and down in the water. The theater then rotates again, settling on a hilltop home.

Inside the dwelling, sits a porcelain doll in the form of a young girl. A blue, spectral drawing sits with her, until she is roused by a bell. As the girl leaves the room, the wispy drawing looks after her, and then vanishes. A cloaked, pale-faced, old woman watches the young girl climb through the meandering, mechanical passageways of the puppet theater. She signals for a loaf of bread and then passes it on to the young girl.